Did anyone notice that McCain admitted he regretted leaving the fight unfinished in Afghanistan in the 90s?
That's a big deal.
Remember, there was a CIA-funded front in Afghanistan during the Cold War. We threw weapons and cold hard cash at Afghan fighters in their struggle against Russian forces. American funding abruptly halted in 1992 just before the pro-Russian government fell in Kabul. The Taliban quickly blossomed.
So what can we deduct from McCain's admission of regret? If I were a reactionary idealogue I'd say that he feels a sense of responsibility for 9/11. It being a debate night, I'm a temporary reactionary idealogue.
But for those who think that goes too far, then doesn't it at least destroy his argument that he has better judgment? Yup!
As a teenager, I recall learning on the nightly news about the dangers of arming Afghanistan in its struggles against Russian forces. It was a semi-hot topic, especially around the time the Cold War was winding down.
The point is, it's not like the signs weren't there to be read -- even for the general public, much less a seasoned Senator from Arizona who claims to know so much about the world. Logic should have dictated that we finish the job in a country where we'd armed a violent regime to battle a violent regime. Instead, we cut and run with no eye on what we left behind.
"We" being John McCain, if we take him at his word tonight. He regrets it so much that he made the same mistake again in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
That makes McCain 0-2 on Afghanistan.
Is America willing to take the risk on 0-3? I'm sure Osama and Omar would thank McCain for it...again.