Five Years After 'Mission Accomplished,' McCain Promises 100 Years More in Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Five years ago today, President Bush declared "major combat operations in Iraq have ended" in front of an enormous banner that read, "Mission Accomplished." Around that same time, John McCain said "it's clear that the end is very much in sight."

Can Floridians roll the dice on four more years of Bush and 100 years more in Iraq?

Despite complaints from the Republican National Committee, a Democratic National Committee ad focused on the fact John McCain said he would be "fine" keeping our troops in Iraq for 100 years airs this week on national television.

The ad features Senator McCain telling a town hall audience that despite the long war having cost our country 4,000 lives and $500 billion dollars - and counting - it would be "fine with me" to stay in Iraq for 100 years.

Instead of outlining a plan for victory and an exit strategy in Iraq, McCain is offering a long-term troop presence in Iraq similar to our presence in Germany and South Korea, an approach that he himself has said won't work.  [ABC News, "Good Morning America," 4/9/2003] 

McCain's recent visit to Florida gained considerable attention from area Democrats. South Florida teachers, students and activists propped up a massive "Economics for Dummies" sign during McCain's stay in Coral Gables to highlight the Senator's admittedly weak economic understanding. A similar event in Tampa with labor leaders and healthcare professionals took place during the Republican's healthcare rollout.

Entitled "100," the ad is the second major television ad of the general election and gives voters the chance to see and hear John McCain in his own words promoting a continuation of the Bush Administration's open-ended commitment in Iraq. In addition to airing in Florida on cable, the ad has been used at these organizing events.

"John McCain is wrong on Iraq and is the wrong choice for Florida's future. On the fifth anniversary of President Bush's 'Mission Accomplished' PR stunt, we're reminded that McCain has blindly supported Bush's failed strategy throughout," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "McCain offers a third Bush term both on the war and the economy - neither of which the country can afford."

To view the ad click on the link: http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/04/dnc_ad_on_mccai.php 

Here's some straight talk. Voters will reject John McCain because they don't want a third Bush term of disastrous leadership on Iraq.

May 1, 2003: Bush Declares War Over. "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended." [Speech by President Bush, 5/1/03]

McCain Proclaimed "Massive Victory" in Iraq and Credited Combat-Readiness for "Our Victory" in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom demonstrated to the world what we saw just 12 years ago. We went to war as the most combat-ready force in the world. The value of that readiness is clear. We won a massive victory in a few weeks, and we did so with very limited loss of American and allied lives. We were able to end aggression with minimum overall loss of life, and we were even able to greatly reduce the civilian casualties of Afghani and Iraqi citizens. . . . Our technology edge in Afghanistan and Iraq would have been meaningless if we did not have men and women trained to use it. Having the best weapons system platforms in the world would not have given us our victory if we had not had the right command and control facilities, maintenance capabilities, and munitions." [Congressional Record, 5/22/03]

White House Advocated Long Term Troops Presence in Iraq Like South Korean Model. "President Bush envisions a long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq similar to the one in South Korea where American forces have helped keep an uneasy peace for more than 50 years, the White House said Wednesday." [Associated Press, 5/31/07]

2008: McCain Said US May Stay In Iraq For 100 Years. At a New Hampshire town hall when McCain was asked "President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years." McCain responded: "Maybe 100." [McCain Town Hall, Derry NH Opera House 1/3/2008]

Cost Of Iraq War Exceeds $500 Billion So Far. "The United States has poured more than $500 billion into Iraq, mostly for military operations. But that figure is just a small piece of the much larger bill that taxpayers will pay in the future. Because the money for the war is being borrowed, interest payments could add another $615 billion. A heavily depleted military will have to be rebuilt at a cost of $280 billion. Disability benefits and health care for Iraq war veterans, many of them severely injured, could add another half-trillion dollars over their lifetime." [San Francisco Chronicle, 3/18/2008]

Over 4,000 American Military Personnel Have Died in The Conflict. As of April 24, 4,046 American soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen have died in the Iraq War. [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/]