There was a very unsettling announcement from the McCain campaign yesterday.

(CNN) — Normally VIP visits to Iraq are kept under wraps, at least until the day of the trip. But Senator John McCain Friday night said he’s going to Iraq next week.

Responding to a question in Chicago about whether the Iraq strategy can succeed, the Republican presidential candidate said, “I understand the sorrow of the American people. I visit the wounded quite often at Walter Reed and Bethesda. I’m going to Iraq on Monday. And I’m going to be proud. I would rather spend the 4th of July with the men and women in Iraq than anywhere else in the world.”

McCain told reporters, “I’ll be at a re-enlistment ceremony for a large number of them who have decided while in combat to re-enlist because they believe in the mission. And they believe what they’re doing. And they believe the consequences of failure can be catastrophic.”

John – may I call you John? I feel like I know you, because I learned a lot about you in Psych 202 in college. John, I think this is a bad idea. I know you’re getting tumeled a lot in the news and ratings lately, but your campaign finances aren’t doing too badly, although there have been some rough patches.

McCain… wrote a memo to supporters which was surprising in its besieged tone:

"Politics certainly is not a business of calm seas and light breezes. More like a ship in a storm, in campaign life we ride the high crests and sail through low troughs. I've been at the very top and I've suffered through the challenges of the bottom."

In a plea for contributions, McCain, who made no specific reference to the amount he has raised so far, contended that his campaign organization will carry him through rough financial waters:

"We have built a grassroots organization in the early primary states that is second to no one in the race. It is this strong infrastructure that allows us to weather any storm we face."

In the first quarter, McCain's fundraising problems were compounded by the fact that not only did he raise less than his opponents, but he also spent a much higher percentage of his contributions, 64 percent, leaving him with a paltry $5.2 million in the bank as of the end of March, less than half the cash on hand of Giuliani and Romney.

In effect, McCain had the highest "burn rate," and only a steady decline in the polls to show for it [emph added].

Here’s the thing: sneaking into Baghdad just for a photo op is kind of cheesy, you know? The troops know what they’re doing. They’re motivated by their dedication to what they understand their mission is. This will be your sixth trip, and even as an ex-pilot you’ve got to hate that quickie corkscrew spiral planes have to use to get into Baghdad Airport without getting fired upon. Do you take Dramamine for that or do you still have the right stuff? Never mind. I really don’t want to discuss your gastric system.

But more importantly, the troops know what you’re doing. You might well believe the nonsense your advisers have told you that being seen in photos and videos with guys in camo is imperative but the troops know you’re shamelessly crawling for votes.

Do you remember your last visit in April when you swaggered around a Baghdad market to prove just how safe the city is now? I saw the pictures and the videos. I also saw the 100 troops armed to the teeth and heard about the helicopters needed to supply air cover.

You got your cheap photo op and 30 minutes after your press conference insurgents lobbed six mortar bombs into the area where you were. Then the next day they went into that same market and ambushed and killed 21 people.

That tells me the insurgents read US newspapers, and watch CNN. They’re aware of what’s going on, and you’ve told them three days ahead of time that you’re coming.

John, if you really insist things are getting better, demand your pilot take the long, low, slow glide path into Baghdad. That’ll prove to me you’ve got the guts to be President. Otherwise stay home, John. There’s enough innocent people getting killed over there without your stirring the pot.