McCain Regrets Remarks About Baghdad's Safety

C Goodman

After days of ridicule, Arizona Senator John McCain is finally facing reality about the security situation in Baghdad. While visiting Baghdad earlier this week, the Republican presidential hopeful was escorted by dozens of military personnel as he made photo-ops around the war-torn capital. At the same time, he was touting the U.S. military successes in the city

and claimed that Baghdad was safe enough for Americans to visit. Of course the reality on the ground told a much different story, as his own security detail demonstrated. On a little excursion to a Baghdad market, McCain was accompanied by 100 heavily-armed U.S. soldiers as he "dared" to venture out minus a helmet.

But in an interview to be broadcast on this Sunday's "60 Minutes," McCain admits that he misspoke about the security situation in Baghdad. He goes on to say that he regrets his comments took away from his primary message -- that the infusion of more troops has improved safety in Baghdad. He tells correspondent Scott Pelly, "I can understand why [the Army] would provide me with that security, but I can tell you that if it had been two months ago and I'd asked to do it, they would have said, 'Under no circumstances whatsoever.' I view that as a sign of progres."