Insane McCain on CNN today

[BernOrange]

What do you think he meant when he said today that he would "get a generation to serve out of their self interest for a greater cause"?

Is he planning on instituting a draft to support more war?

 

[A'sD]

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[RyanUTAustin]

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[Texas Wahoo]

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[Hayden_Horn]

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[beencounting]

McCain in the membrane

but anyway, I am rather horrified at the reality that one of the remaining 4 dufii (dufus plural) is our next Prez. The arch-Christian, the washed up war hero with no real vision but a continuation of the status quo, a far left green candidate with mass cultish appeal, and a senator subject to emotional breakdowns.

This country can't do better than this?

 

[tropheus]

I can't watch it because of firewalls, but staying in Iraq isn't an option, its a requirement. That place will lead to unstability across the region the likes of which we haven't seen if we leave. We shouldn't have invaded, sure, but that's yesterday. Today we're there, and we've got to deal with it. Leaving in 18 months is the answer that sounds good, but it is NOT the answer that will work.

 

[beencounting]

we can't leave Vietnam because of the domino theory.

 

[tropheus]

Vietnam wasn't targeting mainland USA as enemy number 1 either.

 

[stabone]

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[RyanUTAustin]

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[beencounting]

but you mentioned instability across the region, not attacks on the USA, which is a target with or without 140K US troops there.

8,000 AQ can be killed every month in Al-Anbar but as long as 19 are in the US, the war is meaningless.

 

[FondrenRoad]

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[BernOrange]

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[beencounting]

I'm going to vote Democrat but i won't call McCain "insane". I actually like the man and respect his suffering at the hands of the Vietnamese. he is a strong person and has a sense of humor. There are plenty of other republicans who are mad batshit nuts but not McCain.

also, I agree with Fondren, The mideast will not roll into chaos if the US Army leaves Iraq. Iraq is not going to invade Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan or Saudi Arabia and yes, it will suck for Iraqis but the region (aside from many refugees - which already exist btw) will be unaffected in the main.

 

[Summerof79]

McCain's "stay in iraq for 100 years" is going to be his death nail in the general. He has of course backed away (Retreat!!!! Retreat!!!!) from the statement, saying that is if there are no casualties. Which of course will force him at some point to answer what level of casualties is acceptable to continue the war effort indefinitly in Iraq? A can see either Obama or Hillary ripping him a new on on this issue. Imagine the question... Senator McCain what level of casualties do you deem acceptable for the first 4 years of your 100 year presence in Iraq? then McCain will stumble amd bumble over the answer.....

I acutally like McCain and woudl ahve voted for him in 2000, but the guy has lurched to the right and his "straight talk" is anything but....

 

[softlynow]

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[zzzz]

Is this some sort of whisper campaign? Insane? Draft?

How exactly do the words "self interest" imply a draft?

 

[BernOrange]

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[zzzz]

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[Texas Wahoo]

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[SomeMildLanguage]

Recruitment numbers are actually pretty good, Ryan.

 

[Michtex]

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[BernOrange]

Texas Wahoo...

If a draft is instituted, you have a self interest to serve to avoid going to jail.

How else should one interpret the statement that he intends to get "a generation to serve"?

 

[Texas Wahoo]

"to serve a greater cause" does not necessarily imply going to war.

 

[SomeMildLanguage]

You didn't post anything refuting that recruiting numbers are fine. You just posted an opinion piece about how poor and unfortunate recruits are. I could get into a back and forth on this, delving into the nuances of troop quality. I have the links. I won't get into that, though. That wasn't my point, and I don't want to derail the thread any further.

My point is that we have an all-volunteer military. They are recruiting enough people. And a draft would be ridiculous.

 

[wildcat09]

zzzz, it's called Afghanistan.

 

[Art Vandelay]

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[BernOrange]

I guess you are right. Maybe he was just telling CNN that he wants to get people to donate to charity.

Of course, now that I've found a transcript with the exact quote, it doesn't sound like he is talking about charity to me:

"... I've survived so many things that I know that it's my chance and my opportunity to serve this country a little while longer. And my friends, as president of the United States, I will call Americans to serve a cause greater than their self interest, the noblest cause is service to your country. I will call a generation to serve, a cause greater than their self interest."
The Link

 

[Art Vandelay]

I read the quote in context and I still don't see how you conclude that he's talking only about military service, and I think it's quite a stretch to suggest from that quote that he wants to reinstitute the draft.