It was supposed to be economics that was McCain's weak suit. Lest anyone think the whatchya ma Iraqi gaffe was an isolated event, we now have him blurting out embargoed foreign policy information, in this case the fact that the French are about to send additional troops to Afghanistan.
Indeed, McCain was so generous in his applause of Sarkozy — whose tumbling approval ratings of 38% at home could use all the lift they can get — that at one point he appeared to inadvertently tip a diplomatic hand France has yet to play. Acknowledging Sarkozy's support and commitment to international peacekeeping and combat missions, McCain stressed the importance of "France's military participation in Afghanistan ... and of the brave forces of this country in fighting the Taliban." As part of that, McCain also thanked Sarkozy for "agreeing to send additional" troops to Afghanistan. That comment appeared to confirm unofficial reports that French president is planning announce his decision to increase France's Afghanistan contingent of 1,600 soldiers. The move — if it is indeed made at next month's NATO conference — would come in the wake of vigorous U.S. demands that its allies make a greater contribution to the Afghan effort. It could also possibly renew complaints in France that Sarkozy has tailored French foreign policy to please American politicians.
These are very telegenic gaffes. If I'm the video editor at CNN and MSNBC, I'm already assembling a show reel of Reagan in his decline and Bob Dole falling.