My patriotism and my conscience required me to support it and to engage in the debate over whether and how to fight it.
John McCainThanks to General Petraeus, our leadership and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. To deny that their sacrifice didn't make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think does a great disservice...the progress has been immense.
John McCainHe was a superb military officer but he was also an extraordinarily gifted politician. That he was an unusually open, honest and no-nonsense politician did not make him unsuited for the profession, only uncommon. In uniform and in politics Barry's purpose was always the defense of freedom. And nobody before or since managed the task more ably or more colorfully than Barry Goldwater.
John McCainBoth candidates in this election [2004] pledge to end this war and bring our troops home. The great difference - the great difference is that I intend to win it first.
John McCain