bigpoppanils Posted December 13 Report Share Posted December 13 PHOENIX Dec 13, 2004 — U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday that he has "no confidence" in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, citing Rumsfeld's handling of the war in Iraq and the failure to send more troops. McCain, speaking to The Associated Press in an hourlong interview, said his comments were not a call for Rumsfeld's resignation, explaining that President Bush "can have the team that he wants around him." Asked about his confidence in the secretary's leadership, McCain recalled fielding a similar question a couple weeks ago. "I said no. My answer is still no. No confidence," McCain said."I have strenuously argued for larger troop numbers in Iraq, including the right kind of troops linguists, special forces, civil affairs, etc.," said McCain, R-Ariz. "There are very strong differences of opinion between myself and Secretary Rumsfeld on that issue." When asked if Rumsfeld was a liability to the Bush administration, McCain responded: "The president can decide that, not me." McCain, a decorated Navy veteran and former Vietnam prisoner of war, is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has oversight of military operations and considerable influence over the Pentagon budget. Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said McCain "has frequently expressed his views regarding troop levels in Iraq, and he is an important member" of the committee. Rumsfeld has "relied upon the judgment of the military commanders to determine what force levels are appropriate for the situation at hand," Di Rita said. Despite the troop levels, McCain believes military morale remains high, but he acknowledged that involuntary extensions of tours of duty were frustrating to soldiers. He said Iraq must have a functioning independent government before U.S. troops leave. "I believe we'll be in Iraq militarily for many years, which would not be a problem to the American people," he said. "I think what is not acceptable to the American people is an increasing flow of dead and wounded." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=326680 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted December 14 Report Share Posted December 14 Bitchslap???The two dont agree on how to handle the war. Get over it. McCain is a direct speaker and doesnt try to shade the way he feels.Maybe Kerry should take some notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtk4 Posted December 14 Report Share Posted December 14 what does this have to do with kerry?look they can speak in complete sentences maybe bush should take note. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris817 Posted December 14 Report Share Posted December 14 Bitchslap???The two dont agree on how to handle the war. Get over it. McCain is a direct speaker and doesnt try to shade the way he feels.Maybe Kerry should take some notes.We are just suppose to ignore statements from a prominent person in the republican party about the war?Great logic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted December 14 Report Share Posted December 14 Where did you see me suggest we ignore these comments? Reread my post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris817 Posted December 14 Report Share Posted December 14 Where did you see me suggest we ignore these comments? Reread my post.Your right my apologies tres-b 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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