The Washington Post reports today that Joe "Let's Have a War Tax" Lieberman had to whisper in McCain's ear in Amman, Jordan, (ala Nancy Reagan), to correct McCain's assertion that it is ""common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran, that's well known. And it's unfortunate. "

McCain, after Lieberman corrected him, then said, "I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda."

It would seem that if a candidate were "traveling in the Middle East to promote his foreign policy expertise", he would be up to speed on correctly identifying supporters of terrorism and understand the centuries old sectarian rivalries between the Sunni and Shia Muslim populations.

Maybe do homework on the plane instead?

Not to be left behind in the "who's best to answer the phone at 3 AM" conundrum, McCain recently inferred that "his intimate knowledge of foreign policy make him the best equipped to answer a phone ringing in the White House late at night". While he may be equipped to answer "a ringing phone", it is questionable as to whether he would recognize who he was talking to or what their natural inclinations and associations might be.

Unless Joe Lieberman is there at 3 AM too..."Nancy, is that you?

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A McCain Gaffe in Jordan, By Cameron W. Barr and Michael D. Shear, Washington Post

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3.18.2008