# McCain wants to test foreign enemies **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555 "2008-10-25T20:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/41 "2008-10-26T19:53:10Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Exactly. What we absolutely **do not need** is a President who says something inflammatory, then comes back a week later and says, “I never said that. Oh… you have a tape? Well, here’s what I really **meant** when I said that.” We’ve already had eight years of that sort of shit. It has gotten us into a number of deep holes. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/42 "2008-10-26T20:13:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’ll be curious to see what Ahmawhackjobijhad’s SAT scores are. He says he was 132 out of 400,000 who took univ entrance exams GRad..Univ. of Sci and Tech in civil engr Master of Science Doctorate in Civil Engr. He would do well. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/43 "2008-10-26T21:12:18Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > He says he was 132 out of 400,000 who took univ entrance exams > GRad..Univ. of Sci and Tech in civil engr > Master of Science > Doctorate in Civil Engr. > He would do well. I wasn’t being literal. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/44 "2008-10-26T21:19:04Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > It’s ridiculous that any of you think this is an example of McCain being a wacko or senile or anything. He’s just using a common political rhetorical device (i.e., using your opponent’s words against them) and a common military idea (i.e., the whole “take the fight to them instead of letting them bring the fight to you”). > > You may not like it, and you may not like McCain, but saying he will test our enemies is not some crazy far out thing. But you don’t _tell_ them that! ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/45 "2008-10-26T22:07:22Z")
> [@liberal](#): > > tactical orgy Band name! ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/46 "2008-10-26T23:45:27Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > You grip on truth and reality gets more strained every day. Testing them before they test us is an aggressive stance. If they had no intention of doing anything and want good relationships ,it is impossible if you are deliberately taking it to them. It is just more proof of his lack of interest in peace. He wants to be a tough guy. I want a guy who will talk to those who he has strained relationships with. I want them to achieve an understanding and a meeting of minds. I do not want a provoker. Why do you think that “enemies” in his statement means Pakistan and North Korea etc.? That’s a really weird interpretation. If you grant that “enemies” refers to terrorists (which I think is the only way to read his statement), then your post above is nonsensical (i.e., we can’t negotiate and try to make peace with Al Queda). To recap, Biden said Obama would be tested by terrorists. McCain said he would test the terrorists. Nothing new or exciting here. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/47 "2008-10-26T23:46:44Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > If we do not take the straightforward meaning, then it could mean anything — as when he used “fundamentals of the economy” to mean “American workers”. But speaking for myself, it is no consolation to presume that he speaks in code that only he can understand. McCain was flipping Biden’s statement around. Do you think Biden was saying that North Korea would attack the US if Obama were president? Me niether. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/48 "2008-10-27T01:03:59Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Why do you think that “enemies” in his statement means Pakistan and North Korea etc.? That’s a really weird interpretation. > > If you grant that “enemies” refers to terrorists (which I think is the only way to read his statement), then your post above is nonsensical (i.e., we can’t negotiate and try to make peace with Al Queda). > > To recap, Biden said Obama would be tested by terrorists. McCain said he would test the terrorists. Nothing new or exciting here. It’s very clear that by “enemies” McCain does not mean exclusively Al Qaeda, and to disingenously assert that is bullshit of the highest odor. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/49 "2008-10-27T01:20:28Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It’s very clear that by “enemies” McCain does not mean exclusively Al Qaeda, and to disingenously assert that is bullshit of the highest odor. I’ll grant that. However, to disingenuously assert that McCain just announced that he would march U.S. troops into Pyongyang on Jan 21, 2009 is also bullshit of the highest odor. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/50 "2008-10-27T01:28:19Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I’ll grant that. However, to disingenuously assert that McCain just announced that he would march U.S. troops into Pyongyang on Jan 21, 2009 is also bullshit of the highest odor. And I’ll grant that. Who’s done that? McCain can, of course, let the American people in on what he means by “I am going to test them”, and that will settle all our quibbles. I doubt he will, anymore than he has let us in on how he knows how to win wars, how to fix the economy, etc., etc., etc. I wonder if he has a secret plan, or a set of secret plans, buried in a jar, or jars, in his backyard. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/51 "2008-10-27T01:32:47Z")
One intercontinental ballistic missile leaves Pyong-Yang at 35 miles an hour. Another intercontinental ballistic missile leaves a nuclear sub parked in the Sea of Japan at 25 miles an hour … ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/52 "2008-10-27T01:34:03Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > One intercontinental ballistic missile leaves Pyong-Yang at 35 miles an hour. Another intercontinental ballistic missile leaves a nuclear sub parked in the Sea of Japan at 25 miles an hour … I was told there would be no word problems. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/53 "2008-10-27T01:35:42Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > And I’ll grant that. Who’s done that? Only about half of the posters in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/54 "2008-10-27T01:38:15Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Only about half of the posters in this thread. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/55 "2008-10-27T01:39:50Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Only about half of the posters in this thread. Cite? Show me one person claiming that John McCain is planning to attack Pyongyang, or any other enemy city. I think I came the closest, by saying that I don’t trust John McCain’s restraint in the face of extreme provocation, such as a repetition of 9/11. But that’s not claiming that he’s got plans to attack anyone on Jan 21, 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/56 "2008-10-27T01:43:05Z")
Come on. I’m not going to sit here and cut and paste from above in a thread that’s barely over a page. I was being hyperbolic with the Jan 21 thing, but lots of people above took McCain to mean that he would act provocatively toward states like North Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/57 "2008-10-27T01:47:59Z")
What else do you take ‘test’ to mean? He’s going to administer the SATs? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/58 "2008-10-27T01:52:30Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > … lots of people above took McCain to mean that he would act provocatively toward states like North Korea. Why not? Seriously, he won’t tell us what he means. Does he mean like George Bush, “Bring it on!” or what? Since you’re the mind-reader here, why don’t you tell us what he means? How will McCain test Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Russia, and - yes - North Korea? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/59 "2008-10-27T02:18:49Z")
He will test Grand Fenwick, and his reason will be the threat of that nation developing the Q-Bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555/60 "2008-10-27T02:24:48Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Interpreting McCain’s statement as evidencing a desire to provoke those countries into starting something is fucking stupid. All together, people: “_Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran_…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-wants-to-test-foreign-enemies/469555.md?page=4)