Admit It, Mac, You Misspoke

Hopeful flubbed on troop math and 'quiet' Mosul—but keeps pleading his case

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2008 7:49 PM CDT

(Newser) – John McCain has been dabbling in truthiness this week, Michael Dobbs blogs in the Washington Post. McCain said US troops were “drawn down to pre-surge levels" in Iraq, and cities like Mosul were "quiet"—but in fact, troop levels remain higher than before the surge, and Mosul's quiet is often broken by car bombs and other fatal strikes.

McCain refused to admit his error today. "I said we had drawn down," he said. "We have drawn down three of the five brigades. We have drawn down the Marines. The rest will be home the end of July. That's just facts, the facts as I stated them." No, Dobbs writes, it's not what he stated. "When politicians make an error, why can't they just admit it?"

[Images (3)]

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John McCain denied today that he had made errors on US troops levels in Iraq and 'quiet' in Mosul. (KRT Photos)

John McCain speaks in this undated file photo. (KRT Photos)

Republican presidential hopeful Senator John McCain holds a press conference in this undated file photo. (Getty Images)

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McCain Declares Mosul "Quiet" After Three Suicide Attacks:Speaking about Iraq at a townhall event on Thursday evening in Greensdale, Wisconsin, Sen. John McCain declared, "I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it's succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr city are quiet and it's long and it's hard and it's tough and there will be setbacks..." McCain was wrong on two points. First, U.S. forces have not returned to pre-surge levels. Before... (platanoman)

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Admit It, Mac, You Misspoke

Hopeful flubbed on troop math and 'quiet' Mosul—but keeps pleading his case

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Admit It, Mac, You Misspoke

Hopeful flubbed on troop math and 'quiet' Mosul—but keeps pleading his case

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[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • John McCain • troop surge • George Orwell • Iraq war • doublespeak

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Iraq Will Make or Break My Campaign: McCain

Says he'll lose if surge fails—then back pedals

Two-Thirds of Americans Back Afghanistan Surge

Two-thirds of Americans support Afghanistan 'surge'

Iraq Barbs Get Sharper; Bitter Road Ahead

Candidates have flaws to exploit—if attacks don't get personal first

Obama's Antiwar Stance: That Was Then, This Is Now

2002 state vote not enough to hang a campaign on

Obama Beefs Up Foreign Policy Cred in Iraq

Maliki's endorsement of withdrawal timetable a stroke of luck

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Newser By Users

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