McCain Didn’t Realize He Was Posing With Rebel Kidnapper, Spokesman Says

[cali]

Senator John McCain’s office is pushing back against reports that while visiting Syria this week he posed in a photo with rebels who kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shi’ite pilgrims.

The photo, released by McCain’s office, shows McCain with a group of rebels. Among them are two men identified in the Lebanese press as Mohamed Nour and Abu Ibrahim, two of the kidnappers of the group from Lebanon.

A McCain spokesman said that no one who met with McCain identified themselves by either of those names.

“In coordination with the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Senator John McCain traveled to and from Syria with General Salim Idris, the chief of staff of the Supreme Military Council of the Syrian opposition, to meet with two senior Free Syrian Army commanders,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers on Wednesday in an email to BuzzFeed. “None of the individuals the Senator planned to meet with was named Mohamad Nour or Abu Ibrahim. A number of other Syrian commanders joined the meeting, but none of them identified himself as Mohamad Nour or Abu Ibrahim.”

<snip>

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/mccain-didnt-realize-he-was-posing-with-rebel-kidnapper

[Scootaloo]

1. Did anyone retain faith in this man's judgement after 2008?

Yeah, me neither.

[politicaljunkie41910]

84. Well McCain always did say he deferred to the Generals.

“In coordination with the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Senator John McCain traveled to and from Syria with General Salim Idris, the chief of staff of the Supreme Military Council of the Syrian opposition, to meet with two senior Free Syrian Army commanders,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers on Wednesday in an email to BuzzFeed.

I guess if you are going to go to the trouble of appointing yourself the leader of the opposition party, you go straight to the top. I guess you can't afford the luxury of time waiting to be promoted up the ranks. Just go straight to General; probably a 4 Star. That way, he waits until he has an actual 'military' before pinning on that last star.

[B Calm]

2. Who paid for this photo op?

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Is this the photo op?

if so, which are the 2 bad guys?
(Gramps looks like a freaking doofus in this pic, with his cute lil toy knife set...)

[Skidmore]

16. Trying to prove he can warlord with the best of them.

Warlord McCain....should be his new honorific.

[leveymg]

33. Gramps always wanted to be "Cutthroat McCain" with his own Desert Legion of Doom

Feeds some sort of need to outgrow being the Admiral's son who f-cked up, again.

[SCVDem]

37. Betcha McCain denounced Jane Fonda

This is different how?

He's pallin' around with terrorists!

Charge him and let him resign in disgrace.

[area51]

61. I thought about the Fonda angle also.

I think Jane Fonda was fairly young when she made her mistake, and she wasn't a member of our govt. when she did it.

What's McCain's excuse?

[L0oniX]

40. Nice - get off my lawn - knife. n/t

[Tx4obama]

53. I believe the photo is in Comment #12. n/t

[catchnrelease]

60. The guy with the red tie has to be one of them

He looks like he's trying not to laugh.

[kysrsoze]

77. Palling around with who he hopes will be the Syrian Karzai... what a douchebag

[Democracyinkind]

3. The irony...

didn't he go there to prove that we "can and have identified the good guys?"

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. Exactly. That's what makes this so funny n/t

[grahamhgreen]

78. And relevant.

[Mc Mike]

20. Right. I just saw this NYT/Reuter's post from elleng

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014495687

[Yooperman]

36. Yeppers... we can be sure who the "good" guys are....

What an idiot... thank heaven he wasn't elected.... we would be in several more wars with troops on the ground.

YM

[Auntie Bush]

89. Ha! On his very firat visit saying he KNEW who to trust with giving weapons...He get's it wrong!

Grandpa failed on his first mission. He must be feeling like a fool...which he is. And the whole world knows he is. How could anyone have faith in his judgement?

[kentuck]

4. McCain fucked up.

And he will never admit it. He was used by the terrorists.

[saidsimplesimon]

90. McCain is lost in the space/time bubble of perpetual war, imho. n/t

[Berlum]

5. One assumes that Issa the Pissa (R) will investigate this

[ctsnowman]

38. lol Love it.

[malaise]

6. Fugging idiot

McGramps is a nuisance -anything for his owners - those who profit from war.

[jwirr]

24. There is a better explaination for this mess. Johnny came marching home from Vietnam as a

so called hero and he still thinks he is one even though he is about as senile as raygun was in his second term. He actually thinks he understands the world situation from his prior experience. And he learned nothing - weapons handouts do not help anyone.

[malaise]

27. Actually I think he wants to be captured again so that he can

regain his hero status.

[SummerSnow]

7. Oh really? There should be an investigation.

He did say he knew the good guys from them bad guys.

[onehandle]

8. What did he know about the kidnappings and when did he know it? nt

[napkinz]

9. my thoughts too!

Come on, Issa, do your thing, and investigate!

[rpannier]

64. Was he involved in the kidnappings?

I'm not saying he was. I'm only asking the question.
I'm also curious as to how many kidnappers McCain has been hanging out with.
Again, not saying that he does hang out with criminals, but it's a question that I think he should address

[Botany]

12. Rogers; that if the man in the photo turns out to actually be Mohamed Nour, that is “regrettable"

Grandpa are you sitting on the apple pie?

[Borchkins]

50. I work in a lumber yard.

[Enrique]

13. i hear he doesn't like to be called a "rebel" kidnapper

he prefers "maverick"

[kentuck]

14. I think John McCain has some explaining to do?

Did he get approval from the State Department to make such a dangerous and reckless mission? Did he do it on his own? Obviously, from the photos now being seen, he did not know all the facts before he posed with the rebels (terrorists). He should be called before his own committee to explain himself. Maybe we will need a special prosecutor?

[Rebl]

57. I agree

totally. Did he promise them anything and if so what. This totally should be investigated now that we see him in the company of terrorists. He should have at least gotten approval from the State Dept.

[lunatica]

15. I'm beginning to stop being totally angry at McCain and starting to feel sorry for him

He's turning into a fucking fool.

[jwirr]

25. I don't feel sorry for him - he needs to resign. NOW.

[rpannier]

65. Be careful what you wish for...

The republikkan governor could easily find someone that's over-the-edge, Ted Cruz crazy to replace McCain.

[JoePhilly]

17. Who's going to jail!!!!

[SoCalDem]

18. In other words, he's just doing what he has always done

He's a blustery buffoon who has not improved with age. He has spent his entire life as a pampered "Son of America".

.......been on the US Government teat since birth

.......his illustrious military career was mostly spent as a prisoner of war & afterward as cushy DC assignments where he could play on the POW status

.......he milked every drop of his POW status to :
............a. ditch his Plain Jane & kids for a rich, young "hottie"
............b. use her money to get political
............c. use his POW to evade jail for participating in the Keating 5 debacle

.......he feels a sense of permanent entitlement, and has always been forgiven for his relentless blunders & tirades.

[dhill926]

31. absolutely agree........

[mountain grammy]

73. Yep, looks like the less than illustrious life of Grampy McCain.

and he looks like the attention grabber he is, "palling around with terrorists"

[Zen Democrat]

19. I thought that Gramps McCain had instincts to separate the good guys from bad???

Guess he's not the bloodhound he thought he was.

[Botany]

21. Bingo! Senator John McCain Confident of Identifying 'Good Guys' in Syria.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014495687

[City Lights]

30. Haha, I know, right?

What a clown.

[bullwinkle428]

22. Waaaaaait a minute...are you SURE this isn't an "Onion" headline?

We've been snookered before!

[Brother Buzz]

32. There's an old saying in Tennessee

There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

[Orsino]

56. No, this was the Onion headline:

Family Concerned After John McCain Wanders Into Syria

WASHINGTON—Members of Sen. John McCain’s family expressed deep concern Tuesday after receiving word that the aging legislator had wandered off into Syria. “Unfortunately, this has been happening a lot lately; he’ll walk out of the Capitol building, get disoriented, and then we get a call late at night saying that John is in Syria,” McCain’s wife Cindy said upon learning that her 76-year-old husband turned up in the war-torn country after ambling across the Turkey-Syria border and delivering a rambling, incoherent speech to a group of rebels...

[11 Bravo]

23. He also thought he was in Cabo San Lucas.

But that's a whole 'nother story.

[krispos42]

26. Alternately: "Syrian Rebel Didn't Realize He Was Posing With American Kidnapper"

How's that extraordinary rendition working out for your reputation, McFool?

[Just Saying]

28. Sad and funny at the same time!

Go home grandpa !

[liberal N proud]

29. When did he know what he knew?

The people demand investigations and hearings!

[delrem]

34. well, they all *did* identify themselves as "good rebels"

so how was McCain to know otherwise? And they all should get free stinger missiles anyway!

[Raine1967]

35. You know, this reminds me of a trip McCain took to Benghazi before the attacks there.

I wrote about it back in February

The crux of this is that last July he went to Libya and met with rebels -- Jay Carney had no knowledge that he went as an emissary

“We were aware that Sen. McCain would be making the trip and State supported the codel,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told TPM in an e-mail Friday afternoon.

When asked whether McCain was there as an official emissary for the State Department or White House, Carney told reporters earlier only: “No. No that I’m aware of.”

There were rumors then that he met with Rebels -- the very ones that may have killed Ted Stevens. ( I lay that out in my 4F link above. I asked then the following: What if we were to find out that John McCain called for arming the very people that may have killed Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, U.S. Foreign Service, Glen Doherty and Tyrone S. Woods? When will Senator John McCain appear before the Senate to tell us what he may know? I'm just asking questions here. At a certain point, someone needs to ask specifically why John McCain has been SO vocal about the events in Benghazi. Perhaps John McCain is hoping that these events were from Pro-Qaddafi factions? So far, it doesn't appear to be the case.

I propose this: It's time John McCain be brought forward to answer questions about his trips to Syria and Libya - under oath - in front of the Senate and his peers. Did he meet with rebels? Was he part of an arms deal? Did he play a part in the murder of 4 Americans in Benghazi on 9/11/2012? Could this be why he so vocal about that day? Is he trying to deflect from his responsibility for what happened?

What happened in Syria is another dangerous idiotic move by McCain -- he is a danger to himself and our National security.

(ETA typo and link error)

(ETA #2 photo)

Disclaimer: To this date, I have not seen whether or not this photo has been proved false -- or verified.

[formercia]

39. St. John McShoveldick

He steps on it again, it seems.

Hey! Senile old Fart. Are those the 'Good Guys' you were talking about?

[Rex]

41. Wow, how do these Repuke keep topping themselves

in the fool department? Just when I think it is impossible, along comes McSame and makes my jaw drop and hit the floor for the umteenth time!

Can we make him resign now? He is proof that the GOP is dangerous to the American people!

McSame supports the terrorists and we have pictures as proof!

PASS IT ON!

[DallasNE]

42. No Surprise Here

On an earlier story on McCain's trip to Syria I wrote cautiously, anticipating something like this could occur. My brief comment.

I don't see how he can be so sure of himself when he claims "radical fighters make up only a small part of the rebel forces".

McCain seems to be getting more bitter as time passes about losing badly to Obama in 2008 and is getting really reckless in his conduct. In his position "didn't realize" is not an acceptable response.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

43. Republicans always pick people like themselves. Willing to take a bribe and with no principles.

[SDjack]

44. Every game requires a sucker to be the designated loser. If you're in the game and don't know who

the sucker is, it is you -- McCain.

[EC]

45. That picture will be used as a tool

by those kidnappers too, to say that "America backs them". Nice going old man...

[lindysalsagal]

47. ...and that's treason.

He could now be seen as an agent of state sponsored terrorism, himself.

Can't his party make him sit nicely in the chair and pretend to govern like the rest of them?

[klyon]

46. maybe John should stay in one of his many houses

and not get involved in things he knows nothing about
he is lucky he wasn't kidnapped
fool

[el scorcho]

48. Let the hearings begin!

What was McCain doing in Syria?

Who exactly did he meet with?

What did he promise them?

Harry Reid needs to open Senate hearings on this matter today!

America demands transparency!!!!

[hrmjustin]

49. Why is the "liberal media" not making a big about this?

[John2]

52. Because it is

Last edited Thu May 30, 2013, 08:48 PM - Edit history (1)

a lie the corporate media is Liberal. Just like everything else the Republicans claim. They are part of the one percent in this country. The Press has gotten too big to prosecute like every other corporate entity in this country. To say they represent the American people is crazy. Did they represent the American people leading up to Iraq?

[Bluenorthwest]

72. The real question is why isn't the Democratic Party making a big deal about this?

DNC is supposed to be the opposition to shitheads like McCain, not the media. The Party, our Party is supposed to make a huge amount of noise about this sort of thing, as the Republicans would do, then the media reports on that. It is not the job of some entertainer to speak up for Barack Obama and the Democrats, it is up to Obama and the Democrats to do that.
The tiny segment of cable chatter shows that you refer to as 'the media' is not elected and is in business for itself, it is not a public service and it does not hold responsibility to govern, should not be looked to nor expected to serve a function in our government. It is NOT their job to criticize and call out Republicans while Obama and Democrats coo and purr to Republians about bipartisan love and the excellence of the GOP. The Democrats are supposed to make hay out of Republican fuck ups, the media reports that. You want Republican fuck ups to be met with DNC saying 'our bipartisan friends, they do no wrong' and you expect 'the media' to say 'Republicans fucked up and Democrats are glossing over Republican crimes yet again,as they did around torture and Iraq'.
Your expectation is that the team we root for should not have to play, the umpires or refs should play FOR us, awarding us points when we let the other team cheat and that sort of thing. Why should WE have to speak out against our own damn rivals, how come ''the media' does not do it for us? Is it not their job to speak for us so we can be very nice to Tom Coburn and his wife? Is it not Maddow's job to say Republicans are bad, so that Obama can say they are super good?
Yeah. It's not the fault of elected officials sworn to duty, it is the fault of some telegenic talker, who the Constitution says must do the checks, the balances, must protect one Party by attacking the other for them, so the supported Party can say sweet things to their opponents full time. 'Tom Coburn is my best friend,he is my brother in Christ, our wives are close as to peas in a bucket'.

[Blue Owl]

51. McCain = Poseur

n/t

[louis-t]

54. I don't think he even realized he was in Syria.

[alp227]

55. In the 70s was Hanoi Jane. Now Damascus John?

People on twitter are calling this mccain's Jane Fonda moment. Wow. From Vietnam veteran to traitor?

[karynnj]

58. That is really hateful on their part - and it was arrogant on his part that he thought he could

evaluate who these people are.

McCain's foreign policy ideas are wrong and this trip was ill advised. It is not, however, outside what has happened before. Many Senators/Congressmen met with both the Egyptian and Libyan rebels when there was talk of supporting either. He is on the SFRC so it was something he overseas. However, as can be seen, it is not that easy to be sure you are really seeing what you think you are.

In other words - McCain goes - meets people for a few hours - then says he can vouch for them. In fact, this is confirmation bias in action. He sees exactly what he wants to see - confirming what he thought before he left the US. Is it ever seriously credible that someone with no knowledge of the language or culture could really assess what the goals of these people are. The ONLY thing we know is that they are fighting Assad.

[NBachers]

59. "Johnnygate!" Why, this is Bigger than Watergate!

[msu2ba]

88. x 10.......with a cherry on top! n/t

[rl6214]

62. He has seemed 'unaware' of what's going on for quite a few years now

[rpannier]

63. None of the identified themselves as such

"Oh, Sen McCain, just thought I should tell you, my friend and I kidnapped some pilgrims from Lebanon. Now give us money and weapons."

Lots of criminals identify themselves when trying to get money

[Dorian Gray]

66. The man

seriously needs to research and vet prospective running mates and photo ops.

[tclambert]

67. He's palling around with . . .

whom?

[John2]

68. They are

his new constituents. How much you want to bet money isn't involved in dividing up Syria. They are the potential new rulers of Syria and will owe McCain.

[SummerSnow]

69. If Obama was in that photo instead of McCain...

Republicans would be foaming at the mouth

[Bluenorthwest]

74. Correct, but Democrats will probably offer McCain a commendation or the Medal of Honor

' Bipartisan partners, our brilliant Republican friends' all of that crap. They will have a joint prayer meeting at C Street to celebrate the courage of McCain, issue a press release blaming gay people for whatever happened that day and that will be that. Bipartisan partners, honest brokers with good ideas, that is what Democrats say when Republicans do stupid treasonous things.

[bubba4249]

70. Poor Ole F**t

John never seen a camera he didn't like. He should be in America doing the job he was elected to do. Instead he travels to places he shouldn't be, thinking he is the POTUS. Remember John you lost.

[stlsaxman]

71. and how is this different from this-

GOP loves their terrorists.

[Sand Wind]

75. The "group from Lebanon" lol what a joke !

[Comrade Grumpy]

82. Defending the kidnappers, are you? It figures.

[Sand Wind]

85. Was this a kidnapping ? Russia has field day after US diplomat is ‘caught with spy kit’

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article3764690.ece

[SDjack]

76. Lucky for USA that McGrampy was not elected POTUS. nt

[joanbarnes]

79. How would the LameStream Media act if Obama did this?

[Sunlei]

80. a huge mistake to arm anyone in that country, shoot down Assads missle firing heles and tanks.

set up a humantarian camp for refugees in a neighbor country and get rid of assad.

Have the gun-runner country who sells them missles, tanks and heles, russia??The Cheney war Corp?? pay for it all.

[John2]

83. There is also

new information floating around, Russia is going to honor a contract with Syria on some new advanced MIG fighters. John Kerry is pretty angry right now. That is what you get by lifting the sanctions on weapons. You get an escalation on both sides.

[kidgie]

81. McCain palling around with a terrorist!

[tomm2thumbs]

86. Hugging a war criminal??

[oldandhappy]

87. Hey Brian, the senator says he know these people!!

[lpbk2713]

91. There MUST have been a time ...

when he realized he was posing with Wasilla's village idiot.