McCain: Iraq Pullout Bad For Israel

Success of peace process linked to war’s outcome, GOP White House hopeful tells Presidents Conference.

In a message to the majority of American Jews who oppose continued U.S. presence in Iraq, Arizona Sen. John McCain on Tuesday told the community’s largest umbrella group that a “surrender” now would harm Israel’s security.

“If you believe that the State of Israel is going to be more secure if the U.S. fails in Iraq, we have an honest difference of opinion,” McCain told leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

The presidential candidate, who is lagging in polls behind frontrunner Rudolph Giuliani for the Republican nomination, noted that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a vehement enemy of Israel, had recently declared an intention to “fill the void” in Iraq following a U.S. withdrawal...

“If there is failure in Iraq and chaos and genocide there, we’re going to have one heck of a time having any progress in the Mideast.” More...