McCain Resorts to Bizarre Science Fiction On Campaign Trail

This speech is just fucking bizarre. In order to make the case for his candidacy, John McCain gets all 1970s-prog-rock-concept-album and decides to describe the world in 2013 after his first term in office.  Seriously, folks, this thing must be read to be believed. ... here is just a taste:

By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced. Civil war has been prevented; militias disbanded; the Iraqi Security Force is professional and competent; al Qaeda in Iraq has been defeated; and the Government of Iraq is capable of imposing its authority in every province of Iraq and defending the integrity of its borders. The United States maintains a military presence there, but a much smaller one, and it does not play a direct combat role.

The threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan has been greatly reduced but not eliminated. U.S. and NATO forces remain there to help finish the job, and continue operations against the remnants of al Qaeda. The Government of Pakistan has cooperated with the U.S. in successfully adapting the counterinsurgency tactics that worked so well in Iraq and Afghanistan to its lawless tribal areas where al Qaeda fighters are based. The increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants. There is no longer any place in the world al Qaeda can consider a safe haven. Increased cooperation between the United States and its allies in the concerted use of military, diplomatic, and economic power and reforms in the intelligence capabilities of the United States has disrupted terrorist networks and exposed plots around the world. There still has not been a major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001.

What, exactly, does McCain think will cause any of this to happen? How will his policy of doing-the-same-thing-Bush-did-but-praying-it'll-work accomplish this?

Missing from the campaign coverage is this sentence: McCain says he hopes to bring troops home by 2013 in order to defang his "100 years" controversy without having to go back on having said it.

Campaign staffers could not be reached for comment to discuss whether or not they considered  playing Temple of Sphyrynx over the loudspeaks when McCain was done talking.

(more from Kdrum,  TPM, Matt Yglesias and TAPped)

Comments

[jennifer gordon thomas]

creepy-suit.

[Elizabeth]

John has definitely inhaled.