I don’t know if the Navy taught A-4 flyers to check six back in the early 1960s, but if they did, John McCain forgot the lesson. Commit this little nugget from the Arizona Star circa January, 2007 to memory:
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of the most stalwart supporters of the war in Iraq, said Thursday that he might propose that the Iraqi government meet certain benchmarks for the United States to continue its engagement.
Fellow senators and independent political scientists said McCain’s thinking reflected growing concerns within the Republican Party about the course of the war, and also might mark a turning point for the likely 2008 presidential contender, whose previous unconditional backing of the war may have hurt his prospects.
McCain said Thursday that he hadn’t yet decided on precise benchmarks. "They’d have to be specific, and they (Iraqi government officials) would have to meet them," he said.
Asked what penalty would be imposed if Iraq failed to meet his benchmarks, he said: "I think everybody knows the consequences. Haven’t met the benchmarks? Obviously, then, we’re not able to complete the mission. Then you have to examine your options."
Say, wasn’t “benchmarks” the buzzword for “cut and run” at that time? Damn if my “Double Talk Express” play on McCain’s trademark phrase isn’t accurate once again.
Ah, even straight talk is subjective in politics. McCain “straight talks” in the way that the left leaning media perceives straight talk. Too bad that kind of straight talk tends to be a crooked path.