As Iraq has been the main platform and front of the campaign of presumed GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona. McCain has acknowledged and admitted that what happens in Iraq will either make or break his candidacy. Several weeks ago, McCain remarked that US troops may be in Iraq for at least 100 years depending on the situation in that region.
Though McCain said it was an exaggeration, he did say that US troops could be in Iraq for a long time. That remark alone has put McCain under fire from many Democrats. In a sense, what is going on in Iraq can be tied into the condition of the United States economy. Iraq as McCain’s main platform let alone the “100 Years” remark has left him open for much attack.
In the DNC’s newest attack ad, McCain’s remark has been labeled as a fixation to keep US troops in Iraq forever. However, the Republican National Committee (RNC) said that the ad should be pulled off from the airwaves. The RNC accused the DNC of taking McCain’s remarks out of context.
However, the ad did not add in McCain’s explanation of his remark. McCain said that there has been a US presence in many parts of the world for many decades. He cited Japan and South Korea as two such countries with a presence of US troops. On a somewhat related note, there have been tensions growing the United States and Japan due to cases of rape committed by the hands of US troops. Recently, a United States Marine stationed in Okinawa was charged for rape.
This had caused many anti-American protests throughout Okinawa and Japan.
In the case of the attack ad against McCain, the RNC explains that the ad was malicious. In addition, the RNC ad says that it also affects Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. Obama continues to be under fire due to the continued controversy that surrounds his former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
On Sunday, Wright spoke at the NAACP at its 53rd annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. It was hosted by the Detroit branch of the NAACP. On Monday, Wright spoke in Washington DC in front of the National Press Club.
In a sense, the attack on McCain mirrors that of Obama. But, the 100 Years remark gives the opposition much ammo to be used against McCain. As McCain said, Iraq could either make or break his candidacy.
According to Nobel Prize-winning economy Joseph E. Stiglitz, the cost of Iraq at the moment is at least $12 billion a month. He explains that the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan could be between $1.7 trillion and $2.7 trillion. This explanation could give the opposition powerful ammo to use against McCain.
The cost of Iraq’s reconstruction mainly came out of US taxpayers. Back in March, Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan and Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia had requested a congressional inquiry into Iraq’s oil revenues to see if the country can pay for its own reconstruction. So far, Iraq’s reconstruction has come out of the pockets of US taxpayers.
These are examples of how McCain’s 100 Years Remark could haunt him through the general elections.