ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – In response to John McCain’s comment at a recent town
hall event that he would be fine with keeping American troops in Iraq for 100 –
or even 1 million years – Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul issued the
following statement:
“John McCain’s statement in favor of keeping troops in Iraq for 100 years or
longer puts him out of sync with the majority of Americans, who want our troops
to come home. Further, his comments recklessly put America at risk as such a
statement will likely serve as a recruiting tool for Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, who
appeal to radicals and incite violence against Americans by claiming that the US
desires to occupy the Middle East indefinitely.
“It is time to act in the true national security interest of the United
States and begin withdrawal from Iraq and the rest of the Middle East
immediately. Americans will be far safer under a pro-America foreign policy that
seeks to end the dangerous idea that the US should be the policeman of the
world.
“Further, the financial costs of keeping troops in Iraq for a century would
be massive – in addition to the steep price in American lives. If John McCain
really wants such a long term presence, he needs to level with the American
people and tell them that his policy means we will not be able to fulfill our
obligations here at home.”
According to quarterly FEC reports, Dr. Ron Paul is supported by more active
duty and retired military retirees than any other candidate to be the next
commander in chief. An investigation by the Houston Chronicle revealed that
Congressman Paul received “more donations from current military…and retired
military…than any other candidate.”