McCain Response to Obama Memo

“Let’s be clear, the only reason that the conversation about reducing troop levels in Iraq is happening is because John McCain challenged the failed Rumsfield-strategy in Iraq and argued for the surge strategy that is responsible for the successes we’ve achieved and which Barack Obama opposed. Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain has never ignored the facts on the ground in Iraq, he’s never avoided the warzone before proposing new strategy, and he’s never voted against funding our troops in the field. If John McCain was following Barack Obama’s lead on foreign policy, the United States would have already withdrawn from Iraq in a humiliating defeat at the hands of al Qaeda.” —Tucker Bounds, spokesman John McCain 2008

In 2007, Barack Obama Voted Against Funding Our Military Men And Women In Iraq And Afghanistan And Pledged To Continue Doing So

Obama Voted Against Providing $94.4 Billion In Critical Funding For The Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 2206, CQ Vote #181: Passed 80-14: R 42-3; D 37-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Obama Voted Nay)

· “Courting The Anti-War Constituency, Democratic Presidential Rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton And Barack Obama Both Voted Against Legislation That Pays For The Iraq War But Lacks A Timeline For Troop Withdrawal.” (Liz Sidoti, “Clinton, Obama Vote ‘No’ On Iraq Bill,” The Associated Press, 5/25/07)

Responding To MoveOn.org, Barack Obama Pledged To Vote Against Future Funding For The Troops In Iraq. “Seventy-two hours after MoveOn.org threw down the gauntlet, telling ABC News that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., needed to speak out ’sooner and more vocally’ in opposition to voting for an Iraq funding measure that does not include a timetable for withdrawal, both Democratic presidential contenders have done exactly that.” (Teddy Davis, Jonathan Greenberger, and Donna Hunter, “Clinton, Obama Take No Funding Pledge,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, www.abcnews.com, 9/17/07)

· Obama: “If there is a funding bill that does not have a timetable for when we begin withdrawal, and the completion — a plan for how that withdrawal will proceed — I will not support it.” (Teddy Davis, Jonathan Greenberger, and Donna Hunter, “Clinton, Obama Take No Funding Pledge,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, www.abcnews.com, 9/17/07)

Barack Obama Opposed The Surge Strategy In Iraq Saying It Would Increase Violence

Obama Said That We Cannot “Through Putting In More Troops Or Maintaining The Presence That We Have, Expect That Somehow The Situation Is Going To Improve.” Obama: “Given the deteriorating situation, it is clear at this point that we cannot, through putting in more troops or maintaining the presence that we have, expect that somehow the situation is going to improve, and we have to do something significant to break the pattern that we’ve been in right now.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 10/22/06)

· Obama Said He Saw No Evidence That Surge In Troops “Is Going To Make A Significant Dent In The Sectarian Violence That’s Taking Place There.” “But I did not see anything in the speech or anything in the run-up to the speech that provides evidence that an additional 15,000 to 20,000 more U.S. troops is going to make a significant dent in the sectarian violence that’s taking place there.” (CNN’s “Larry King Live,” 1/10/07)

· Obama Said The Surge Would Actually Worsen Sectarian Violence In Iraq. Obama: “I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse. I think it takes pressure off the Iraqis to arrive at the sort of political accommodation that every observer believes is the ultimate solution to the problems we face there. So I am going to actively oppose the president’s proposal. … I think he is wrong, and I think the American people believe he’s wrong.” (MSNBC’s “Response To The President’s Speech On Iraq,” 1/10/07)

Even As The Surge Was Underway, Barack Obama Said It Had Not Worked In Iraq. Obama: “Well, actually, I think there was a very serious debate, and it’s based on some fundamental differences. I think reasonable people can differ on this issue because there are no good options in Iraq. We should not have gone. At this point we have bad options and worse options. But we are facing a choice. My assessment is that the surge has not worked and we will not see a different report eight weeks from now.” (NBC’s “The Today Show,” 7/18/07)

Barack Obama Supports Setting Timetables For Withdrawal Regardless Of Conditions On The Ground

Obama Says He Would Have Troops Out Of Iraq Within 16 Months. Obama: “And since that time, I’ve been absolutely clear in terms of the approach that I would take. I would end this war, and I would have our troops out within 16 months.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 11/11/07)

Obama Supported Timetables For Withdrawal From Iraq At Least 8 Times. (H.R. 4156, CQ Vote #411: Rejected 53-45: R 4-43; D 48-1; I 1-1, 11/16/07, Obama Voted Yea; H.R. 1585, CQ Vote #346: Rejected 47-47: R 3-43; D 44-3; I 0-1, 9/21/07, Obama Voted Yea; H.R. 1585, CQ Vote #345: Rejected 28-70: R 0-49; D 27-20; I 1-1, 9/20/07, Obama Voted Yea; H.R. 1585, CQ Vote #252: Rejected 52-47: R 4-45; D 47-1; I 1-1, 7/18/07, Obama Voted Yea; H.R. 1495, CQ Vote #167: Motion Rejected 29-67: R 0-47; D 28-19; I 1-1, 5/16/07, Obama Voted Yea; H.R. 1591, CQ Vote #126: Passed 51-47: R 2-46; D 48-0; I 1–1, 3/29/07, Obama Voted Yea; H.R. 1591, CQ Vote #116: Rejected 48-50: R 46-2; D 1-47; I 1-1, 3/27/07, Obama Voted Nay; S.J.Res. 9, CQ Vote #75: Rejected 48-50: R 1-47; D 46-2; I 1-1, 3/15/07, Obama Voted Yea)

Obama Pressed For A Senate Vote On His Bill To Begin Redeploying U.S. Forces By May 1, 2007 And Complete A Total Withdrawal By March 31, 2008. “Obama told reporters he will press for a Senate vote on his bill to begin redeployment of U.S. forces by May 1 with a goal of removing all combat troops by March 31, 2008.” (John DiStaso, “Obama: Senators Made Mistake On War,” The [Manchester] Union Leader, 2/13/07; S. 433, Introduced 1/30/07)

Barack Obama Has Not Been To Iraq In More Than Two And A Half Years

Obama Has Been To Iraq Once, About Two And A Half Years Ago, In January 2006. “Obama, the nation’s only black senator, met with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday. He said before his two-day trip to Iraq that he wanted to ask U.S. Commanders for a realistic time frame on bringing troops home.” (Jason Straziuso, “U.S. Senate’s Only Black Member Says Minorities Must Be More Involved In Iraq’s Government,” The Associated Press, 1/7/06)