John McCain in Missouri: ‘We have succeeded in Iraq’

John McCain two days ago said that, despite Barack Obama’s predictions that the “surge” would not reduce sectarian violence, the “surge” has worked to do just that, and victory is at hand. “I am happy to stand in front of you to tell you that this strategy has succeeded. It has succeeded. It has succeeded,” McCain said first at a Kansas City, Mo., town hall meeting. He then reiterated the line for reporters aboard his campaign bus. “I repeat my statement that we have succeeded in Iraq — not we are succeeding — we have succeeded in Iraq,” he said. “The strategy has worked and we now have the Iraqi government and military in charge in the major cities in Iraq. Al Qaeda is on their heels and on the run.”The success has been so pronounced that even Obama’s 16-month withdrawal deadline is starting to look accidentally sensible. If... [read full story]