McCain reports on visit to Iraq, Iraq death toll reaches 4,000
Beverly Condgon | 3/25/08 | World News

Sen. John McCain returned from his eighth visit to Iraq and reported success on the battleground on March 24, the day the U.S. death toll in Iraq reached 4,000. 

“We're succeeding. I don't care what anybody says. I've seen the facts on the ground," the Arizona senator said (MSNBC).

He criticized Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the speech about his visit. 

“I don't know if it is naiveté or what the problem is but it's obvious that they're dead wrong, and they're wrong when they say that we should leave Iraq immediately…and it's time that they acknowledge that the surge is succeeding and the benefits of success in Iraq will spread throughout the entire Middle East," McCain said (MSNBC).

Meanwhile, President Bush spoke about long-term diplomacy efforts after a State Department meeting.  

"One day people will look back at this moment in history and say, 'Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve, because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come,” he said (AP).

The president also commemorated fallen soldiers as the U.S. death toll in Iraq reached 4,000.

"I have vowed in the past, and I will vow so long as I'm president, to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain - that, in fact, there is an outcome that will merit the sacrifice," Bush said (AP).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also spoke of the milestone and denounced the war.
 
"Americans are asking how much longer must our troops continue to sacrifice for the sake of an Iraqi government that is unwilling or unable to secure its own future," she said (AP).

The number killed in Iraq is much less than in other modern American wars. In the Vietnam War, the U.S. death toll surpassed 58,000 troops, and passed the 4,000 mark in 1966 as U.S. involvement escalated.

“He planned the trip prior to the number of deaths reaching 4000. The visit makes sense from his point of view since a central theme of his campaign is his support for the war in Iraq,” history teacher Andrew Peterson said.

Caption

Senador John McCain regreso de su viaje octavo a Irak y reporto éxito en el campo de batalla el 24 de marzo, el día que el cuenta de fallecimientos estadounidenses en Irak alcanzaron 4,000.

"Tenemos éxito. No me importa lo que digan las personas.   He mirado los hechos en el campo," dijo el senador de Arizona (MSNBC).

Critico a candidatos presidenciales democraticos Hillary Clinton y Barack Obama en su discurso acerca su visita. 

"No se si es ingenuo o que es el problema pero es obvio que están equivocados, y están equivocados cuando dicen que debemos dejar Irak inmediatamente... y ya es tiempo que reconozcan que esto es exitoso y los beneficios de éxito en Irak se extenderán a través de todo el Medio Oriente,"  McCain dijo (MSNBC).

Mientras, Presidente Bush hablo acerca esfuerzos de diplomacia de largo tiempo después de una reunion de State Department.

"Un día la gente mirara asía atrás a este momento en la historia y dirá, 'Gracias a Dios hubo personas valientes y disponibles a servir, porque pusieron las fundaciones para paz para generaciones en venir," dijo el (AP).

El presidente también conmemoro solados caídos al alcanzar 4,000 fallecimientos estadounidenses en Irak.

"He prometido en el pasado, y prometeré mientras so el presidente, de asegurar que esas vidas no fueron perdidas en vano- que, de hecho, hay un resultado que dará merito al sacrificio," dijo Bush (AP).

Nancy Pelosi también hablo del mojón y denuncio la guerra.

"Americanos están preguntando cuanto mas necesitan continuar sacrificando las tropas para la consideración de un gobierno Iraquí que es incapaz y indispuesto de asegurar un futuro propio," dijo ella (AP).

El numero fallecidos en Irak es mucho menos que en otras guerras Americanas modernas.  En la Guerra de Vietnam, muertes estadounidenses paso los 58,000 tropas, y paso la marca de 4,000 en 1966 al escalar la participación del E.E.U.U..