McCain really doesn’t know what he’s talking about when he talks about Iraq. Well, he either really doesn’t or he’s really confused. Not sure which is worse.

Think Progress spotted another blatant error today: The GOP nominee doesn’t understand what happened over the past couple weeks. McCain thinks 1) al Sadr asked for the recent ceasefire; and 2) the Iraqi military is functioning “functioning very effectively.” Wrong and wrong:

In fact, it was members of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government who brokered the ceasefire, to which Sadr agreed. Experts agree that Sadr’s influence was strengthened — rather than diminished — by the Basra battle. Finally, the New York Times reported Friday that at least 1,000 Iraqi national soldiers deserted or refused to fight in Basra.

Like Bush, McCain just says things that aren’t true. Part of it may be deliberate, but part may just be befuddlement.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEF3Ld84CP0]