Al Qaeda's Threat to the Election, and McCain's Views on Iraq

by Cesar Aguado

With the elections approaching quickly, there is increasing fear among many in the U.S. government that al Qaeda may attempt to carry out attacks against Americans in an effort to sway election results. McCain, among others, fears that violent insurgents in Iraq may try to step up attacks on American troops and force more casualties that could, in turn, sway how the American public votes.

While McCain may be a supporter of the buildup of troops in Iraq, he has criticized the way in which the war has been handled. He also disagrees with any plans to withdraw troops from Iraq anytime soon. He points out how recent attacks in Iraq are the direct result of al Qaeda's influence, and that they still pose a significant danger in the region.

As one of the strongholds of much of the world's energy sources, there is no doubt that control in Iraq will have a significant impact on energy and oil prices here at home. Those, in turn, will influence the American economy and the success of many businesses. Rising energy costs combined with our failing economy could be potentially fatal, especially to the small business owner who may not have unlimited resources to draw upon.

McCain's Strategy for Iraq

As part of his presidential campaign, McCain feels it is crucial to bolster the numbers of troops in Iraq so there are sufficient personnel to carry out their mission. With increased troops, insurgent strongholds could be cleared and then held peacefully, allowing Iraqi citizens to rebuild and create the infrastructure and economy necessary for continued success.

He also feels that violence needs to be stopped between Sunni and Shia factions, and the Iraqi army and police forces need accelerated training and equipment in order for them to be able to carry out their peacekeeping missions independently. McCain said the goal is to give the Iraqi people the tools they need to govern themselves, which would then enable us to bring our troops home. He emphasizes, though, that we cannot retreat until their government is both stable and self sufficient.

McCain criticizes the government's policy of rotating top American officials through Iraq. He believes those with the best knowledge and experience should be left in place, assuring continuity and building upon our successes over there, rather than sending new leaders who need to overcome a significant learning curve.

Finally, McCain calls for increased international pressure on countries such as Iran and Syria, who have been funding and arming the most violent factions of insurgents in Iraq, and who have been directly responsible for the deaths of many American soldiers.

McCain agrees that the road to success is going to be a long one, and that the American people need to be better educated about the realities of the war and the expectations of our troops and our citizens in order for us to achieve success. Iraq is crucial to ongoing peace in the Middle East, which in turn affects big business and independent businesses alike. It is a training ground for terrorists, many of whom are undergoing specific training to carry out attacks on the United States. In order for America to be secure, McCain believes we must see our mission in Iraq through to a successful conclusion.

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