My Friends,

I have long said that this election will present the American people with a clear choice in electing our next president. The differences between my vision for national security leadership and that of Senator Obama's could not be greater, and this is why I am writing to you today.

I think you all know that this war has been long, hard and tough. And it has meant enormous sacrifice on the part of Americans in blood and treasure. But after four years of a badly mismanaged war, our new strategy is succeeding and we are now winning in Iraq thanks to the service and sacrifice of the brave Americans who are serving.

I have visited Iraq on many occasions because I think the most vital decision that any President of the United States can make has got to be about the security of this nation and the lives of the young Americans who are serving.

But I cannot say the same of one of my opponents, Senator Barack Obama. He has only been to Iraq once, on a trip two years ago. Senator Obama speaks openly about his willingness to sit down with our enemies and engage in open talks, but he hasn't gone to Iraq in over two years to meet with our leaders and see that progress is being made on the ground. Something is wrong with your judgment when you want to sit down unconditionally with Raul Castro and Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but you don't take the opportunity to sit down with General Petraeus and learn about the situation in Iraq firsthand. My friends, this is not the "change" we need in our next president.

Our next president cannot just talk about leadership; they must demonstrate it. Senator Obama is the chairman of an important subcommittee that has oversight of our efforts in Afghanistan. Yet he has not held one hearing on Afghanistan, a place where young Americans are in harm's way every day. When a chairman of a subcommittee can't lead, it's bad; when a president doesn't lead, it's unacceptable.

I am convinced that my experience, knowledge and every challenge I have confronted during my years of service to our country and its ideals make me better able to lead and ready to serve as our Commander in Chief on day one. Our national security is too important to hand over to someone who does not have the knowledge or experience to make judgment calls on Iraq. Thank you.

Sincerely,

John McCain

btw... the bolding was in the email (I didn't do it)

later...

;o)

Thats military codex for: When i give the signal you motherfuckers start slaughtering democrats in the street...take no prisoners.

hope and change! yes we can!

But these lefty cumguzzlers' blood is a fricken BIOHAZARD. be sure to gear up accordingly.

I see he called the new strategy "our new strategy" but skipped right over any responsibilty for the "four years of a badly mismanaged war". He supported GWB during those 4 years,even helped him campaign in 2004. I think Obama's "being right on Day One" message is gonna be very effective against John McCain.

Good point.

Newt warned you guys. So far y'all haven't paid any attention to it. Quite frankly,I think it's gonna backfire on ya. We'll see.

It's the normal folks that are going to give lefty Democrats fits. It's no win for me, though. That leaves alefty Republican as the only other viable option.

I don't think negative personal attacks from either side are gonna work with independents/swing voters/centrists in this election. I think folks are tired of it and the only ones who'll be paying attention to it are people who have already made their minds up. That's just my personal opinion.

ROTFL! McCain is such a fool. His "experience, knowledge" and a buck fifty might get you a cup of coffee. He can't even keep the players straight (based on his REPEATED misidentification of them), much less lead anything.

There is a reason Obama hasn't called a hearing on Afghanistan or returned to Iraq, though he may do so. The reason is that it isn't anything more than posturing.

Going to Iraq repeatedly when you aren't the Commander-in-Chief and giving the orders that send those guys over there in the first place, you are just posturing and a distraction. The situation hasn't changed in ways that change the result of us leaving or much of anything else. The only people who can change the situation and make things work such that we can leave without chaos as a result are the Iraqis and they aren't doing it. They haven't even started fixing the Constitution and changing the political situation so that it isn't divisive of the country. Only a president would have the clout to push them to do so, and Bush isn't doing it. A Senator, even while running for president, is just getting photo ops and the same briefings. There is no practical reason for him to be there.

Having hearings about sending more troops to Afghanistan might make for some impassioned speeches and some photo ops and video, but it doesn't create troops we don't have.

The fact that McCain doesn't understand these simple things, shows how little prepared he is to be Commander-in-Chief, really.