This morning (10/30/08) on NPR's Morning News, Steve Inskeep did a pro-McCain interview of Newsweek editor Jon Meacham. That interview propagated the false claim that McCain had opposed President Reagan's decision to sent the marines to Lebanon. That did a disservice to all NPR listener.
Having served in the Korean war in 1951, as an infantry scout in a platoon that was wiped out by the Chinese, I have always found the glorification of wars and of phony warriors to be despicable.
The problem with this alleged peace like action by McCain is that Reagan sent the US marines to Lebanon in 1982--McCain did not take office until 1983. I have brought this lie to the attention of the American media, who like Newsweek and Inskeep continue to ignore the truth on this matter.
I have heard McCain make this false claim in NH and in other venues. During one of presidential debate Senator McCain said " But let me tell you, you know, this business about bombing Iran and all that, let me tell you my record. Back in 1983, when I was a brand-new United States congressman, the one -- the person I admired the most and still admire the most, Ronald Reagan, wanted to send Marines into Lebanon.
"And I saw that, and I saw the situation, and I stood up, and I voted against that, because I was afraid that they couldn't make peace in a place where 300 or 400 or several hundred Marines would make a difference. Tragically, I was right: Nearly 300 Marines lost their lives in the bombing of the barracks."
Actually 800 marines landed in Beirut, Lebanon in August 1982, before McCain was ever elected. The marines were part of a multinational force that included 800 Italian and 400 French soldiers. The killing of 241 marines on October 23, 1983, when a truck loaded with explosive blew up their barracks soured our efforts. The dates can be easily checked on google.
McCain may have decided that it was time to cut-and-run after that tragedy? It's sad that McCain now needs to distort his established pro-war voting record in order to make voters think he is a man of peace.
Also, that he would take credit for not taking preferential treatment as a POW, by being released earlier than other prisoners who had been there longer is absurd. Such an action cannot be taken by any officer since it's contrary to the U.S. code of military conduct. Such action would lead to disgrace and to a court martial.
In my opinion McCain is a warmonger, and his distortion regarding sending the marines to Lebanon is a political ploy to fool voters into thinking that he is a man of peace.
Peace.