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John McCain declared yesterday that within four years of being elected president he would have won the Iraq war, killed or captured Osama bin Laden, halted the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea and introduced British-style Prime Minister’s Questions in Congress.
The Republican nominee-elect, setting out his stall for an election campaign against the Democrats, used an ambitious speech to define their differences and look back on his first term from the vantage point of 2013.
“By January 2013 . . . the Iraq war has been won,” Mr McCain told an audience in Columbus, Ohio, a key election battleground. “Iraq is a functioning democracy . . . violence still occurs but it is spasmodic and much reduced.” He said that most American troops will have been “welcomed home” by then.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both vowed to begin a withdrawal of troops if elected, a move Mr McCain has called reckless. Democrats have accused him of wanting to keep the US entangled in Iraq for 100 years. It is a misleading interpretation of remarks by the Arizona senator that he would be happy for the US to be in Iraq for a century – but only in a noncombat role similar to the long-term American military presence in Japan, South Korea and Germany.
Mr McCain said that his first term would be marked by the “capture or death of Osama bin Laden and his chief lieutenants”. He added that there “still has not been a major terrorist attack in the US since September 11, 2001”.
The Republican candidate, who will be 72 on Inauguration Day – and thus possibly the oldest president elected to a first term – insists that he is still full of energy. He predicted several years of robust economic growth under his stewardship, a flat tax rate, the 13 million illegal immigrants in America living humanely under a temporary worker programme and a halt to the genocide in Darfur.
A centrepiece of a McCain presidency, he said, would be a different style of governance, one in which Democrats would serve in his Administration and partisanship will end. “My Administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability. I will hold weekly press conferences. When we make errors, I will confess them readily and explain what we intend to do to correct them.”
Turning to a prime ministerial ordeal greatly admired by the American political class, Mr McCain said: “I will ask Congress to grant me the privilege of coming before both Houses to take questions and address criticism, much the same as the Prime Minister of Great Britain appears regularly before the House of Commons.”
Stephen Hess, a former adviser to presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford and Carter, said: “It’s an interesting proposal. It has a certain pizzazz.” However, “It’s a proposal that shows he’s not thinking like a president.”
Mr Hess said that Mr McCain should be wary of what he wished for because it would greatly limit the powers of the presidency. American presidents have great control over the questions they face. Bill Clinton came to office promising regular press grillings. He held 45 press conferences in his first term. In 1998, at the height of the Lewinsky scandal, he held two.
Vince Cable, who, in his brief stint as the head of the Liberal Democrats, was judged to be the most effective opposition leader at PMQs since William Hague, warned Mr McCain what to expect. “It’s a very good system not for holding governments to account but for deflating the pomposity of high office.”
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I just wanted to say to McCain, Iraq isn't a game you win. And about killing Bin Laden, I am with everyone against him.
Baderinho, kuwait city, kuwait
Mc Cain has it right. There have been no Islamist attacks on the US since 2001. The 'lightning conductor' of Iraq is working. Those deluded contributors here are caving in to Islamism. What craven cowards / appeasers you are. If Obama wins, I fear for our security - there will be rejoicing in Tehran
Chris, Walsall,
It seems McCains remarks have upset a lot of people who believe he is now dead in the water, but who would have thought afer the years of recession under Bush 1 the US would be daft enough to vote for Bush 2. If we get Obana in the White House the world will be a far more unsecure place to live in.
Dave, Mold, UK
Do we have another Ronald Reagan here? This is what Bin whatsis name wants. Kill him and I reckon you release a wrath equal to that of the curses of the Exodus of Eygpt
"When the angel of death killed all the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh and the Egyptians begged the Israelites to go"
Bob, warrington, cheshire
You cannot kill someone who is already dead, some one is using that guys image to invent a story he has been dead for more than 5 years. BHUTTO said who killed BinLayden, America does not want any one to know.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
They both promise alot. Suffice to say Europe will only be happy with us if we totally leave and go back behind our ocean. Im sure you will be most happy when the liberals are back in office and you can enjoy watching more of our buildings get blown up. I remember how you said our gov did it.
William, Atlanta, USA
It beggars belief that Osama bin Laden is still at large almost 7 years after the 11 September attacks. Despite his belligerent language here, McCain is clearly distancing himself from the incompetence of the Bush administration.
Kate, Southampton, UK
Now I'm nervous. the last thing we need is another "Rambo" in the whitehouse.
Hamad Lone, London, England
McSame has lost his marbles! He offers absolutely nothing new. His feeble attempts to talk tough are comical. And this is the best Republicans could offer against Obama? Or did they get it so wrong thinking they would be going against Hillary? Republicans have become a joke of a party.
Jimmy C, Letchworth Garden City, UK
ridicoulos
forget this looser
hunter_willard, BCN, SPAIN
absolute rubbish.these are empty promises from stupid politicians.win iraq war ? how?lets see see the plans.kill bin laden ? how?why couldn't he advise bush to do it?
shameless , arrogant politicians who feel no need to answer for their empty promises.
ebbi britt, valencia,
The whole world is sick and tired of the GOP's "cowboys-and-Indians school of politics", but McCain wants more of the same. Only there won't be the equipment, the money, or the oil to do any of the "fantasy" things on his agenda. All he can achieve is to get even more people killed. For what?
Julia Iskandar, London, England
Well, he's just lost the votes of people in the intelligence community. They may not be smart enough to find bin Laden, but they're certainly smart enough to know what will happen to their budgets if he's ever killed!
The only person who stands to gain from bin Laden's death is al-Zawahri...
Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK
He forgot to mention the Flying Pigs stealth squadron... saving us from the attack from Mars, no doubt. If this guy ever had a plot, he's lost it.
John Claro, Cleggan, Ireland
Win Iraq, kill Bin Laden, start Question Time.
Long as he gets the order right, he's still got most of his marbles.
David, Amsterdam, Netherlands
This proves that McCain has lost the US election in November !!!!
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
mcain i give my best im 13 and if i could iwould help you on your search and to help win just saying but if i was to have your chance i would try to come better friends with the two communists country's soviet union & china pull in and work together theres know harm thank you please take my advice.
mitchell, mobile, usa
Yawn. Another daft politician making absurd predictions. Who does he think he is? Nostradamus?
CB, Caracas, Venezuela
This speech is possibly the best Political Suicide Note since Michael Foot's Opus. Amnesty, power sharing, Global Warming, hug a Polar bear etc. Why is he running as a Republican? The Dems would love an old white war hero. Apres moi le deluge. The ' fatal conceit ' of the man.
Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Tx