I mean, how dare McCain suggest that there may be other priorities in Iraq more important than the precipitous withdrawal of troops/abandonment of the Iraqi government we helped create!

Much like the “100 years in Iraq” comment the Democrats have been taking out of context for months now, there’s not much controversy here.  McCain is simply saying that the goal in Iraq is to complete the mission, part of which quelling violence caused by the factions opposing the Iraqi government.  This is nothing new, but if the Democrats can make it sound like McCain supports leaving the troops in Iraq forever that perception will be more important than the reality of his comments.

Also, it’s a neat trick to suggest that McCain doesn’t ever want to the troops to come home.  It’s worth remembering that just because the US presence in Iraq may go on for many more years, the troops serving there will be rotating in and out of the country.  Meaning that no specific troop is going to be in Iraq forever, or even “100 years.” The mission may be protracted, but deployments will remain as they are.