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John Cox on War & Peace

Republican Party Chair, Cook County (IL)


Saddam was a threat to US because he had oil

There is a thin layer of Islam that is using oil. And let me tell you, Iraq is about oil. If Saddam didn't have oil, he would not have been a threat to the United States. We have got to get that oil pumping, we have got to get the Iraqis prosperous, we have got to get them to believe in their government so we can get our troops homes, so we can claim victory against these jihadists that would use religion to kill innocent people.
Source: 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007

Autonomy for Christians in Iraq's Nineveh region

Q: US policy has thus far failed Christians & other non-Muslim minorities in Iraq; their very existence is threatened. This would be a tragic and ironic outcome of Iraq's liberation. Do you support their political goals by endorsing the creation of an autonomous administrative area in their ancestral homeland of the Nineveh plains, as permitted by Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution?
Source: [Xref Paul] 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007

Must win in Iraq; fight terror over there, not over here

I believe we need to quickly build up Iraq's economy by returning oil production to full capacity so they can become self-sufficient, then we will be able to pull out our troops victorious. A prosperous people do not turn to terrorism. We must win the war in Iraq and elsewhere so we are fighting terror over there, not over here.
Source: Campaign website, cox2008.com Jul 2, 2007

Win war by making Iraq prosperous

Cox believes the Iraq war be won "by making the Iraqis prosperous. You can't just be the bully of the world." But "everybody wants prosperity," to wit the Kurdish area of northern Iraq which is doing quite well whereas the rest of that country has an economy that's "a million times worse" than before the 2003 US invasion. "People are suffering" and as a direct result, they are supporting the anti-American insurgency, said Cox, who as president "would focus a laser beam to get oil production up."
Source: John Kozoil, in "The Citizen", Laconia, NH Jun 11, 2007

Supported war; but now a disaster since oil pumping so low

Cox supported the war, but calls its mismanagement "nothing short of an absolute disaster--Iraqis are pumping less oil today than they were before we invaded."
Source: Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard, "Sane Fringe Candidate" May 21, 2007

Right to take the fight to the terrorists in Iraq

Q: Do you believe the war in Iraq was the right war to fight?

A: We were attacked on 9/11. I feel that Pres. Bush was right to take the fight to the terrorists. But the post-invasion rebuilding and security have been horribly mismanaged. We built a government and bureaucracy but didn't rebuild the economy the way we did in post WWII Germany & Japan. Iraq should be a wealthy, prosperous country today and we better get going on pumping their oil and rebuilding as soon as possible.

Source: Interview with "Small Government Times" Mar 6, 2007

Redeploy after Muslim forces replace Americans

Q: Do you believe in an immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq?

A: I would do whatever necessary to get their oil pumping at 100% of their capacity, rather than the 30% they are doing right now. Get the prosperity to the people and get our troops home. I would also get the Iraqi government to call on other democratic Muslim nations to put together a coalition of Muslim forces to replace Americans in the security role. That would allow us to redeploy to the borders and ultimately home.

Source: Interview with "Small Government Times" Mar 6, 2007

Success in Iraq means economy prospers & unemployment down

Q: In your view, when is the war in Iraq over? What specific goals need to be accomplished in Iraq before the United States can claim complete success?

A: The unemployment rate in Baghdad is 50% or more. Get people working and prosperous--using their oil revenue, not money from US taxpayers--and the security situation will stabilize and success will be achieved.

Source: Interview with "Small Government Times" Mar 6, 2007

Opposes troop surge in Iraq

Q. Are you in favor of the surge in troops?

A. People think we are there just to dominate that country. We are there to spread prosperity. I am not for the increase in troops. We ought to put those soldiers on the oil wells and pipelines and get those wells going. I am not for cutting and running. That country is sitting on an ocean of oil. That should be a wealthy country. Iraqis should be pumping it to the benefit of them, not for the benefit of us.

Source: John Beaudoin, Logan (IA) Herald-Observer Feb 7, 2007

Other candidates on War & Peace: John Cox on other issues:
Nominees:
GOP: Sen.John McCain
Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden

GOP V.P. Possibilities:
Gov.Haley Barbour(MS)
Gov.Charlie Crist(FL)
Mayor Rudy Giuliani(NYC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Sen.Joe Lieberman(CT)
Gov.Tim Pawlenty(MN)
Gov.Mitt Romney(MA)
Gov.Mark Sanford(SC)

Third Parties:
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin
Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr
Libertarian: Sen.Mike Gravel
Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
Liberation: Gloria La Riva
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Ralph Nader
Libertarian: Rep.Ron Paul
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Page last updated: Oct 01, 2008