Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 12/13/04 7:40 pm:
Ed Morrisey offers this additional commentary:

McCain has no problem with the decision to go to war in Iraq, nor apparently with the initial invasion phase, in either planning or execution. Rather, McCain cited differences in opinions on troop levels, troop constituencies, and the overall post-invasion strategy -- sounding themes consistent with criticism from many across the aisle. The difference is in the timing, of course; McCain did not make these kinds of broad criticisms before the election. One suspects that he did not trust Democrats to use his words constructively -- and that he saw little to his liking in the contradictory and mostly isolationist strategies of the opposition.

It's no secret that McCain would love to be SecDef, but with Rumsfeld deciding to stay on (and with a Democratic governor to appoint his replacement), that opportunity simply will not appear during this term. McCain instead seems to be positioning himself from the hawkish center for a Presidential run in 2008, even though he will be 72 years old at that time. Another AP analysis shows McCain taking steroids (as an issue!!) to beef up his visibility on domestic politics.

All of this may well launch John McCain to the front of a crowded pack for the GOP's 2008 nomination. One wonders, however, if the GOP mainstream will have any enthusiasm for a maverick Senator who launched his bid by undermining confidence in a Defense secretary in what looks suspiciously like a ploy to suck up to the national news media.