What McCain is claiming today:

What McCain actually said during the early days of the war:

EARLY 2003: MCCAIN PREDICTED A SHORT WAR IN IRAQ, SAYING “WE WILL BE WELCOMED AS LIBERATORS”

McCain: Predicted a “Brief, Successful War In Iraq.” In March 2003, just prior to the start of military operations in Iraq, McCain said on the floor of the Senate, “The costs of these enterprises are not known with any degree of certainty at this time. Nor are the costs we will incur after what I believe, what I fervently, hope, will be a brief, successful war in Iraq, as we seek to establish the foundations for a peaceful, stable and democratizing Iraq.” McCain also added, “I believe the war in Iraq can be concluded successfully in a relatively brief time.” (Congressional Record, 3/18/03)

McCain Proclaimed “There’s No Doubt In My Mind…That We Will Be Welcomed As Liberators.” “There’s no doubt in my mind that once these people are gone that we will be welcomed as liberators,” McCain said on MSNBC’s Hardball in March 2003. (MSNBC, “Hardball”, 3/24/03)

McCain: Iraq War Will Be “Relatively Short.” During a March 2003 interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” McCain said, “I believe that this conflict is still going to be relatively short. I believe we’ve achieved significant goals and successes.” (NBC, “Meet the Press,” 3/30/03)

McCain: End of Iraq War “Very Much In Sight.” In interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, McCain was asked “At what point will America be able to say the war was won?” McCain replied. “We’ve still got the oil fields in the north that have to be secured. Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown, I would imagine there’ll be some die hards there that, but I think that we, it, it’s clear that the end is very much in sight, and today I think Americans should be very proud of their leadership, their technology…There are still some foreigners, Syrians and others hanging around. But it won’t be long. It will be a fairly short period of time, but this happens in wars. I’m confident that once they are confident the area is no longer a threat to the Marines and to or army troops that they’ll start imposing discipline. In the meantime, we’ll have a short period of chaos.” (ABC, “Good Morning America”, 4/9/03)

McCain Said He Was “Sure” The End Of Conflict In Iraq Was Near. During an appearing on “Lou Dobbs Moneyline,” McCain was asked, “Is it your judgment that we are near the end of this conflict?” McCain replied, “Oh, I’m sure that’s true.” (CNN, “Lou Dobbs Moneyline,” 4/10/03)

· SUMMER 2003: MCCAIN SAID THE “MAJOR CONFLICT” WAS OVER IN IRAQ

McCain: “The Major Conflict” Is Over. McCain said in 2003, “I have said a long time that reconstruction of Iraq would be a long, long, difficult process, But the conflict, the major conflict is over … The regime change is accomplished.” (Fox News, “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” 6/11/03)

McCain Proclaimed “Massive Victory” in Iraq and Credited Combat-Readiness for “Our Victory” in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom demonstrated to the world what we saw just 12 years ago. We went to war as the most combat-ready force in the world. The value of that readiness is clear. We won a massive victory in a few weeks, and we did so with very limited loss of American and allied lives. We were able to end aggression with minimum overall loss of life, and we were even able to greatly reduce the civilian casualties of Afghani and Iraqi citizens. . . . Our technology edge in Afghanistan and Iraq would have been meaningless if we did not have men and women trained to use it. Having the best weapons system platforms in the world would not have given us our victory if we had not had the right command and control facilities, maintenance capabilities, and munitions.” (Congressional Record, 5/22/03)



McCain: The Mission Is “Accomplished.” In an interview with Salon.com. McCain said, “I just think — as I said — I think we will find weapons of mass destruction. Now, I think it’s entirely appropriate now that regime change has been orchestrated — and though the danger is certainly not over, the mission is ‘accomplished’ — it’s appropriate to have a hearing.” (Salon, 6/13/03)