GAFFE ALERT: McCain Says Iran Training al-Qaeda.... twice

WHOOPS.

Now, I know I have a hard time keeping all them A-rabs straight, what with all of the countries beginning with the letter I and all, but I didn't expect McCain to have so much trouble separating his terrorists from his enemy combatants. (What's that you say? Iranians aren't Arabs? Quiet down, you!)

McCain stepped in a big heap of camel dung today, saying in an interview that he was concerned about Iranian operatives "taking al-Qaeda into Iran, training them, and sending them back."

Ok, maybe he misspoke. Maybe he didn't mean that Iran is training al-Qaeda terrorists (because, you know, they aren't). Except he ELABORATED ON THE SUBJECT, saying:

"(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."

Joe Lieberman of all people kissed I mean whispered into McCain's ear, prompting him to clarify, "I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda."

Man. You'd think that McCain is old or something.