McCain Repeats False Claim That Sept. 11 Hijackers Entered U.S. From Canada

What's up with Arizona politicians?

Arizona Sen. John McCain made the dubious claim Friday that Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States through Canada -- just days after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona, said the same thing.

Napolitano retracted her claim on Thursday after Canadian officials chided her for the remark, calling it an unfortunate misconception. Napolitano admitted Thursday that she made a mistake -- since the 9/11 Commission concluded that the hijackers entered the U.S. from overseas.

But when asked about the gaffe on FOX News Friday, McCain said: "Well, some of the 9/11 hijackers did come through Canada, as you know."

This drew an instant retort from the Canadian embassy, which re-issued Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson's public comments from Tuesday, in which he said:

"Unfortunately, misconceptions arise on something as fundamental as where the 9/11 terrorists came from. As the 9/11 Commission reported in July 2004, all of the 9/11 terrorists arrived in the U.S. from outside North America. They flew to major U.S. airports. They entered the U.S. with documents issued to them by the U.S. government. No 9/11 terrorists came from Canada."

Canadians also have beef a with Napolitano over her claims that the United States' northern border and southern border should get similar treatment, even though the southern border is strained by the violent drug war in Mexico.

McCain indicated Friday he appreciated the difference between the two borders.

"The difference, obviously, is, with all due respect to the Mexicans, there's not corruption on our northern border. And, unfortunately, there is significant corruption, great corruption and drug cartels on our southern border," he said.