John McCain is using his first general election campaign ad to proclaim “I hate war.” This is a curious strategy. McCain will essentially be asking voters to make a leap of faith in believing that he hates war but still wants to continue fighting the current one in Iraq.

Here’s the script:

JOHN MCCAIN: Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war.
When I was five years old, my father left for war.
My grandfather came home from war and died the next day.
I was shot down over Vietnam and spent five years as a POW. Some of the friends I served with never came home.

I hate war.

And I know how terrible its costs are.
I’m running for President to keep the country I love safe.
I’m John McCain and I approve this message.

Here comes the general election.

This is one of the strangest and most jarring ads i’ve seen in my life. What are they thinking?