What everyone missed about McCain's answer w/ Update

With good reason, Team Obama hit McCain hard on his unconscionable response to Matt Lauer that bringing troops home is 'not too important' on The Today Show.

However, there was more to McSame's response to that.  Let's examine...

Lauer's question to McCain:

"If (the surge) is working now, Senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American forces can come home from Iraq?"

McCain's response:

   "No.  But that's not too important. What's important is the casualties in Iraq."

Wow!  McSame said when Americans return home is not too important!  And, appropriately so, the press and Team Obama hammered him on it (Olbermann's gonna hammer him further on Thursday during a Special Comment).  But we're missing something else in that response that's even more incredible.  Let's repeat the above, but focus a bit more narrowly....

Lauer's question to McCain:

"If (the surge) is working now, Senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American forces can come home from Iraq?"

McCain's response:

"No."

So, let's give McSame the benefit of the doubt, and take it to it's logical conclusion.  The surge is working.  Since it's working, we're winning the 'war' (really, an 'occupation').  Since we're winning, we're that much closer to bringing our troops home, no?  But look at McSame's response.  We have no better estimate of when our forces can come home.  Doesn't this disprove any suggestion that the surge is working and we're winning?  Shouldn't the press and Team Obama be hammering him for this, too?

Update: KO hit on this point Thursday night.  Spot on, Keith.