John McCain and Barack Obama clashed on Wednesday over issues regarding Iraq and al Qaeda. The two gave a bit of a preview of things to come if Obama wins the Democratic presidential nomination and beats out Hillary Clinton.
The two were not side by side, but still managed to have a nice debate. McCain was in Tyler, Texas, while Obama was in Columbus, Ohio.
McCain asked Obama about al Qaeda, and their base in Iraq.
Obama stated to McCain, “There was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq.”
McCain stated “I understand that Sen .Obama said that if al Qaeda established a base in Iraq that he would send troops back in militarily. Al Qaeda already has a base in Iraq. It’s called al Qaeda in Iraq.”
McCain stated it is a ridiculous notion to say you will send troops in if a base is there, since a base is already in place.
Obama’s quote came from a debate he had with Hillary Clinton.
he stated “if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.”
The press office of McCain stated in response, “Is Sen. Obama unaware that al Qaeda is still present in Iraq, that our forces are successfully fighting them every day, and that his Iraq policy of withdrawal would embolden al Qaeda and weaken our security?”
It is clear this debate is only the beginning.