Okay, just how does McCain have any bona fides as a 'expert' on military

[karlrschneider]

strategy? Yeah, he was a POW in Viet Nam but how does that translate into any kind of expertise on how to run a military, let alone a 'war'? I've never figured that out...:eyes:

[Kelvin Mace]

1. He has more expertise than Baby Bush

You have to give him that.

[karlrschneider]

2. Touche' I have to admit that.

...

[MuseRider]

3. I was wondering that

just yesterday. I honestly don't know.

[LA lady]

4. 3rd generation military

Graduate of Anapolis, was nearly killed on the Forestal, POW, retired from Navy, received Silver Star, Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

[demigoddess]

12. yes, but he must have spent most of his time as active military in that POW

camp. That is not the varied experience in the military that you would want in a military expert. I doubt if he spent much time understanding what went on here while he was in POW camp. He obviously did not live it, he was too busy surviving and recovering, and as honorable as that was, it leaves you with a totally different world view that might be helpful in higher office.
As someone who grew up in the military, I am appalled at the number of 'leaders' who think that you can just send in the military, shoot things up and you get a democracy. That only worked in Europe after wwii because they were so beaten down and had no government left and we spent a lot of money rebuilding.
Look more to what happened after we left Vietnam. Yes, Saigon was taken and a communist government set up, but they did not threaten the world with rampant war and governments falling to communism everywhere.

[LA lady]

14. In the Navy from 1958-1981

He was a POW for a little over 5 years. So 18 years active duty.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. He was an admiral. Must count for something

[Poiuyt]

7. That was his father

Sen John McCain was a captain

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. My bad.

[mdmc]

6. I would take his expertise any day

he knows... better then most.

I think all war planners should be former pow's. All others should be shot.

[atreides1]

11. So

Your idea would result in the deaths of thousands, that's how many war planners were never POW's.

But maybe men like General Shinseki and General Zinni had a better idea by not getting caught by the enemy.

As a former soldier I'd rather take my chances with someone who was not a POW, because evidently that plan didn't work too well!

[Monk06]

13. I'm with you. Compare Gen Wes Clarke's CV. End of story

Born in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Wesley Clark distinguished himself early as an athlete and a scholar, leading his high school swimming team to a state championship and graduating first in his class from West Point. In 1966, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he earned a Masters Degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.


During thirty-four years of service in the United States Army Wesley K. Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.


In his final military command, General Clark commanded Operation Allied Force, NATO's first major combat action, which saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, and he was responsible for the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.


In previous duty, General Clark was the Commander-in-Chief, US Southern Command, where he was responsible for all US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. And from April 1994 through June 1996, he was the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, in the Joint Staff, where he helped negotiate the end to the war in Bosnia. His previous assignments include a wide variety of command and staff positions, including Command of the 1st Cavalry Division.

General Clark's awards and honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, The State Department Distinguished Service Award; the US Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal;(five awards), The US Army Distinguished Service Medal(two awards), The Silver Star, the Bronze Star (two awards), the Purple Heart, and Honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments.

He is the author of the best selling book Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo and the Future of Combat (Public Affairs, New York, NY 2001) and Winning Modern War: Iraq, Terrorism and the American Empire (Public Affairs, New York, NY 2003). General Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy (B.S.) in 1966 and completed degrees at Oxford University B.A. and M.A.) as a Rhodes Scholar. He is also a graduate of the Ranger and Airborne schools.

General Clark currently serves in leadership roles with a number of non-profit public service organizations, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Distinguished Senior Adviser), the Center for American Progress (Trustee), the International Crisis Group (Board Member), City Year Little Rock (Board Chair), the National Endowment for Democracy (Board Member), the United States Institute of Peace (United Nations Task Force Member), and the General Accountability Office (Advisory Board Member).

[mdmc]

16. i think that all war is crime

and it seems that only the pow's seem to understand that.

[genie_weenie]

17. That's a horrible thing to say.

"I'd rather take my chances with someone who was not a POW"

Do you really think McCain was responible for Vietnam and should have his capture count against him?

You really must have been afraid when Perot noiminated Stockdale for VP in '92...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. About the same as a local plumber running a nuclear power plant.

[Botany]

10. John McCain knows military

I might not like his politics but:

3rd generation military
graduated Annapolis
combat fighter/bomber pilot
decorated for action under fire
POW
worked on and with military policy and budget committees
contact with both non coms and officer corp of all branches of the military

[Sgent]

15. In addition to everything above

you don't graduate from Annapolis, the War College, and become a field grade officer (O-6, Naval Captain) without learning a few things about military strategy. Only 5 years of his 20+ were spent in a POW camp.

In addition, he has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for a long time.

There are a few people who have been president with better military qualifications -- but not many. He certainly beats out every president we've had since Ike in qualifications.