He supported some other surge, one that never happened. From The JED Report:

I am very nervous about this new strategy. I am very doubtful that we have enough troops. I don't know if the Maliki government will be strong enough. But if General Casey is appointed to this position, my confidence will be lowered because it is not appropriate to put someone who does not support wholeheartedly the new strategy in a position where he will be responsible for a great deal of it.

Whew! It's a good thing the Senate didn't confirm that dumbass!

Keep in mind that Gen. Casey ended up being confirmed on an 83-14 vote and continues to serve as Army chief of staff to this day. Yet despite McCain's dire warnings, he now claims credit for the current situation on the ground.

Doh! Here's the video. Oh, and the surge, this surge, didn't work.

Wow, I mean just... wow:

What is the word you use to cover a situation where a politician freely admits that they took a position that was not the right thing to do just to win an election. Somehow "gaffe" doesn't quite stretch to fit... Obviously this will cause some teeth gnashing on the right, but little else of effect, because Iraq is off the table, it's summer and most normal Americans are not paying attention/don't care enough yet.

RCP has the hard poll numbers to back this up:

MI: Economy 56, Iraq 18
CO: Economy 47, Iraq 19
MN: Economy 51, Iraq 21
WI Economy 50, Iraq 20

It's the economy, stupid. Best case scenario for the GOP; this could add to the perception that Obama is a speechmaker extroardinaire, and little else.

Tip to RedState, and I have to agree, if I were ABC, I would be nervous about getting left behind on the trip back.

It's hard to fault McCain for beating on this drum...

...considering that last spring conventional wisdom said he was doomed for sticking to the president's plan in Iraq. But on the eve of Obama's visit to Iraq, McCain wants to remind everyone that this is his issue.

But it's not the silver bullet that McCain apparently thinks it is. Republicans and Democrats won't change their minds on the issue, and the independents in the middle simply no longer see Iraq as a top issue. The best thing here is that Iraq has been moved from a losing issue for Republicans to a neutral issue. That's a positive change, but it won't win them any elections from a pure political sense.

It's the economy, this election will go to the party and nominee that has the most credible plan to fix the economy and reduce energy prices. We'll call this the heating oil election.

On Thursday, as was reported here, Obama said he would continue to refine his policy on Iraq, which was widely seen as a softening of his promise to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible. Today, recognizing the furor that statement created, he tried to patch it up:

"I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off by what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement," he said. "I am absolutely committed to ending the war."

...

"The tactics of how we ensure our troops are safe as we pull out, how we execute the withdrawal, those are things that are all based on facts and conditions," he said. "I am not somebody - unlike George Bush - who is willing to ignore facts on the basis of my preconceived notions."

Which I take to mean that if the current troop levels are promoting stability and peace in Iraq and to withdraw them will destabilize Iraq, Obama would keep the troops in. But that's what I take it to mean. It could also mean that he'll do what he always said he would and withdraw the troops regardless of their effect on conditions on the ground and that it was pointless to keep them there.

And that's the real problem, isn't it? Obama revels in these vague rhetorically brilliant statements that can mean all things to all people. Built in is the ability to read any meaning into current or previous statements that he wishes people read into them. This is one real difference between the candidates. With McCain, there is some dissembling, especially on politically touchy issues like immigration, but in large part, you know where McCain stands and what he would do. With Obama? Not so much.

Issue polls indicate that the electorate generally prefers Sen. Obama to Sen. John McCain on most issues from the economy to taxes to energy policy. But one issue that the Democratic nominee and most election observers surely counted on Obama's side is not going his way. On which candidate would do a better job handling the war in Iraq, McCain leads Obama by 39-33 percent in a new AP-Yahoo News poll. Worse for Obama, however, the poll indicates that voters' preference for McCain on the issue stems from their view that he is the more experienced candidate, showing that the key McCain campaign narrative appears to be gaining traction.

One registered Democrat told AP that McCain's military experience was an overall positive for him.

"He's more experienced militarily. And I don't know if I agree with stay-the-course [Iraq policy], but I think the good probably outweighs the bad with him, experience-wise."

Indeed, it may by McCain's position on Iraq that is keeping the election close at this early stage. More than 20% of respondents who oppose the war in Iraq nevertheless plan to vote for McCain. That sentiment was best expressed by another registered Democrat, who told AP that McCain would do better on Iraq because of his military experience. "I do believe that he will do better in Iraq," she said. "Because he's served in the military and he has said we can't just pull out. ... I think we're just kind of stuck with it now and we have to finish."

The McCain campaign hopes that voters who value his experience on Iraq will give him a second look on other issues as well. On energy policy, for example, large majorities of the American people agree with McCain's call for increased domestic and offshore oil exploration. The AP poll indicates that it may not be a forlorn hope.

Anbar Province, once Iraq's wild and lawless west, is about to be handed over to Iraqi security forces by the U.S. military. Anbar is the largest of Iraq's 18 provinces and the home of some of the fiercest fighting of the war and the insurgency. Cities like Ramadi, al-Qaim, near the Syrian border, and Fallujah were once virtual no-go zones for U.S. military personnel. Now they are deemed peaceful enough to entrust their control to the rapidly improving Iraqi Army and police forces.

The U.S. poured resources into Anbar as part of the troop surge, aiming to break the Sunni-led insurgency there and in Baghdad. They found local tribes increasingly more willing to work with government and coalition forces, after years of brutal domination by al-Qaeda linked foreign militants in the region. Dubbed the "Anbar Awakening," the tribes' turn toward the coalition continues and is largely responsible for breaking the back of al-Qaeda in Iraq and for the reduction in violence throughout the country.

The handover is more evidence of the success of the Bush Administration's troop surge. Violence against U.S. personnel and Iraqi civilians has come way down in recent months, helping to secure not only Iraq, but funding for the war through 2009. Iraq has been surpassed by the economy and especially high gas prices as the main issues in the presidential race as coverage has faded from the national news and cable shows due to the improving situation there. There is still much work to be done in Iraq, reports indicate that four Americans, two troops and two civilians, were killed this morning in Baghdad. But despite these isolated incidents, it is increasingly clear that Iraq is on the right path toward relative stability and responsible governance.

Casualty figures in Iraq last month were down sharply by almost half of their level in April, according to an analysis from the Associated Press. April saw 1,080 war-related fatalities among civilians and Iraqi security personnel, while the number for May was just 532. In addition, American casualties saw their lowest level of the war at 19 U.S service personnel killed. One hundred twenty-six U.S. troops were killed in May of 2007. The low numbers confirm the continuing success of the Bush Administration's troop surge and have largely taken the issue of Iraq off the minds of the voting public.

U.S. commanders attribute the reductions in violence to Sunni groups siding with Iraqi and coalition forces against elements of the foreign-led terrorist group, al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). AQI waged a brutal campaign of repression and strict interpretation of Islam in areas of the country that it controlled prior to the troop surge. The killings and torturing of civilians in both Sunni and Shiite areas of the country convinced local sheiks and tribal leaders, beginning in the once lawless al-Anbar Province, that the Americans and the Iraqi government were not their true enemy. Dubbed the "Anbar Awakening," the turnaround among Sunni insurgent groups in particular has now spread to most of the rest of the country. AQI remains active only in the northern city of Mosul, and Iraqi Army and police units are engaged in a campaign to root them out of that city once and for all.

The Iraqi government has made strides toward national political reconciliation in recent months, spurred on by the reductions in violence. Much work remains to be done, but people are increasingly looking to the central government, rather than the local chieftain or insurgent group, for services. This is a good sign. However, the Iraqi government must move to satisfy the demands of the people, if it wants to solidify the security gains it has realized in the last year. Factional distrust between Sunnis and Shiites runs centuries deep and will not be eliminated overnight. But the moment is now for the Iraqi government to establish itself as a force for the good of all Iraqis, not just a chosen group.

A week which saw the candidates go back and forth over the issue of foreign policy judgment came to a close today with a battle over the number of troops in Iraq. Sen. John McCain was the victim of a verbal gaffe this time as he incorrectly stated that the United States had drawn back to pre-troop surge force levels in Iraq.

"I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it's succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr City are quiet and it's long and it's hard and it's tough and there will be setbacks."

In reality, only three of the five surge brigades have been withdrawn from Iraq with a total U.S. troop presence of 155,000, twenty-five thousand more than the level before the surge. The Obama campaign hastened to point out the irony of Sen. McCain getting an Iraq fact wrong. McCain has been challenging Obama to visit Iraq and find out first-hand the facts on the ground there after Obama had a few factual slip ups of his own on the campaign trail. But McCain's response was swift and sharp. McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds issued a caustic statement from the campaign following an Obama campaign press conference featuring Sen. John Kerry which was hastily called to spotlight the McCain flub.

"What informed people understand, John McCain included, is that American troops are not even close to Surge levels. Three of the five Army 'Surge' brigades have been withdrawn and additional Marines that were initially deployed for the 'Surge' have come home as well. Talk about a political stunt, it's sending out campaign surrogates to parse words about a topic Barack Obama has no experience with, and has shown zero interest in learning about."

The mix up could not have come at a worse time for McCain, who had been scoring strong points against Obama on the question of foreign policy experience and had him retreating from some of his previously stated positions. But, McCain's campaign has become known for its rapid fire, indignant responses, which it demonstrated again today. The campaign hopes that voters will see McCain's gaffes as just that, mistakes; while wondering whether Obama's are a result of a fundamental lack of experience on the world stage.

President Bush was at Fort Bragg today to participate in a division review ceremony for the 82nd Airborne and to welcome recently returned troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The president told the assembled paratroopers that their deployments were helping to bring freedom to those two countries, and he thanked them on behalf of the nation for their meritorious service.

"From the front lines in Afghanistan, we welcome home the 4th Brigade Combat Team -- which brought "Fury from the Skies" to America's enemies. During your deployment in Afghanistan, you served under NATO Commander and longtime Fort Bragg resident, General Dan McNeill. Under his leadership, and because of your courage, you took the fight to the enemy. And thanks to you, the Taliban no longer controls the Sangin Valley. And thanks to you, the Taliban's stronghold in the town of Musa Qala has fallen -- and a flag of a free Afghanistan has risen. Thanks to you, hundreds of insurgents have been captured in eastern Afghanistan; many others have been killed. And thanks to you, a nation where al Qaida once plotted the attacks of 9/11 is now a democracy and an ally in the war against these extremists.

From the front lines in Iraq, we welcome home the "Falcons" of the 2nd Brigade, the "Panthers" of the 3rd Brigade, the "Providers" of the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, and units of the Combat Aviation Brigade. With Saddam gone, our job was to help the Iraqi people defend themselves against the extremists and to build a free society. In 2006, that mission was faltering. I knew victory was essential to our security. So we implemented a new strategy. Instead of retreating, we sent in more troops. And the first troops in as part of that surge were the troops of the Falcon Brigade of the 82nd Airborne. Together with the Panther Brigade and other units of the 82nd Airborne, you pursued the enemy in its strongholds, you denied the terrorists sanctuary, you brought security to neighborhoods that had been in the grip of terror. And across Iraq, violence is down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian killings are down, and attacks on American forces are down. You did the job we sent you to do. You have returned home on success. And all of America is proud of the 82nd Airborne.

The Pentagon has announced that 3,500 troops from the Army's Third Infantry Division, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team will be coming home from Iraq to Fort Benning, Georgia in the coming weeks. The third brigade is made up mostly of veterans with two or three tours in Iraq and was deployed to Baghdad province. It was responsible for stopping the shipment of bomb making materials into the capital. The public affairs office at Camp Victory in Baghdad said that the unit captured over 600 militants, confiscated multiple weapons caches, and was responsible for a dramatic decrease in violence in its area.

The third brigade was deployed last year as part of the Bush Administration's troop surge, which has been largely successful at reducing the level of violence in Iraq. That success has permitted the Pentagon to begin withdrawing forces down to a level of about 140,000 by July. At that point, U.S. Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus has ordered the withdrawals to pause for a 45-day period of assessment. The continuing removal of troops, despite a recent upticks in Baghdad, demonstrates that the U.S. is becoming increasingly comfortable with the ability Iraqi Army and Police units to quell violence and hold security gains achieved by the surge.