Note the way this argument has gone back and forth. Obama has, in just about every recent appearance, brought up McCain’s “100 years” remark and insisted it means that McCain wants to be at war for a century.

McCain has shot back:

“Well then in all due respect he does not understand the elements, the fundamental elements of national security and warfare,” McCain said, when he was asked about Obama’s comments earlier in the day. Obama had said that McCain’s had not offered a clear definition of what could be viewed as success in the war torn country.
McCain went through a litany of 20th century conflicts and the American military bases they begat, including bases in Korea, Germany, Japan and Kuwait.
Obama, he said, “displays a fundamental misunderstanding of history and how we’ve maintained national security, and what we need to do in the future to maintain our security in the face of the transcendent challenge of radical Islamic extremism. And I understand that because he has no experience or background in any of it.”
He said he is not worried about Obama’s interpretation of McCain’s infamous “100 years” comment catching hold with the American people.
“No I think the American people are smart enough to figure that out. And I underst- they’ll understand over time if they don’t know that he has no experience or background on these issues.”

Obama’s response is, “Senator McCain has been saying I don’t understand national security, but he’s the one who wants to keep tens of thousands of United States troops in Iraq for as long as 100 years.”

The argument has gone:

“X.”

“You don’t understand the issue.”

“He has been saying I don’t understand the issue, but X.”

Apparently “X” is so powerful, it makes the speaker immune from accusations that their knowledge and understanding is lacking.

The magic power of the “100 years” comment will go well with what Michael Goldfarb calls Obama’s “magic strike force” he’ll leave in the region. You know, the one that Obama says may be based in Iraq, and his staff insists will not be based in Iraq.