Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) left, and his wife Cindy listen as McCain is introduced at a McCain 2008 campaign rally in Portsmouth, NH. Anti-war group posts McCain 'gotcha' videos

Two videos of Sen. John McCain calling for withdrawal of U.S. forces from past conflicts in Haiti and Somalia have been posted on YouTube by the antiwar group Americans Against Escalation in Iraq.

In the clips, the Arizona Republican uses arguments similar to those he has criticized opponents of the war in Iraq for using today. His opposition to withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq has been a major feature of his 2008 presidential campaign.


"It's intellectually dishonest to compare the situations in Haiti and Somalia to the current situation in Iraq," said McCain spokesman Matt David. "Number one, we live in a post 9/11 world. Number two, we're dealing with the volatility of the Middle East. And number three and most importantly, Haitians and Somalians do not want to follow us home and attack us on American soil."

In the videos, McCain addresses the following:

On Haiti, Oct. 6, 1994, in support of a resolution to withdraw: “(T)he resolution offers support for the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces as soon as possible. In my view that does not mean as soon as order is restored to Haiti. It does not mean as soon as democracy is flourishing in Haiti. It does not mean as soon as we have established a viable nation in Haiti. As soon as possible means as soon we can get out of Haiti without losing any American lives.”

On Somalia, Oct. 14, 1993, in support of a similar resolution: “Mr. President, can anyone seriously argue that another six months of United States forces in harm’s way means the difference between peace and prosperity in Somalia and war and starvation there? Is that very dim prospect worth one more American life? No, it is not.”

At the end of the Somalia clip, McCain draws connections between the situation there and in Lebanon: “The tragedy in Beirut: 240 young Marines lost their lives, but we got out. Now is the time for us to get out of Somalia, as rapidly, and as promptly, and as safely as possible.”