lol
How convenient for all this to happen by the end of his first term. While he's at it, why not also predict world peace and the cure for AIDS? Honestly, I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for the guy. One thing is sure though, he's lost any respect I've had for him.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain thinks the Iraq War will be won but the threat from the Taliban in Afghanistan won't yet be eliminated, even though Osama bin Laden will be captured or killed, by 2013.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee made both statements in a speech in which he envisions the state of affairs at the end of what would be his first term if he is elected president.
McCain's speech, delivered in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday, also lists objectives he intends to achieve in his first term -- if he is elected president.
"What I want to do today is take a little time to describe what I would hope to have achieved at the end of my first term as president. I cannot guarantee I will have achieved these things," McCain said.
The Arizona senator said he believes the United States will have a smaller military presence in Iraq that will not play a direct combat role, and he predicts that al Qaeda in Iraq will be defeated.
"By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom.
"The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension," McCain said.
The violence in Iraq will persist, the candidate believes, but it will be "spasmodic and much reduced." But civil war will be prevented, armed militias will be disbanded, security forces will become "professional and competent" and the government will be able to impose "its authority in every province of Iraq" and properly defend its borders.
McCain also said he also believes the "threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan will be greatly reduced but not eliminated" and that U.S. and NATO forces will remain in the country "to help finish the job, and continue operations against the remnants of al Qaeda."
Pakistan will work with the United States in deploying counter-insurgency tactics in the al Qaeda-laden tribal regions, the Arizona Republican said.
As for the leader of al Qaeda, McCain believes "the increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants."
"There is no longer any place in the world al Qaeda can consider a safe haven," McCain said.
He also believes that in 2013, there still will not have been a "major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001."
Other milestones McCain hopes to see at the end of what would be his first term are:
Witnessing "a reluctant Russia and China" cooperating in "pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and North Korea to discontinue its own," because of "concerted action by the great democracies of the world."
Significantly increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps, which will be "better equipped and trained to defend us."
The application of "stiff diplomatic and economic pressure" by the United States -- acting in concert with a newly formed League of Democracies -- to cause Sudan to agree to a multinational peacekeeping force, with NATO countries providing logistical and air support, to stop the genocide in Darfur.
Several years of robust economic growth for the United States, with Americans again having confidence in their economic future.
Millions of taxpayers filing under a flat tax and saving billions in the cost of preparing their returns.
The world food crisis ending, low inflation, and a "much improved" quality of life "not only in our country, but in some of the most impoverished countries around the world."
More accessible health care for Americans and an easing on the pressure on Medicare due to the reduction in the growth of health care costs.
A United States well on its way to "independence from foreign sources of oil."
How convenient for all this to happen by the end of his first term. While he's at it, why not also predict world peace and the cure for AIDS? Honestly, I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for the guy. One thing is sure though, he's lost any respect I've had for him.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain thinks the Iraq War will be won but the threat from the Taliban in Afghanistan won't yet be eliminated, even though Osama bin Laden will be captured or killed, by 2013.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee made both statements in a speech in which he envisions the state of affairs at the end of what would be his first term if he is elected president.
McCain's speech, delivered in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday, also lists objectives he intends to achieve in his first term -- if he is elected president.
"What I want to do today is take a little time to describe what I would hope to have achieved at the end of my first term as president. I cannot guarantee I will have achieved these things," McCain said.
The Arizona senator said he believes the United States will have a smaller military presence in Iraq that will not play a direct combat role, and he predicts that al Qaeda in Iraq will be defeated.
"By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom.
"The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension," McCain said.
The violence in Iraq will persist, the candidate believes, but it will be "spasmodic and much reduced." But civil war will be prevented, armed militias will be disbanded, security forces will become "professional and competent" and the government will be able to impose "its authority in every province of Iraq" and properly defend its borders.
McCain also said he also believes the "threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan will be greatly reduced but not eliminated" and that U.S. and NATO forces will remain in the country "to help finish the job, and continue operations against the remnants of al Qaeda."
Pakistan will work with the United States in deploying counter-insurgency tactics in the al Qaeda-laden tribal regions, the Arizona Republican said.
As for the leader of al Qaeda, McCain believes "the increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants."
"There is no longer any place in the world al Qaeda can consider a safe haven," McCain said.
He also believes that in 2013, there still will not have been a "major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001."
Other milestones McCain hopes to see at the end of what would be his first term are:
Witnessing "a reluctant Russia and China" cooperating in "pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and North Korea to discontinue its own," because of "concerted action by the great democracies of the world."
Significantly increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps, which will be "better equipped and trained to defend us."
The application of "stiff diplomatic and economic pressure" by the United States -- acting in concert with a newly formed League of Democracies -- to cause Sudan to agree to a multinational peacekeeping force, with NATO countries providing logistical and air support, to stop the genocide in Darfur.
Several years of robust economic growth for the United States, with Americans again having confidence in their economic future.
Millions of taxpayers filing under a flat tax and saving billions in the cost of preparing their returns.
The world food crisis ending, low inflation, and a "much improved" quality of life "not only in our country, but in some of the most impoverished countries around the world."
More accessible health care for Americans and an easing on the pressure on Medicare due to the reduction in the growth of health care costs.
A United States well on its way to "independence from foreign sources of oil."
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