John McCain also appeared on the Bob Costas edition of Larry King last night. McCain was asked to respond to fellow Republican and Vietnam Veteran Chuck Hagel’s assessment that we are losing in Iraq and that the situation could become another Vietnam:

I completely disagree. There are signs of progress. Yes, it's tough, and it's hard, and we've made mistakes and we paid a heavy price for those mistakes. Unfortunately, in wars, serious mistakes are made … And there is a legitimacy to the Iraqi government that, frankly, the government of South Vietnam never had.

Not only is McCain saying all the right things on Iraq, anyone watching can sense he actually cares strongly about this subject and believes every word he is saying. That's more than you can say about most Iraq pundits. And I'm sure it doesn't hurt that he gets to zing a probable 2008 rival in the process.