McCain Leaks Details Of Obama's Iraq Trip

[EV_Ares]

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday that his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, is likely to be in Iraq over the weekend. The Obama campaign has tried to cloak the Illinois senator's trip in some measure of secrecy for security reasons. The White House, State Department and Pentagon do not announce senior officials' visits to Iraq in advance.

"I believe that either today or tomorrow -- and I'm not privy to his schedule -- Sen. Obama will be landing in Iraq with some other senators" who make up a congressional delegation, McCain told a campaign fund-raising luncheon.


Josh Marshall points out that there's something very wrong with this:

The Reuters piece hints at it. But if Obama is going to be in Iraq this weekend, this is a major breach on McCain's part. As a knowledgeable insider notes ...

"If it is true that Obama is going to Iraq this weekend, it is a very serious mistake for McCain to have disclosed it publically. Even for run-of-the-mill CODELs the military gives guidance like, "Please strongly discourage Congressional offices from issuing press releases prior to their trips which mention their intent to travel to the AOR and/or the dates of that travel or their scheduled meetings. Such releases are a serious compromise to OPSEC." If Obama is going to Iraq this weekend, I can not begin to imagine how much this is complicating the security planning for the trip."

It's known that Obama is leaving on his foreign trip this weekend and the Journal OpEd page this morning said that Obama could arrive in Iraq "as early as this weekend." And with a slew of reporters in tow, it's not exactly highly classified information. But there is a reason definite information about these sorts of trips aren't released in advance.

Hypothetically, maybe McCain was just guessing. But even so it would still be a serious lapse of judgment on his part. In fact, McCain was furious when the press reported on his son serving in Iraq -- he feared the coverage would make him a target.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/18/mccain-leaks-details-of-o_n_113682.html

[benld74]

1. Plame or Obama or their mother - GOP doesn't really care who they out!!

[madeline_con]

2. It's no "lapse of judgement". It's a calculated plan to throw a wrench

in the operation.

[Muttocracy]

3. Hmmm, the state or defense department must know when he's going... nt

[muntrv]

4. As usual, the repukes leak like a drunken sailor.

[monkeybiz]

5. Breaking: Israeli official leaks dates of Obama's trip to Israel

July 22 and 23, the traitor reports:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1003424.html

[LibraLiz1973]

6. I normally poo poo anything like this because I think people put too much

in to the assassination fears.

This, however, creeps me the fuck out.

[Tutonic]

7. Might as well leak the news, he ain't got nothin else to do this

weekend. Just ran over his economic guru. Ran over several campaign advisors prior that. So what does the loser have to look forward to?

[NoodleyAppendage]

8. Drudge and the Jewish Press have published Obama's dates in Israel & Palestine.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1003424.html

I'm growing more and more convinced that these "leaks" are cues to would be assassins to "take care of him." I would not be surprised in the least if the BFEE/Neocon Cabal tried to take out Obama under the guise of a "terrorist" attack. Crossing my fingers for Obama. He's travelling in a hornets nest where the BFEE/Neocon's feel fairly safe to do anything with impunity.

BTW - F'you NSA. I'm sure my post has been sucked up into your Eschelon-like filter. 1st Amendment...read it sometime.

J