McCain gaffe - thinks Pakistan and Iraq share a border...

[Dean]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0Y7zMcn_4

http://www.mainandcentral.org/archives/az-iraq-map.jpg

There have been a lot of gaffes from both sides, though I would personally say that McCain's have been more alarming...

Confusing the Sunnis and the Shias, forgetting how he voted for women's issues like abortion and birth control, and the recent debacle of Malaki's promotion of Obama's 16 month plan. This is the man who's supposedly an expert on foreign policy!

EDIT:

Oh, and let's not forget about him saying that troops in Iraq aren't distracting or detracting from Afghanistan... despite the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff disagreeing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OsWhJObcdA&NR=1

[~Mr. Indecisive~]

I heard about this on CNN a day or two ago. Lets not forget that McCain is getting up there in years LOL. But in all seriousness it is kind of worrying for him to have slip-ups like these.

[Chris!]

He's presenile, duh. That's part of why I'm not his biggest fan. At least he's not entirely bat**** evil like bush...

[Dean]

I wonder what's worse, batsh*t crazy or batsh*t evil? :D

[Crazy Jamie]

Confusing the Sunnis and the ShiasAre we talking a slip of the tongue here, or something more? The others are standard political errors in a way, but for a potential President of the United States this one is a fairly fundamental foreign policy error.

[Blacklotus]

Are we talking a slip of the tongue here, or something more? The others are standard political errors in a way, but for a potential President of the United States this one is a fairly fundamental foreign policy error.
If it's the latter, then he's in good company. I've read about members of Bush's administration, who's names slip my mind at the moment, that made the same mistakes.

Considering that I wouldn't expect most average Americans to understand the difference between Sunni and Shiites, this doesn't surprise me, although it does worry me a bit. For such a war-happy group of folks, you'd expect the Neocons to know what they're fighting against.

[Crazy Jamie]

If it's the latter, then he's in good company. I've read about members of Bush's administration, who's names slip my mind at the moment, that made the same mistakes.

Considering that I wouldn't expect most average Americans to understand the difference between Sunni and Shiites, this doesn't surprise me, although it does worry me a bit. For such a war-happy group of folks, you'd expect the Neocons to know what they're fighting against.
I certainly wouldn't expect the average American to know the difference, and I certainly am aware that similar mistakes have been made. But when we're talking about the leader of your country, or indeed any country, you need someone who is an improvement on Bush (i.e. can at least remember where countries are and the major issues surrounding them).

[Blacklotus]

Oh, I definitely agree. What is worse is that certain sections of America don't see a problem with this.

[Crazy Jamie]

I suppose that harks back to the culture of your society in general, which is not so much xenophobic as just ignorant of other nations in general. That's not meant to be an insult, just a general observation.

[~Mr. Indecisive~]

But CJ, not all Americans are ignorant. Sure some are, but there some that aren't. I agree that our society has been, and still can be. I actually despise some of the things that American society has produced, such a NASCAR, I have a feeling I will get bad repped for saying that, but honestly its nonsense. I would rather watch a b grade slasher film, than watch low tech V8 powered, tube framed, metal shelled cars run around an oval for however long one of those races are. I am actually more a fan of road racing, which if I remember correctly is European in origin. Also I know where most countries are, geography classes help. There are however some smaller countries I have trouble with. So I guess even I have some problems with ignorance. But isn't there always in group in every society that does.

Heck I'm not even a big fan of drag racing, well more bad rep. from fellow Americans, as for oval racing in general, I can tolerate IRL for short periods of time, but eventually I need to switch to something else, such as FIM, or AMA motorcycle racing. And not the dirt bike stuff either, well theres more bad rep. from fellow Americans. Basically all I'm saying is IMO its wrong to label a whole society as ignorant. I know you didn't mean it as insult, but I just felt I had to step up and show that not everyone is ignorant, if I even succeeded in my incoherent rambling LOL.

[Chris!]

I don't think he's entirely incorrect though in that the general American public doesn't give a flying **** about the rest of the world.

Also, NASCAR sucks.

[Crazy Jamie]

But CJ, not all Americans are ignorant.
I'm not for one second suggesting they all Americans are ignorant. But American society and culture in general is one that exudes ignorance regarding other nations far more prominently than, say, European nations. The reasons for that are largely irrelevant currently, my point being that it simply exists.

[Ryan!]

Yeah, tis a sad fact most Americans don't bother to read up on the rest of the world. Especially considering we're entering an age where foreign relations are becoming more and more necessary.

As for the original topic, meh, I'm not shocked at all that McCain made a slip. His brain barely functions at his ancient age. Still, I'm voting for Bob Barr, just because he's the elephant king. :link: