U.S. Senator John McCain, the celebrated Republican whose pro-war record includes aggressively pushing for the illegal invasion of Iraq by the United States in 2003, and bombing Iran, has died. He was 81.
Below is a record of some of his positions vis-à-vis Iran. Of course, this record is a hawkish one, yet he is widely celebrated in corporate liberal circles. In the words of journalist Caitlin Johnstone: “They are using guilt, sympathy and patriotism to bully their followers into showing reverence for a man who has dedicated his entire political career to facilitating the violent slaughter of human beings at every opportunity, and in so doing they are sanctifying his legacy.”
2017: John McCain reacts to President Trump’s strategy on Iran, and he’s all for it.
“I did not support the nuclear deal at the time it was proposed, and many of its specific terms will make it harder to pursue the comprehensive strategy we need. In that sense, I agree with the President that the deal is not in the vital national interests of the United States. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress on additional legislation to increase sanctions and other pressure to hold Iran accountable for its broader destructive behavior in the region. I am also eager to collaborate with our partners and allies to revisit the most problematic provisions of the nuclear deal, and support a unified, forceful international front in the event that Iran materially breaches the terms of the agreement.”
Source: KVOA
2017: Senator McCain Praises Iran’s Largest Oppositional Group, MEK.
“In a critical move, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has recently met with Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Tirana, Albania. They discussed Iran’s politics, the Islamic Republic’s role in the region, and the future prospects.”
Source: HuffPost
2016: McCain Threatens to Subpoena U.S. Sailors Held by Iran
“Sen. John McCain said Sunday he would subpoena 10 U.S. sailors to testify about their brief detention by Iran if the Obama administration doesn’t hand over the findings of an investigation into the incident by the end of the month.”
Source: NBC News
2015: Forget Diplomacy, Senator McCain Threatens to Block Iran Nuclear Deal
“U.S. Senator John McCain on Sunday threatened to block a potential nuclear deal with Iran.
“We will do everything in our power to make sure we do play a role,” McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN.
McCain was one of 47 Republican senators who sent a letter to the Iranian leadership saying the Senate must approve any nuclear deal.
“We will insist on approval,” McCain said. “I don’t think that they will reach a deal that we can live with.””
Source: Haaretz
2008: Asked in an interview with The Atlantic, “What do you think motivates Iran?”, his answer was black and white, blunt, and laced with his consistent streak of Iranophobia.
JG: What do you think motivates Iran?
JM: Hatred. I don’t try to divine people’s motives. I look at their actions and what they say. I don’t pretend to be an expert on the state of their emotions. I do know what their nation’s stated purpose is, I do know they continue in the development of nuclear weapons, and I know that they continue to support terrorists who are bent on the destruction of the state of Israel. You’ll have to ask someone who engages in this psycho stuff to talk about their emotions.
Source: The Atlantic
2008: McCain jokes about killing Iranians with cigarettes
“Presidential candidate John McCain, who once sang in jest about bombing Iran, on Tuesday reacted to a report of rising U.S. cigarette exports to the country by saying it may be “a way of killing ‘em.””
Source: Reuters
McCain Sings: ‘Bomb, Bomb, Bomb’ Iran
“Republican presidential contender Sen. John McCain (AZ) joked about bombing Iran this week during a campaign appearance in Murrells Inlet, S.C.
McCain was asked by an audience member about possible U.S. military action in Iran.
“How many times do we have to prove that these people are blowing up people now, never mind if they get a nuclear weapon. When do we send them an airmail message to Tehran?” a man in the crowd asked.
In response, McCain said, “That old, eh, that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran” — which elicited laughter from the crowd. McCain then chuckled before briefly singing — to the tune of the chorus of the Beach Boys’ classic “Barbara Ann” — “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah ….”
The audience responded with more laughter.”
Source: NPR
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While Iran was a regular McCain target (as he frequently collected generous speaking engagement checks from MEK and AIPAC), there’s a myriad of other countries that he was eager to bomb, invade or destabilize.
While I empathize with his loved ones and commend his service to the country he loved, world peace is better off without the likes of a neocon war monger like John McCain. RIP.
