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Iraq
Iraq withdrawal would hand Al-Qaeda victory: McCain
2008-03-22
Withdrawing US forces from Iraq would hand victory to Al-Qaeda, US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said here Thursday on the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

McCain, speaking after talks in London, said the issue was "whether we withdraw and have Al-Qaeda win and announce to the world that they have won and things collapse there, or do we see this strategy through to success?" "Al-Qaeda is on the run," he said, but added: "They are not defeated. We're going to have to continue training the Iraqi military and do what we have been doing if we are going to achieve a stable situation in Iraq."

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, McCain said a "functioning democracy" in Iraq would have a positive effect on the entire region.

McCain, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, also praised Brown as a strong supporter of the United States. "I appreciate very much his commitment to the continued, unique relationship between our two countries which will remain unique. I am a great admirer of the Prime Minister as well," he said. McCain, 71, has also visited Iraq, Jordan and Israel this week and is due to go on from Britain to France.
Posted by:Fred

#6  Not a classic import tariff but a floating tariff that ensures a stable price floor ($40-50/barrel) so that OPEC can't crash the price of oil and drive alternatives (e.g. domestic production, CTL) out of the market.
Posted by: ed   2008-03-22 17:56  

#5  we must make sure democracy takes root in Iraq

Speachless.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-03-22 17:49  

#4  Seizing the oil fields and selling it at cost would not only bring the cost down quite a bit, but also make ME oil a stable resource for the future.

However, that will never happen so we must make sure democracy takes root in Iraq and keep up the pressure.
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-03-22 12:07  

#3  Implementing a $50 per barrel import fee would be a lot safer and cheaper way to the same end.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-03-22 10:47  

#2  Only Russia, of all 'civilized' nations, can possibly benefit from anarchy in Iraq - and they benefit only from anarchy, not from any specific winner.

I don't know, Glenmore---I kinda like the idea of general MME "civil" war. I mean, short term harm to oil supplies, etc... But long term, curing the "West" of it's dependence on Muzzi oil (letting your deadliest enemies to hold you by the balls ain't smart by any standard).
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-03-22 09:23  

#1  I read my crystal ball differently regarding a premature withdrawal from Iraq. I don't think it would hand AQ a victory; rather, it would enable a Lebanese-style civil war between AQ, Iran proxies, and 'the rest'. At this point I think AQ would finish third in that race. It would take several overtimes to decide first and second, and most of the neighboring countries would get involved in some way or another. Preventing THAT scenario, with all the impact it would have on global oil supply and economies, is the fundamental reason for the US to stay engaged. The rest of the world is in denial. Only Russia, of all 'civilized' nations, can possibly benefit from anarchy in Iraq - and they benefit only from anarchy, not from any specific winner.
Posted by: Glenmore   2008-03-22 08:34  

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