CNN

could Mc Cain be a bigger idiot? he's once again implying that hussein had WMD, and the capabilities to produce them, yet ALL of the intelligence reports contradict the bush admin's claims of the presence of WMD. there is PROOF that documents which would implicate iraq's involvement with 9/11 were forgeries by the US government, yet this is not making news headlines!!?? CNN and the rest of the mainstream media have their collective heads up their rear ends.
hussein had NO desire to attack the US under any circumstances, unless he were attacked first, as per intelligence reports.

Ridiculous – where are the WMDs that America claimed Saddam had, hence their reason to invade Iraq? Now it's the oil would have made Saddam rich! The reason to invade is now the "WOULDA, SHOULDA, HAVE". Maccain should djust mann up and say it was error of judgement to go and fight in Iraq and not this 'Woulda' reason he is giving now. Who knows may be America didn't invade Iraq and cause the middle east to be unstable, may be the oil wouldn't have reached $130 a barrel! Mccain please maan up and accept an error!

OH MY GOODNESS! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDIN!
BARACK DID INDICATE THAT THE gop & HENCHMEN
TAKE PRIDE IN BEING IGNORANT!

The bush crime family has groomed a complete OLD
PHOOL aka Keating Five Savings N Loan (Enron equivalence)
RIPP-OFF OF COMMON FOLKS HARD EARNED MONEY IN
THE 80's!

SOME NERVE WIFE IS BILLIONAIRE, AND HE'S FEELS OUR
PAIN! TOTALLY LAUGHABLE!!

OBAMA ! DUH!

Hmm..let's think about this rationally for a moment....

Aside from some of the points that all of you have brought up, if Saddam Hussein was still in power, we'd have to keep track of the nefarious activities of one person. Now, due to the multitude of militia and other military insurgencies running around there now, we have to keep track of many of them. The amount of oil hasn't changed, the possession of it hasn't changed.

In reality all removing Saddam Hussein from power did was make our job harder...To put it in perspective...is it easier to keep track of one toddler, or 20 running amok in your house ?

McCain earlier alluded that foreign policy would never again be driven by the need for oil and the media just looked at him quizzically and moved to the Obama/Clinton cat fight.

Will you "journalists" (CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, et. al) please give this the focus that it deserves. For years left-wing fringe conspiracy types have chanted, "No Blood for Oil". I never thought that I would see a "mainstream" candidate so out of control that he would advocate a policy of war to advance this country's oil needs. What's next, "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran"?

Hmm, I believe Saddam was blocked from selling oil on the open market by UN resolution. So, either Iraq under Saddam today wouldn't be selling oil or selling very little on the black market. Either way would make $$$ for Iraq.

Mc Cain seems to have a faulty memory on a lot of these issues.

RIGHT, RIGHT, THAT'S THE TICKET.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE IMBECILE'S THINKING OTHER

THAN THE FACT THAT IT'S AN ABSOLUTE LIE, IS THAT DUE

TO THE $10 TRILLION DOLLAR LOANS FOR THE WAR,

THE VALUE OF THE $ IS 30% DOWN. TO ADD INSULT TO

INJURY, THE SPECULATORS THAT CNANEY-BUSH &

MCBUSH LET LOOSE ( ENRON LIKE PREDATORS)

ACCOUNTS FOR ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PUMP UP.

YEA WE CAN SEE HOW THE IRAQ WAS SO GREAT FOR

OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY,IF YOU ARE A MORON. HE NEEDS

TO SELL SOME OTHER ABSURDITY TO GET A VOTE

FROM THOSE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THINKING.

EVERY ONE THAT BUYS GAS GOT THIS ONE FIGURED OUT.

well then ,, mccain,, why do u porpose we drill off shore here instead of stop importin oil from there??? we have enuff oil here to survive more years than we would live out,, so why do u porpose this???? open wells here that have oil and use it,,,, we are in times of crisis and thats what it was for,, what are we savin it for??? lets hear your statement on this,,,, ops i forgot u have to consult bush,, ummmm

There is no justification for the Iraq war. Al Qaeda wasn't there. Sadam didn't have the weapons, and invading a country and overthrowing their government is the most costliest and ineffective way to fight terrorism.

All we did was help them establish and develop the largest terrorist training camp in the world, and gave them our troops to practice on.

This "War" will go down as one of the worst mistakes we have made, only it wasn't a mistake. It was deliberate.

Hey fellas: The best and least expensive way to fight terrorism is with informants, undercover police agents, and cooperation between nations. The exact opposite of what we're doing now.

My opinion: THROW THE BUMS OUT!!

By the way, I'm retired military. Specialty: Antiterrorism.

If Sadam is still in power, we wouldn't have such as a high gas price.

If GW Bush is not president, we won't have high gas price.

If Al Gore was elected, we will have driving electric cars on our highways.

If Kerry was elected, we will be out if Iraq by now and would not have this gas price.

old wrinkly white haired dude will say anything to obtain the big crib. its a shame paris hylton can give a better speech than the presumptive redumblican nominee. she isn't as dumb as they thought she was. but as all who are smart enuff knew it wouldn't take long for the serogates of mcidiot to say paris hyltons economic plan was better than baraks. what a bunch of IDIOTS!!!!!!!

I am shock that this revealation is not eaten up by the media. Think about all the lives lost for Iraqi oil that we cannot , even in a thousand years, own. Mccain's argument is very disturbing and sends a very horrible message to the international community. It is irresponsible, ruthless,insensitive and reckless for Mccain to think that even with hindsignt ,that the war in Iraq is still justified in any way.

Perhaps someone needs to explain slowly and clearly to Senator McCain – if the Iraq aggression had not been committed by the US, there would not have been a) the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives (Iraqi and American), b) the maiming of tens of thousands of Iraqis and Americans, c) the wastage of hundreds of billions of dollars of US taxpayer funds and hundreds of billions of dollars of infrastructural damage caused in Iraq, making the lives of all Iraqis miserable for years, d) the great instability caused in world energy markets, and the resultant sky-rocketing of oil prices. It is the foolhardy policies and unilateral actions of Bush that McCain seems to love and endorse – that have contributed significantly to the current global crisis.

HA, HA, HA!!!

Are you kidding me???
Gas prices would never be this high if we hadn't invaded Iraq. Senator McCain, your support of this war will always be the albatross around your neck.

Once again the MSM doesnt pick up on this. When Obama said given hindsight he still wouldnt have supported the surge. Now, this was a huge deal for a week. McCain on the other hand has stated this before as well that given hindsight he would still vote to go to war. How come this isnt a huge news story. I mean knowing what we know today he would still invade Iraq. THATS NUTS!! Well, by McCain's logic we should be invading every country with a leader we dont like. SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA!!!! GOD HELP US!!!

It's funny that Saddam is already dead, and John McCain still predicting what he will be doing. Plus Saddam was in power for 10 years after the Gulf War and no WMD were found.

go look at the oil data at the St. Louis Fed's economic database. It's very clear that oil prices went up BECAUSE of the Iraq war in 2003. Go back and read the financial press from that time–the uncertainty related to the anticipated war in Spring 2003 is precisely what caused oil prices to rise. McCain's grasping at straws here–the botched war in Iraq is what started oil prices rising. Where were oil prices in the 10 years leading up to the war when Saddam was in power? Much lower.

It was only ever about oil. Nothing more, nothing less.
Military Petroleum Complex at its worst.
And 43% of American's want this walking band-aid commercial in the White House?

Dear Senator McCain;
What was the price of oil before the start of the war?
How many lives have been lost because of the war, not just American but all lives? The Christians say we are ALL CHILDREN of GOD, that is why I say all lives. What are the costs to look after all the injuried people because of the war.
I donot think that drilling for more oil of your shores will drop the price of oil anytime soon if at all.
Price of oil now is because of the war.
Guess what I say does not matter since I am from Canada, but then again I am paying high prices for gas too, so I guess what you do effects me too.
Take care

Wrong again McShameless! There would be no gas crunch but for the war in Iraq!! It was $27 a barrel, remember? (Maybe, you really don't remember. Hmmm)

What Bull!

McSane and Bush have no conscience. This country is in serious trouble if McSane is elected. He will use the same excuse to go after anyone who gets in their way .Greed ! Sadaam was no threat to us and over four thousand innocent Americans lost their lives because of lies. And people still would rather have someone who is Bush all over again.

Hussein was not America's enemy or the enemy of this economy!Hussein did not have that much influence to suggest that the whole world is better off without him!

The FACT IS: AMERICA AND THE WORLD ARE WORSE OFF BECAUSE OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION!!!!!

And no McCain, we WILL NOT give you the opportunity to nail us in the coffin that the Bush administration has put America in!!!!!!!!!

McaCain is right. Take the war to them. Let's wait and see what the peace loving radicals will do next- yeah right.

McCain 08

A TRILLION DOLLARS, MILLIONS DISPLACED, MAIMED, AND KILLED IS NOT WORTH ANY AMOUNT OF OIL.

BESIDES, WE WERE TOLD OVER AND OVER BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION THAT THIS WAR WAS ABOUT OIL.

BUSH WANTED REVENGE AND THE NEOCONS WANTED TO PROTECT ISRAEL.

WE ARE CERTAIN THE SCUM BAG WILL

COME UP WITH AS MANY NEW LIES AS IT

TAKES TO REPLACE THE OLD ONES.

…Looking at a face like McBush's, doesn't exactly give me...

"A FRESH FEELING"

OBAMA 08′
Yes We Can!!!!!

Stop all the drama, and VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!!!

The man is totally off his rocker, and it is getting worst instead of getting better. Whats next, that we are going to invade Iran under his administration? People better think twice b4 voting this lunatic into office.

which is why we are at war MCbush is looney can we risk him as president.

What McCain forgets is that our invasion of Iraq caused this high price of oil.

Oil was $25 a barrel when we invaded and its now $124 a barrel.

McSame needs some education or takes pride in arrogant ignorance.

Do you people that hate Iran realize that in one fell swoop, Iran could seriously cripple America's oil supply and cause the prices to skyrocket? Stop bashing and threatening Iran, leave them alone, and let's continue to work toward peace with this great nation. WMDs didn't go over very well before for the Bushies, so now they are trying to scare us with nukes. Sorry, republicans, not buyin' it.

LOL....really reaching for a reason there Johnny.

So Saddam would have bought WMDs with the US enforcing sanctions and the inspectors looking for them? I seem to remember Saddam allowing then inspectors in right before the US invaded and them finding nothing.

Admit you went after oil and I may have a shred of respect for you as a politician. I wonder what your excuse will be once the Olympics are done and China lets all those cars back on the road. What do you think that'll do to the worldwide demand and ultimately prices?

That's absolutely disgusting, McCain is using a fear scenario to justify his support of the Iraq war. Typical Republican.
Who on earth ever labelled him a "maverick"? You need to get your head checked.

I can't believe he said that, he should be writing comic books. It must be the old age kicking in!

sure....when you think about, Saddam didnt do squat to the U.S., so when we invaded Iraq rose gas prices!

So is McCain saying even if Saddam didn't have WMDs going to war would have been justified because of the possibility of Saddam manipulating oil prices? That's not a reason to go to war.
It sounds to me that the war was about oil all along. Think about how many lives have been lost, American and Iraqi, because Big Oil controls our government. That's why we need change.
It's a shame how Maveric McCain has become Bush/Cheney/McCain. Same old guys, same old politics.

Senator McCain has learned NOTHING inspite of what we now know about the catastrophoc consequences of the war he voted to fight

AND... doesn't Gramps realize that the reason Oil prices are so high is because WE STARTED A FRIGGIN' WAR in the middle of oil territory? If Saddam were still there, oil wouldn't have shot up the way it has.

How can anyone even remotely defend the loss of over 1million Iraqi's, over 4,000 American military personnel, thousands more wounded without comprehensive Veterans Benefit (which McCain is against) complete distabilization of the Middle East resulting in the continued increasing oil prices, US spending Trillions of dollars on the War which has not made America any safer.....and our lack of credible standing in the world.

GET THE FACTS AMERICA!!!!!!

Well my friends, bush, and mcCain are not alike. mcCain is older, and bush wasn't in the navy.

How exactly could Saddam Hussein have blackmailed us by putting MORE oil on the market? What McCain conveniently ignores is that one of the major reasons for the dramatic increase in the price of oil over the past few years has been the elimination of Iraq as a major producer. Say what you want about the brutality of the secular Saddam Hussein regime, but there are a number of things they had then which are sorely missed now: Law and order on the streets, strong opposition to Islamic extremism, and meaningful production of crude oil.

So John McCain's argument supports the theory that we went to war in Iraq, not for WMD, not for "liberating" the people, and not to fight terrorism, but FOR OIL?

Brilliant!

How stupid is this......... Now you all see John McWar does not need a real reason to go to war. I feel or I think or maybe and he's ready to attack. Let's talk about money , America has spent 40 billion on reconstuction so far in Iraq and yesterday it came out that Iraq has a 110 biliion surpplus of CASH that they're not spending. we're spending American tax payer money to rebuild a contry that we went into because of Bush lies that McCain supported and nowUSA is trillions in debt, American families loosing their homes gas prices so high that just getting to work everyday is a strain. This is just a spin so you think even though we went in for all the wrong reasons it was the right thing to do. I would vote for a dog with 2 legs before i would put my family in the hands of John McCain.

Hey guys, one of the boys was telling me that Senator McCain was going at it with a female voter about Illegal Immigration??? I gotta say, I didn't even see that. Oh boy, I had a feeling we were gonna see that sooner or later...

You make idiotic comments. Why people come to listen to you God only knows. Get off -you insane. McSurge. Even Paris beat you.

SRW You know better than to use irony. These guys don't understand it. You haver to come out and say that one of the reasons oil is so high is because Iraq used to be the second largest producer in the world and now produces less than a quarter of it's former output. Remember Dick Cheney saying Iraq oil would pay for the war?

A Wag at once said that all you have to do to to disabuse yourself about the wonders of democracy, was to spend about five minutes talking to the average voter. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars because of the neoconservatives advocation of so-called preventive wars, and the expansion of an 'American Empire' established by the existence of about 800 bases overseas. We spend more money on so-called national defense, then the entire rest of the world combined, and that does not even include the $100 + billion we spend fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan every year. When you brain dead, talking point, McCainiacs attack me, know that I am not a liberal, nor am I an Obama supporter. I am a traditional conservative, some use the term paleoconservative. For those of you who would like to actually educate yourself a little bit, rather than simply meaningless Scream invective, go to Wikipedia and search for the articles on neoconservatives. You might just be surprised to find out that their background is not conservative at all [low taxes, smaller government, no foreign intervention, no deficit spending], but rather quite the opposite. Oh hell–why waste my time to educate a bunch of baboons!

Dorsett Bennett
Attorney at Law

In the face of overwhelming, compelling evidence that....

The President lied to Congress,

lied to the American people,

put the finest fighting force in the world in harms way.....absolutley illegally , premeditated and deliberatley.

Injected viral, party driven members of his ilk into the justice system with intent to pervert the law and protect His administration....

We, as citizens must be honest with ourselves and each other.....

The man, the entire administration, needs to be indicted and investigated with vigor and vigilence in the name of truth and justice.

Have the courage to let the chips fall where they may.

If we dont do this..... history shall show.....that 4100 Americans and countless thousands of foreign nationals died ....in vain.

Victory in Iraq begins with justice here at home.

May God grant courage to the remaining, decent men and women of the justice dept.

Are you kidding me with the WMD thing? Where has McCain been the last five years? Is he going to re-sell justification for invasion based on WMDs? Does he think we're that stupid? Are we?

This is ridiculous. President Bush and Senator McCain think it is fine for the US to pay $150 billion for the war in Iraq and the Iraqi government has so much money from oil revenues that they recently sent government officials into the streets to give away money as a means of getting their economy going. Meanwhile, here at home American working families are struggling to pay higher energy costs, bridges are crumbling, and we're denying benefits to our veterans. Regardless of what Senator McCain says, his position on the war cannot be justified.

OH MY GAWD!!! What next?? If there were LESS Dinosaurs then Oil would be more scarce and because HE started a conservation program 26 million years ago he gets credit for it? Who Listens to this crap?? Now he is going BACK into history to make a case for the war and high oil ???

And folks want to put this guy in a position of power? What a loser! He still won't admit he got sucked in to the lie.

...

McShame: Would do it again.

Attack Iraq who never attacked us.

Ignore the people who did attack us.

This is the judgment of McShame that we need to worry about.

The terrorist who actually did attack us are as strong as ever BECAUSE we go into Iraq and took the focus off of the attackers.

AND

McShame would do it again!

Defend America NOT oil profits! McShame has been bought by ig oil for 1.3 mil

Whoa. It looks like those "No blood for oil" people are right after all.
The U.S. military isn't for defense but hired killers for cheap oil.
Thanks for coming clean McCain.

OK CNN – what gives?

August 7th, 2008 6:23 pm ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
If this guy has his way, we'll be at war forever. I smell the draft coming – men and women, single and married, kids or no kids.

He's a warmonger that gets a gleam in his eye when war is even mentioned.

BIG mistake

I believe that John McCain thinks if he hadn't been a POW, he could have single handedly won the Vietnam War.

ExxonMcCain 08

August 7th, 2008 6:23 pm ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
If this guy has his way, we'll be at war forever. I smell the draft coming – men and women, single and married, kids or no kids.

He's a warmonger that gets a gleam in his eye when war is even mentioned.

BIG mistake

So where is all that oil money going now, McSame?

This is an excellent question and probably divides democrats and republicans today, based on fundamental beliefs. There is no doubt that Saddam was an evil man. He attacked Iran and Kuwait. He used chemical weapons on Iranians and on Iraqi Kurds and Shiites. He attacked a US Navy ship in the Gulf prior to the first Gulf War (then claimed it was an accident). Saudi Arabia was scared to death of him as were most of his neighbors. It cannot be argued (successfully) that Saddam was not an evil and unpredictable man. A man who was perpetually confronting other nations and peoples and operating in a brinksmanship style with the UN and other countries.

After the first Gulf War (after invading Kuwait) he hated America and it is not hard to believe that he would be willing to seek revenge in some way against America. It would have been out of character for him to not do that. He was a constant threat as a human being. A man who killed as easily and naturally as sneezing. And he was going to successfully outlast the UN sanctions. By the time of the 2nd Gulf War most of the UN Security Council were tiring of maintaining sanctions and were showing signs of readiness to back away from them. Also, we now know that there were billions of dollars in kickbacks to Saddam from some of those nations – nations who had huge financial investments in Iraq which were stalled. That was the backdrop to the decision to topple Saddam – not terrorism. I don't know how it has morphed to terrorism today. It was over a fear of WMD. And if he didn't have them at the time of the 2nd war he was surely intent on re-developing them after the sanctions were removed, and he was succeeding in turning the UN tide of opinion by the time we toppled him. That is why we toppled Saddam Hussein. And whether he would have done us harm if we had left him alone we'll never know. But the basic reason for going in will remain that reason. If you think it would have been better to wait and see then you're probably a democrat. And if you think it was time to remove the threat then you're probably a republican.

Rob August 7th, 2008 6:40 pm ET

"Like him or not, John makes a good point on this."

Why didn't they go to Iran?

I'm convinced that you don't even know that Sadam was armed by the US and their allies. When you make a monster and he becomes uncontrollable, the only thing you cn do is to destroy him. That's what happened to Sadam. They tried the same with other terrorists but they were unsuccessful.

American policy needs a new direction, in case you've not yet understood it.

Rob, there is something else your John said you did not catch.

Doesn't it seem strange that the very thing we went into Iraq to prevent is happening right under the nose of our "Dear Leader"? He was supposed to save us from the bad guys so that we could go shopping. Well, the bad guys are here and always were, and we aren't going shopping because we can't afford to.

McSame is confused again....

Very poor logic and judgement for someone who hopes to be President.

Oil was like $25 / barrel in 2003!

McSame was among the other pro-war nitwits saying the Iraq war would pay for itself with all that oil!
We're spending a Trillion $$$ + High Gas prices for this Iraq war!

Wake up people!

Vets for Obama!

Had we not gone into Iraq, we would have a $1Trillion in Iraqi War expenses that we could have used to subsize these higher oil prices..

I'm betting that would have been the cheaper route to take ... oh and we'd have 4,200 US troops still alive.

high oil prices is good enough reason to let 4,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis die? Just for him to even say this is EVIL.

Really??? Just how uninformed and gullible does this guy think the vast majority of Americans are?

To all those of you who say the Obamatons are "drinking the kool-aid", just take a look at McCain's recent pronouncements and tell me if you don't reconsider:

In just the past few weeks, McCain has:
– FORGOTTEN the difference between Shiia and Sunni,
– MISTAKENLY claimed Iraq borders Pakistan,
– FALSELY claimed that Obama wants to tax energy,
– FALSELY said that proper tire pressure would not help conserve gas consumption, admitted he doesn't know that much about the economy,
– BALKED and blushed when asked if it was fair insurance companies covered Viagra but not birth control pills,
– SAID the now defunct country of Czechoslovakia still exists, and
– FALSELY said Iran (Shia) helps Al-Quaeda (Sunni)

Now he's claiming that he foresaw high gas prices and believed they posed such a danger, he believed it worth authorizing a war that has so far cost billions and has caused the death of more than 4,000 American servicemen and women as well as tens of thousands of Iraqis? That's quite a stretch, even for the self-proclaimed "Maverick"

He will do anything to justify his blunder. 4,000 and counting Americans dead and trillions of $ wasted. If Sadam were there, their bitter rival Iran would not be so powerful. They offset each other.
McCan't is a desperate IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I suggest anyone who falls for this crap, volunteer and go on over... or send your son and daughter. Do you think their lives would be worth me getting gas a little cheaper?

He is an IDIOT>

Sadam is dead. So why are the prices through the roof? Does this mean we need another 100 years of war? Is that why McCain is preaching 100 more years of war? I'm not in agreement of his drill, bomb, drill, bomb, drill right here, drill right now message.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!?!

Prewar gas prices..roughly 1.50? I just paid 4.04!!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

THIS MAN IS SENILE...he's a LIAR and a PANDERING HAWKISH GOON.....He'd blame Hussein for global warming if he thinks it would justify a STILL UNJUSTIFIED WAR and get him a couple votes along the way. AMERICA IS SMARTER THAN YOU JOHN MCIDIOT!

Officially Ticked off!

Independent 4 OBAMA '08

Weak argument from a weak mind. Leave it to this fool to try to draw a line from the Iraq war started a few years ago to what is happening now–and conveniently forgetting that the demand for oil drives it's prices up......dummy.

WAKE UP AMERICA.......... ITS NOT THE LACK OF OIL THE RAW PRODUCT........ ITS THE LACK OF REFINERIES THAT IS DRIVING UP THE PRICE OF OIL.......... NOW I,M NO POLITICIAN AND I CAN FIGURE THIS OUT ...........WHY CANT THE TWO IDIOTS RUNING FOR OFFICE THINK OF A SOLUTION LIKE THIS........LET A STATE BUILD THE REFINERY AND LET THAT STATE SELL THE PRODUCT AND KEEP THE PROFITS..... WE DON,T NEED THE OIL COMPANIES TO BUILD THE REFINERIES........ SOME ONE SEND THIS TO OBAMMA

All people with IQ 100 or lower should vote McCain, the rest please vote Obama.

Why does McCain have to repeat his words to make a point?The war in Iraq was about the oil.Now we find that the major oil companies
are trying to bid to drill.Gas prices are going down at this 3.58 in my
town now we complain high prices they will lower the prices gradually
when they think they can the price where people are complaining
that is what we will paying until the next.Read an article in 1975 Time
magazine at that time gasoline prices new car prices all going up,
and natural gas shortage.Double page ad
title America"s coal: a gold mine of energy talking what Exxon is doing to help put coal"s energy to work today..Ad decision 75 energy independence-will we go where the action is?Coal is the anwer;Now. This in 1975 still talking but doing nothing.

McCain, you friggin idiot, the reason why gas is so expensive is because your little war has cost us so much that the dollar is worth nothing. Your war leads to insecurity in the Mid East and artificially raises the price of oil.

You and your party are the reason why oil is so expensive, so don't pretend you are a prophet and you voted for war when oil was $40/barrel because you knew, all these years later, that oil would be $120.

And CNN, when are you going to call McCain out on this kind of BS?

Nice try McCain, trying to put a good spin on why we went to Iraq. Since you can't win the foreign policy debate, now you're trying to spin this on speculation.

We are there for oil. You admitted that yourself when you had a senior moment a few months back. Never was and never will be about WMDs and bringing democracy.

Obama/Sebelius 2008/2012.

McCaint is shameless, and very dangerous if he cannot come to grips with the fact that the Iraq bush war HAS ONLY COST AMERICANS in every way!

The Iraq war has not benefited Americans in any way.

Yet McCaint continues to support his huge bush blunder?

Even clearer reason to not allow McCaint to continue the failed bush policies, and further destroy America.

I am in the US Army and I realized that had it not been for the WAR Bush would not be President in 04 either. McCain shows his ignorance everyday, Saddam was under UN restrictions and could only sell a few hundred barrels per year. The notion that he would have benefit is a huge dose of BS because oil would not have been that high. The WAR caused the industry to manipulate the markets, the Saud's got rich, the bombers came from Saudi Arabia and we went to Iraq, where is the outrage. The Saudi's are the one who instigated the WAR, and are pushing to go to Persia to attack the Persians. I am sure the Sauds are busy building Nuclear Wepons but no one is watching. John McCain has no military success except been a Prisoner of WAR. In training he crash 5 airplanes, so more or less he crash in Vietnam and everyone said he was shot down,...it is the biggest frabication of a lie ever! This guy is a fraud and a weasel!

WOW. MCCAIN REALLY HAS A TALENT FOR SPIN. EVEN AFTER 9/11 THE CONCENSUS WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO GO TO AFGANISTAN TO CONFRONT THE WAR ON TERROR. WE DISREGARDED THE ACTUAL INTELLIGENCE, DECLARED WAR ON A SOVEREIGN NATION, ARE LOSING THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN LIVES, HAVE A WEAKENING ECONMY DUE TO THE WAR AND GOP ECONONMIC POLICIES, AND ARE WITNESSING THE WIDEST GAP BETWEEN THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS IN THE PAST 40 YEARS. TO SAY THAT WE WOULD BE WORSE OFF IF WE NEVER WENT IS UNTRUE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ANY LEADER TO SAY.

WE ALREADY HAD A PRESIDENT WHO WOULD NOT ADMIT A MISTAKE. AMERICA, LETS ACKNOWLEDGE OUR MISTAKE IN CHOOSING BUSH BY SELECTING THE DEMOCRAT THIS TIME AROUND. THE COUNTRY DESERVES IT.

OBAMA 08

Right...just like he was doing during all those years he held office? When was Iraq ever a legitimate international concern? Sure they were regional bullies, but didn't Saddam have enough time between Gulf War I and Gulf War II to build wealth sufficient to buy what he wanted?

John McCain wants nothing more than to find new justification for this fiasco, all the while ignoring the original, and misleading, reason we went there in the first place. McCain's like that stubborn grandfather who refuses to buy a touch-tone phone, even though his arthritis acts up every time he turns the rotary.

Welcome to the 21st Cent., Senator McCain. It's time to retire.

THE ENDS DON'T JUSTIFY THE MEANS!!! Is this guy an IDIOT or what??

The high cost of oil is BECAUSE of the WAR IN IRAQ!! This is a no-brainer!!

Of course, McCain IS a no-brainer... which is why it all makes sense, if only to him!!

McCain's an idiot. Bush asked the Saudis for oil, what are the Saudis doing with their oil revenue. I guess they too are using the money to make WMD's along with OPEC that control the cost of oil. What an idiot.

The reason we have high gas prices is BECAUSE we went into Iraq . Sure, Saddam isn't making the money, the oil companies are!!! Profits they wouldn't be seeing if we hadn't gone into Iraq. Saddam would never have witnessed such high oil prices. Don't let McCain, Bush and Cheney pull the wool over your eyes. We wouldn't be in this mess if we had avoided this situation in the first place. Don't be a sheep!!!

This man ties every domestic issue to WAR.
Yesterday he called for an economic surge, which nobody in the world knows what the hell he's talking about. Now he's linking the iraq war to the price of oil. Well, as long as we're gonna blame the war for everything, McCain is senile because of the was in Vietenam. Psyche..he's senile because he's old. LOL

So does this mean we are invading Iran next? Iran is sitting on bigger total oil reserves than Iraq, it has an active nuclear (weapon?) program (unlike Iraq, whose nuclear program was apparently defunct prior to the invasion), and Iran's president spends most of his time verbally attacking the U.S. and Israel. Just imagine what Iran can do with the sky-high oil price. How do we deal with the Iran threat when our troops are tied up in Iraq, Mr. McCain?

I thought Saddam Hussein ALREADY HAD WMD's, John.

Could someone please send John to a branwashing facility? All i hear is Bush, Bush, Bush ideas, similarities.

Get rid of him, please, vote for anyone else, or don't vote! But not him!

He is so old and forgetful and lives in the past!!!

oh, and by the way, the invasion and destabilization of Iraq led to the high oil prices!!!!
-----–
Why was McCain for his insignificant $40 tax break, but opposes Obama's substantial $1000 break?
He says, out one side of his mouth, taxing oil companies is close to unpatriotic; then brags how he voted against tax break to oil companies??? it's a wee bit confusing!

So we go to war for energy sources now? Oh man, my children are screwed!

I love to read liberals whining... Now c'mon my starbucks drinking, volvo driving friends, who has better Judgment on matters of military commitments and foreign policy – McCain or Obama?

McCain supported the surge (i.e., anti-insurgency strategy) which has created a stable Iraq and the opportunity for our troops to return honorably, whereas Obama – not only opposing the Surge – proclaimed that it could not succeed. Now we all see who had the better "judgment" on that issue. But despite this, Obama (who flip flops on every other issue) can bring himself to say that he was wrong in opposing and would vote against it knowing it would be a success??? Why – because he can't admit that he was wrong? It is this type of liberal arrogance that will make Obama a terrible President if he is elected.

Therefore, since Obama told Hillary is was Judgment – and not experience – that matter, since McCain has both I am voting for him.

so it was over oil....

Certainly sinking $500 billion of borrowed money into a war that destabilized and stirred tensions with the middle east while investing next to nothing in alternative energy for eight years had no effect on gas prices. What a shameless panderer. Republicans make me sick.

Hmmm...

I'm willing to accept $4 / gallon in gas if it means that 4000 troops won't have to lose their lives and countless other troops won't be injured.

I'd also be willing to accept $4 / gallon in gas if it meant that the US was not responsible for the death of over 100,000 innocent Iraqi citizens.

You got to be kidding me, how stupid do the GOP think we are. You can go start wars on "What Ifs"... God help america if this Bozo gets the job....

And the evil leprechauns would be building pixie dust bombs, the tooth fairies would be stealing nickels from under pillows, and gnomes are trying to undermine our national security.

Get a grip, this is an election for President of the United States, not story telling hour.

Obama 08

If McCain asked for a second splurge in Iraq, which is inevitable under his policies, would you still believe the first one was a success? Some of his lug nuts actually would!
I couldn't quite hear him, did he say the surge was a 'precarious victory' or a 'Petreus victory'?

It was MUCH lower before we invaded!

I'm confused, he was supporting the Iraq war, then he may agree to 16 month withdrawal, then he justifies it? Can you say FLIP FLOP?

Obama '08

What a joke!

I am so sick of hearing President Bush and his cronies trying to post-justify the Iraq War.

Do we deserve another 4 years of this with McCain?

I

JUST

DON'T

GET

THIS

GUY!!!!!!

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE TO IRAQ AND MCCAIN CAN'T ADMIT HE MADE THE WRONG DECISION BY VOTING WITH BUSH TO DECLARE WAR.

Good move McCain blame the dead.

Sure. Okay John - you win. Saddam Hussein would be trying to acquire WMD - so that he could TAKE OUT IRAN, you numbskull.

Saddam Hussein had no problems with the U.S., until about 1991, when our OTHER boneheaded president decided to invade his country. History lesson, McCain - please go and talk to your buddy Don Rumsfeld, who visited the "evil dictator" ten years before, shook hands with the guy, and promised our unwavering support for Iraq.

We did. WE, meaning the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, provided material aid to Iraq, in the form of plans and materials and advice on how to create said weapons. GE, Dupont, Dow, and numerous other corporations engaged in helping this "madman."

So - what you are saying is that if Saddam Hussein were still alive, he would be taking care of our "other" problem for us. Thanks for telling us now. We can all safely put you in our back pocket, and vote for your competitor.

Go Obama '08.

Sammy
Boston, MA

So then McCain would vote the same, even with hindsight. Honestly, I supported the war early on, but was able to see that it was a mistake as time went on. McCain is clueless, and the fact that he can't even admit his vote was wrong in hindsight tells me that he's a danger to this country's future.

Actually most real economists agree that speculation has very little to no affect on oil prices. Using anecdotal evidence to try and prove a point is absurd and should be universally condemned (since it typicaly works on stupid ppl).

Otherwise I could just say that most of Oil's rise was after the democrats gained a lot of seats in the house and senate during the 06 elections......Therefore the democrats caused oil prices to skyrocket. Makes sense....right?

The tax cut for the wealthy funded China's growth to American workers detriment. Rather than invest it here they invested in China to build the plants that took away American jobs. Now those same foreign workers who are buying cars are driving up the price of gasoline.

The tax break was a double wammy for American workers. Not only was the capital used to outsource their jobs but now the oil demands by the low wage employees who tooks those jobs is pushing up fuel prices and creating more misery and unemployment.

The wealthy tax break is a job eating ebola virus to the American economy. John McCain thinks this is wonderful.

You know, maybe if supporters of the Iraq war had just used these kinds of arguments in the first place, instead of scaring people with lies about WMDs, these claims would have some merit. Now, however, they are just the cries of politicians trying to save their political records.

Again McCain is taking the low road with the fear mongering. Please don't let this war crazed wacko into our white house...

McCain/Draft 08..

John McCain once again is a fraud. He wanted to go to Iraq in 1998. He tried to push a bill to invade Iraq before Bush was even in office. McCain is nothing but a warmonger and will find any justification to attack someone. I don't think he can go a full term as president without starting a new war with someone. He will destroy America when he gets the entire world to hate us. Our military is strong, but we can't take on the entire world like McCain wants to.

Rediculous.

THIS IS WHY MCCAIN LOVES TOWNHALL MEETINGS.

HE CAN MAKE ABSURD RESPONSES WHEN HE DOESN'T OUTRIGHT LIE TO QUESTIONS THAT HE EITHER HAS NO ANSWER TO, OR KNOWS THE ANSWER WILL BE A NEGATIVE AGAINST HIM.

He does not want to be in a controlled environment where there are people who know the facts and can ask follow up questions to make him clarify some erroneous statement or make him retract it because the facts don't support what he said.

He would rather be in townhalls where he can grandstand or give a false answer and move on without being challenged.

This response is just one more example of what I'm talking about.

High oil prices are a direct symtom of a weak dollar. Bush and congress have kept the US dollar weak by taking on trillions of dollars in debt on the bank of China credit card for a war that shouldn't have been authorized.

Therefore if we didn't invade Iraq the dollar wouldn't be as weak and oil prices would be at reasonable.

You McCain/Bush/GOPers & Independents should be upset! The reasoning to attack a sovereign nation was for OIL... How many more ways does the message has to be told...we invaded Iraq for oil! we are not safer nor is gas cheaper. This dictator crap.. is a farce... Cuba 50 miles from our coast and Castro as a dictator... we've done nothing. McCain's ideas are like his age....OLD!

MCBUSH YOU ARE CONFUSED.

What about all the people Saddam and his sons tortured and killed.
If you don't think the money he would have made on oil was reason enough to take him out of power what about helping the people in his country.
He was a dictator who wanted to rule the world and he would have done anything he could to do so. The war was necessary. Iraq and everybody in the world are better off today than they were with him in power.

His crowds look bigger.

Freedom is the only true justification for the Iraq vote. To free the people of Iraq from the wrath of Saddam Hussein and to instill the possibility of freedom into the minds of all the people of the Middle East. As we've seen throughout history, once one country in a region becomes free, the people of the other surrounding countries will demand the same. Let's hope what we've started in Iraq, can sweep across the Middle East and into Africa and Asia. The seed may have not been planted very well, but let's still hope it grows for those peoples' sake.

What a load of croc!! This guy has lost it!!

who CARES at this point!!! We are there, we have created a mess and made the whole region less stable--we are not safer than we were-we have only inflamed Islamic fundamentalists even more...........it is ridiculous he is talking about this now

It is amazing that Senator McSame expects anyone with half a brain to believe this nonsense.

I thought that sddam had an oil for food program going on... not a money for food program... let's check the facts CNN

John MCbush is at it again he's either senile or crazy. MCcain a brand vwe cannot trust in.

Is this guy running for commander-in-chief for the iraq war? Did he hear the news from iraq today?
mcWAR IS REALLY LOSING HIS BEARING.

Still trying to justify why we invaded Iraq.

First it was because Saddam caused 911.

Then it was to get rid of those WMD's.

Then it was to dethrone mean Saddam.

Then it was to give Iraqis FREEDOM AND LIBERTY!

Now it is the WAR ON TERROR!

And McCain has a NEW reason........it is about.......OIL!

Show Me The Oil MoeCain
Drill Right Here, Right Now!
Drill, Drill, Drill!

The Oil Companies have made financial history, and still crying broke!
We can't afford to drill drill drill inland, Please help us Sen. McClown.

"John Mcain is the oldest celebrity in the world, like super-old, old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket," "but is he ready to lead?"

So, according to McCain, it's ok to have our brave men and women in the military killed for cheaper oil. McCain is bigger scum then I gave him credit. Let's get this clear, those of you who vote for McCain think it's fine to be killed for cheap oil. Isn't that what McCain is saying? Obama makes more sense all of the time.

Great! Now John McCain is a psychic!!!!

What an idiot!!

What is McCain trying out for, a stand-up comedian? I can hardly wait to hear more of his lame excuses for voting for Bush's humongously stupid and costly Iraq war! Yeah, we are so much better off spending trillions of US dollars in Iraq, causing their oil production to be a target of the internecine wars, meaning they have less oil for sale. And that's yet another reason gasoline is so expensive now.

What is up with this guy anyway? Please remember Obama voted against this stupid war, exhibiting the calmness and sensibility we need in our next president.

It wouldn't even BE this high if we hadn't invaded.

Yes, now we have created another alli and Democratic society, this is good for Iraq and our country. No More Dictatorship for the Iraqi's thanks to the USA. The least amount of Dictatorship countries the better off the world is. We will be coming home soon and treat out defenders/Military with great respect for their contribution to Democracy!

OMFG! This has to be themost asinine statement uttered by a politician. Foreign policy credentials?? Lord help us.

Does this idiot think voting for the war was going to make the price of oil go down. By the time we get through spending money over in Iraq its not going to matter what the price of oil is one way or another.

How can you make a claim like that completely based on hypotheticals? That's like saying if Walt Disney were still alive, we wouldn't be paying $75 per child to enter, we'd only be paying $70.

What a joke old man, I wish the pollsters would do some real polling, instead of just calling senior citizens. Get the real numbers out there, don't believe it! Obama will win by huge numbers, the media is just trying to milk it for what its worth. No more news these days, its all about entertainment.

Re-regulate the media once elected Prez. Obama!

This is borderline insensitive consider thousands of Americans and untold numbers of Iraqis have lost their lives over a war that we clearly were misled into waging. Now Senator McCain using the oil to justify the vote??? Once again I'm forced to wonder about my party's leadership and direction. Please Senator McCain, think about the lives lost over your vote & the fact that you were misled like many of us.

It seems that everyone has forgotten that Suddam Hussein was completely blocked in, under Presadent
Clinton, and wasn't involved in 9/11/03. With the Billions
of Dollars we've spent on this useless war, we could buy
a lot of oil.

Now that's what I call a an extremely MISLEADING title, CNN. You make it sound as if he is saying that high gas prices would be a justification for going to war. What he said is completely different–that if we hadn't gone to war, Saddam Hussein would currently be taking advantage of the high gas prices. And then you quickly mention that he "elaborated" on other reasons, without elaborating yourself about the reasons for going to war.

McCain; is it your age that makes you incoherent? Or is it me?

McCain can lie and distort the truth. I thought the justification for invading Iraq was to find WMD's, the so called "smoking gun"! 5 years later and not one nuclear head has been discovered. Now high oil prices was the justification.

America...don't be fooled again!

So it was all about the oil ...eh? I am sure the tension your war caused in that region drove up the price of oil. There is no way the price would hit that level is iraq and thw whole of that region was peacefull........use a little brain you dummy!

Hey "LeMonton", why can't you have an intelligent conversation without the usual "Mc"isms? Are you so simple minded that you cannot make a point without childish name calling? You know, it really makes your who argument mute because of the obvious ignorance and childishness that frames it.

Sadam was found by sheer luck in that dark hole he was hiding in...He would still be hiding today.

What a pathetic statement! Oil is currently at the high prices BECAUSE of the war AND because the US government is trying to persuade people to agree to off-shore drilling and drilling in other protected areas.

Right...no WMD so we are justified for going to war for Oil. Hell lets NUKE em all and take what we want. For that matter if you follow the logic of what he is saying then the stronger are justified in taking what they want from the weaker. Good Christian right and a rousing way to end civilization.

In a McCain campaign "Economic Communications Plan" that was obtained by the Huffington Post, an aide to the Senator lays out several themes, tactics and objectives to shore up the Arizona Republican's standing on the economy and paint Barack Obama as a "job killing machine."

"Our polling tells us that Americans are still not tuned into what the candidates might do to fix the economy," reads the memo. "We have an opportunity to fill in that gap."

The strategy, which was authored by Taylor Griffin - a veteran of the Bush White House and Treasury Department who serves McCain as a senior adviser - seems built around traditional themes. The McCain campaign will paint Obama as being "aligned with trial lawyers" and "unions (card check, trade, education reform)," and push the frame that he "raises taxes" and "will kill jobs."

In contrast, McCain will be positioned as a bold leader on economic matters, someone who has a "record of taking on corporate interests" and will "fight speculation driving up prices of oil and food" as well as "the lawsuit culture." per Hunt. Press.
Sen. McCain and his Evil Empire!

Same OLD Washington Junk

hasn't oil risen partially (or more) because of the war in iraq and the increased instability in the middle east? Oil wasn't this expensive before the war, so how could it have been a justification?

Keep trying to justify that war Johnny boy.

The high oil prices are a result of the Iraq war, not a justification.

People often forget the amount of violations that Sadam racked up during the Clinton administration when our inspectors were shot at and ran off from his facilities. The UN enacted sanctions on Iraq multiple times but Sadam refused to cooperate. He was intent on obtaining WMD (same as Iran) and was a threat to the U.S. and it's allies. We are better off now that Sadam is gone and this war is turning into a success for the American people and the rest of the world. Good judgment Senator McCain! J-Mac 2008.

This is nuts, considering that the whole reason that oil prices are where they are is because of the instability WE have created in the Middle East. Prices were a lot lower before we got there.

"Saddam’s “brutal” human rights record." You mean he oppressed and tortured people? Spied on his own citizens? Kind of like the United States is doing?

WOW... so its totally cool to go to war over the price of oil? Because Saddam might use the money made off of it to do what he pleases? We should run straight for Iran of Venezula right now then. Get your kids and send them to your closest Military Entrance Processing Station!

Does McFear remember that Saddam had essentially agreed to allow inspectors in the country indefinitely?

Yeah... just forget about the fact that the Enron Loophole on oil speculation that McCain voted for is the primary reason why oil prices are so high.. and forget the fact that it's the GOP cronies that are getting rich from the high oil prices...

McCain and his speculation,... but Obama said it best... he has facts on his side... not speculation,

Could it be McCain has ESP to predict what Sadam would do today or maybe he is just trying to justify his IRAQ vote?

Let me answer the question: McCain realize he need to defend his vote and putting feelers out there for voters. McCain wants Obama to say the "surge" is working and Obama will say America wouldn't be in this mess if we didn't invade Iraq. I bet he will say something similiar during debates with Obama when asked "Senator do you regret voting for the war?"

Ridiculous. How did he know back then that oil prices would go sky high? Hindsight doesn't count. He wasn't thinking about oil prices then, just how to fight a war that the American people didn't want and he did. Trying to justify a war is signature McCain. He's still thinks we could have won in Vietnam if we'd stayed there long enough.

This just proves how little John McCain knows about things on the world stage, and how unready he is to be President.

Back when Saddam was in power, Iraq was heavily sanctioned, and the only oil that was able to leave Iraq was via the United Nation's Food for Oil program. Saddam wasn't making any money off of it, period. There were questions about where the food was going, but no money.

Looks like someone forgot their ginko biloba.

I think maccain is not feeling ok did he ever think maybe iraq people themself may have removed him from power or sadam may die of natural causes i can't believe people listen to this guy he has totally lost his mind and i believe the old age is really affecting the way he thinks this guy takes americans for a fool.

So you admit you want to use foreign oil mccain? It would be soooo easy to just throw together tons of solar panels, wind power, and the much forgotten geothermal generators. Please don't let this scary old senile man run this country, we've had enough!

...McCain concluded, “If he( Saddam Hussein ) were still in power, I believe that the world would be far worse off, especially with all the money he’d be making off of oil.”

OTHER-WISE,
if we hadn't gone in to Iraq,
over 4000 Americans would still be alive,
thousands more would still have arms, legs, eyesight, misc. body parts,
and mental stability yet intact! (hundreds of soldiers have committed suicide after they get back home.)

Our economy wouldn't be trillions of dollars in debt either....

He would be keeping Iran in check so we would not have to McBush.

That's very convinient Johnny McShame...

After the fact it is very, very easy...

Now that Saddam is not in power and the GOP/Bush/McCain oil friends are strangulating all of us to make a quick buck... it is very very easy...

Of course! Why we did not think of that before...if Saddam Hussein would have still be in power not only he would have blackmailed the US with Iraq's oil...

but also he would have probably staged a 9/11 part deux...maybe on 9/12/2002...

or he would have nucked NYC and D.C. with all the nuclear weapons he was producing...

or gas Wall Street, Chicago and Los Angeles with all the biochemical weapons he had...

or Iraq would have become Al-Queda and Taliban heaven part 2 after Afghanistan...

etc, etc, etc...

The end of the world would have came to us if it wasn't for McCain, Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Halliburton, the GOP, 4000+ American lives and 3 trillion dollars of the taxpayer's money that saved the world from big bad Saddam Hussein and his evil plot.

Of course, the current high oil prices wouldn't be partially the result of the war, and current tensions with Iran, would it?

Like him or not, John makes a good point on this.

“If he were still in power, I believe that the world would be far worse off, especially with all the money he’d be making off of oil.” Remember, he found a way to hoodwink the vaunted and scary-tough UN and profit on the oil for food deal.

The best way to take us down is to mess with our economy...look what's been happening to us for the last eight months....

Ending the Iraq war won't make everything automatically perfect again – THEY'VE got the oil and we're proving we WON'T get off it....

McCain, pleaseeeeee! Saddam is gone! Thanks to your buddy. What others tricks you got in your bag.

Really. That's the stupidest thing I've heard this joker say yet. Oil is so expensive BECAUSE OF the Iraq war. What the hell is wrong with this guy?

McCain is an idiot. We went to war with Iraq over a Bush lie, and he bought hook, line and sinker. How many soldiers have been killed because of his mistake.

Oh John... The more you speak, the crazier you sound! Keep up the good work!!!!!

McCain means to say "I will go to war with every country that does not listen to UN mandates and poor human rights records." Do not give this narrow-minded man power to run this country!!!! He is just another Republican stooge. He is not even the real McCain anymore. I use to like that man, but now he's a puppet of BIG OIL!!!

Does Senator McCain not realize that high oil prices are DUE in large part to the war in Iraq?

Gee I thought the Iraq war disrupted the flow of oil from Iraq and was one of the factors driving the price of oil up. You mean the Iraq war didn't disrupt the flow of oil from Iraq causing the high price per barrel? Wait a minute, what kind of reasoning is that; Saddam would be reaping the profits from the rise in price of oil that was caused by his overthrow and death? Wait a minute, wait a minute, what planet are you from again?

idiot jist like Bush

If this line of reasoning makes any sense to anyone, please enlighten me.

Hey Bill! I suppose ten billion $ a month to secure/steal Iraq's oil has a better rate of return on investment than say some policy that sends billions upon billion dollars a year through the hands of American corporate middlemen, on its way to oildoms. Lots of Liberty leaving America? Liberty and Common Sense Just like drunks in denial?

In this case, I don't think it's CNN's absurdities – it's McCain's...

Could it be McCain has ESP to predict what Sadam would do today or maybe he is just trying to justify his IRAQ vote?

Me thinks Senator McCain is one ignorant Member of Congress (just like everyone of the neo-cons who have perverted the Republican Party). President Bush's vendetta against Saddam Hussien is the reason why oil prices are as high as they are. Everytime I hear McCain speak, he sounds more like a doddering old fool.

OH. My. God.

A war that is increasingly revealed to be started as a total FARCE and outright LIE...now gets revisionist history from John McCain?

This is so farfetched, so incredibly ridiculous, that it may well be beneath anything resembling "real news" and belongs instead in your medical section under "McCain Developing Alzheimers."

I think the old dude always forgets about the facts when speaking. Did Sadam really have any WMDs when Iraq was invaded? Oil prices would not be this high since Iraq would have kept Iran in check.

Sorry John, but invading another country because they have a precious resource you want is terribly immoral any way you slice it.

It was a immoral in 2002. It was immoral in 2003. It was immoral in 2004 during the Kerry debacle. It was immoral before the surge and on the brink of civil war. And it's still immoral now even though we are "winning".

Come on, America. Stand up for America and get the warhawks out of power. They have disgraced our country.

I like Obama but I'd be pleased with someone who votes for Barr also, at least he's against the war.

Sure. Lets go to war with all the nations with scoundrel world leaders who would profit from their own natural resources. That would make the world a much safer place, us blowing the begeezus out of it that is! Just ask the +100,000 dead Iraqis if they feel safer now that we stepped in to help.

McCains statements are the strained ramblings of a sick and demented mind. Nothing but fear mongering and desperation.

The neo-con playbook – with the emphasis on CON and with McCain 100% in support:

1) Invite the oil executives into the white house to write the energy policy
2) start a preemptive war that disrupts the middle east so profoundly that it drives the price of oil up
3) eliminate protections against jobs going overseas, in fact offer business marvelous tax breaks for doing so
4) wink-wink-nod-nod at China's pollution and human rights abuses while they gear up their oil consumption at break neck speeds (don't forget to invest the Chinese stocks)
5) pretend that none of this has anything to do with skyrocketing oil prices
6) collect huge campaign contributions and returns on your oil stocks for your efforts

sit back and let the $$ pour in, all the more so because of the Republican special tax breaks for the rich.

If we hadn't invaded in the first place, gas prices wouldn't be where they are today, so McCain's comments are misguided and just plain WRONG. Who would be stupid enough to believe this!?

Yep, McCain is the same as Bush – they both want the OIL and all the money from it !!!

McCain = warmongerer
McCain = Bush
McCain = chaos!

Did he answer the question? Does he EVER answer the hard questions?

Doesn't McCain realize that the reason for high oil prices is the conflict in the middle east that he and George W. Bush initialized?

And the truth will set you free! We invaded Iraq for oil, and McCain just admitted it.

Save your breath McCain. The left wing nuts supporting Obama don't care what say, because they have already made up their mind. They have short memories of Saddam and his brutal regime or they don't care about the Iraqi people. So just stick with the program and give it to Obama.

By the way don't even think about getting a Democrat as your VP.
Take the Governor of Alaska a woman with principle and great public servant. Obama will be crushed with her on your ticket.

Can someone please convince him to just collect his pension and social security and give us all a break!

we are not stupid ...Mc Cain.....Sadam did not take the deal that we offered him....similarly like the deal that we have with the Sadis ......and that is why we invaded.....Sadam never had WMD's .....our big American balls led us to think that since we put him in power that we can take him out...........have you noticed all these terrorist or enemies of the state were either trained or put into power by the US......GOP you can put as much sugar as you want on a turd and you still have a turd ........

finally...FINALLY.,,,after 4137 (and, incidentally, counting....) died for it, a member of the Moron's (bush) party has acknowledged that the war was for one reason...OIL! of course, all other reasons the moron gave for initially invading that sovereign country (hmm...wasn't Poland a sovereign country when HITLER invaded IT in 1939...??)–something to think about,no?) having long since been proven false..no WMD's, no al-queda connectiion prior to the invasion, no threat to U.S.....OIL is the only one that remains, and that alone will justify McGoofy staying for another 100 years. And, oh...by the way..McGoofy questions what Saddam would be doing today with 125...140 dollar a barrel oil...I cannot help but wonder if he is naive enough to believe that if America had 2/3's of the worlds oil reserves, we would not be doing the same–especially with the current Moron's and those in his regime. Get real, McGoofy!

Looks like a front-page headline for the New York Times. By reading just the headline (like some people unfortunately do), one could be led to think that McCain was saying that he voted to go to war against Iraq in order to take their oil. Gee, does it make you wonder if that was on purpose? The people with "No Blood for Oil" bumper stickers must be giggling like little girls.

McCain didn't answer any questions from reporters over reports that his own campaign manager lobbied for the corporate merger that led to the plant's proposed closure.

If we didn't go into Iraq in the first place then oil wouldn't have shot up to $4+ per gallon. He wouldn't have had much in the form of oil money.

Tutti frutti! Gas prices were LOW when Hussein was in charge! Loks like dementia has set in! He's crackers!

Finally, the news is starting to trickle out about Iraq's underbelly – all these lives lost, for what? Oil.

If this guy has his way, we'll be at war forever. I smell the draft coming – men and women, single and married, kids or no kids.

He's a warmonger that gets a gleam in his eye when war is even mentioned.

BIG mistake

OMG!!! There were no WMDs!!!! Is he crazy?!

If there wasn't a war going on in Iraq, we might have very possibly have caught Osama Bin Laden, had our troops home from Afghanistan, and we would be looking at $2.00 a gal. gas. Who in the world does Mr. McOil think he is trying to fool. You can't say anything good about a war that should have never happened as it did. The only thing good is how our troops have gallantly and selflessly given of their lives for their country. You should be honoring their sacrifice and bringing them home.

This is some of the worst yellow journalism that I've seen. McCain in no way meant what you've implied in the headline.

He actually avoided answering the direct question, "If we knew then what we know now blah blah blah..." because obviously, that kind of question has no bearing in reality. We didn't know then what we know now, so suppositions are immaterial. He instead simply said that the world is better off without Saddam and as an aside, he pondered what Saddam would be doing with the windfall profits of $4 gas. Not in any way to "justify" the vote.

You are implying that McCain would preemptively start a war based on economic motives, which logically cannot be construed from McCain's actual statements.

Liar,Liar pants on fire.

Ok I thought we were past the WMD issue. This is like beating an old horse. Can we move on and stop trying to say "what if" all the time. Saddam was joke and no matter what anybody says it was not a justified war unless the infamous WMD were found. That was the whole reason Bush lectured the world on why we must stop this crazy man. Anyone remember the comment ole George made "that man (Saddam) has enough chemical weapons to wipe out the whole world" and remember when they said he was going to use drones to do this with. Well here we are all these years later and still no weapons or drones. So how can you justify this war now? Let see.... What if Saddam was still there as the oil prices went up.... Give it up McCain.

So, obviously, it WAS about the oil.

Reason No. 3,826 from the Republicans for the justification for the Iraq war.

Repugs are the number ONE threat to the USA.

Money is the reason we should unilaterally invade a defenseless sovereign country, kill their citiizens and get our soldiers killed in the process? The love of money is the root of all evil. This invasion should never have taken place.

The justification of the moment.

Ok, so let me get this straight.. The gas prices now in 2008 are justification for the War in Iraq that started in 2002?

So either John McCain always had this psychic ability to lean on, or he is too diluted to understand that the war in Iraq is semi if not largly responsible for our current jump in Oil prices.

Oil is priced on a basis of whats going on in the world and supply and demand. Hence if a war starts in a Oil producing country everyone panics and the prices go up. It makes me sad that anyone would buy into this BS. K thanks bye

Dont rely on John McCain for your information anymore then you would Television news anchors or Newspaper articles its all opinionated fluff for your consumption. Do the research yourself and make a judgement based on facts not other peoples opinions.

McCain's right. The oil's better now that it's in Iraqi hands and not that dictator.

Without Iraq war the dollar wouldn't be so weak, therefore the oil-price wouldn't be so high. China wouldn't have the economic power they have now, because basically they are financing the war an getting rich on the way. All that money could have been invested in research of new energy sources and middle east without money is just a dessert full of hatred.

The absurdities of the McCain mind! Fancy inferring that the likelihood of a sovereign nation using its natural resources as it deemed fit qualified for grounds to muscle it out of existence.

The choice continues to be clearly defined, America. Which way, America? Which way to go?

What a drag it must be for JM to twist his mind around this pretzel logic. That's what you get when you sell your soul for the nomination.

Ironic that the old fellow should bring up WMD and Saddam's use of it; twice, since it was the US that sold it to him, told him how to use it and when to use it for maximum effect against Iran. That's when Saddam was our ally of course; during McCain's tenure in the senate I think.

What would he do? We will never know. We can't live in the past. We must look forward.

The US Government spent most of Reagan's Administration protecting Saddam. Our government has changed sides so often with regards to countries in the middle east, that this is just another Political Motivated Statement of Fear that the GOP is trying to use to woo the ignorant and foolish Americans into believing that John McCain's stance on Iraq and on war in general is good for this country.

Saddam is dead. Iraq is unstable. Iran is radical, and McCain is suggesting that Saddam would be after the WMD's had we not attacked Iraq. OK. Iran is after WMD's. Other Middle Eastern and Eastern Nations already have WMD's.

Let's look at the facts folks...

Iraq is unstable, and it was stable before our invasion. Iraq did not have any connections with Al-Qaida, and now Al-Qaida is in Iraq.

The Iraq War was handled badly, and should never have happened.
The Republican Party led this country down the road of war, and we are now benefiting from the choices they made. High Energy Prices, Lower Dollar, Failed Foreign Policy, and lack of respect in the world order.

I believe in resolving this conflict quickly. And actually working towards fighting Terror, instead of this civil conflict we created in Iraq.

Times have changed. The enemy has changed. There will be no Grand Victory in Iraq. It's not that kind of conflict.

McCain, you need to retire. Your stance is as old and tired as you are.

The GOP-republicans this is what they care about:

"Let's bring up the Paris Hilton plan," goaded Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas.

How sad when the nations is in a mess this is the folks we've got to deal with. totaly useless people we had one useless for over 26years .

what makes anyone thinks they care now.

Man, I get so tired listening to McCain. So tired.

By this logic, with every war in the Middle East the prices of oil should go down, but they sky rocket. Sky rocketing of oil prices only benefit oil mafia and that is why they support Republican part ... to wage wars in Middle East in the name of God, jack the oil prices, and profit them. Oil mafia is going to donate $4million to McCain campaign hoping he will stay in Iraq for 100 years.

Would oil be at $120, $125, $130 if we didn't invade and occupy Iraq?

No.

Okay that's it....I know he's a nut job now.

gas was $1.50/ga the day we invaded Iraq. what's it costing us now. republicans must think america is the dumbest nation of buffoons in the history of mankind. VOTE OBAMA.

Wow. Typical revisionist right-wing fantasy. Seriously. This guy is insane. He's 108 years old and a Republican. Anyone who would vote for such a person is truly an idiot. Then again, George Bush was voted in twice...

Let it also be said that good ol' Saddam didn't just come up with chemical weapons out of thin air. He bought them off of the US govt who thought it was a great idea at the time. When the US illegally invaded Iraq, Saddam had no WMD's and to this day, no evidence of them existing has ever been found.

Also, let me get this straight... it's not ok for Saddam to make gazillions off of oil but it's perfectly fine for big US oil companies to completely shaft everyone while they pull in record profits year after year?

Wake up, people of America.

hahaahhaa o mccain

Does he thing Americans are that stupid?

I read within the last week that the Iraqis are trying to figure out what to do with the surplus from their oil output...paying us back for a war they didn't want is probably not on the table. At least not paying us back in $$.

I continue to be amazed at the ignorance and arrogance of the Republican party. Rome is burning and they haven't got a clue.

This sounds like a big fairy tale to me… If Saddam Hussein had remained in power, we would be paying about $1.70 for a gallon of gas and our tax base wouldn't be supporting a war where our brave Brothers, Sisters, Sons, and Daughters would not be getting maimed or killed. As far as the WMD thing, that was just a fabricated story that our illustrious leader George W. cooked up to get us to knock off the only competition to OPEC in the world.
As a veteran myself, I am really surprised that John "George II" McCain would think of using the term WMD without laughing out loud how that term got us in the mess we are in today.

i have often wondered what saddam would be doing today .. i believe he would partner up with the russians and tmake life miserable for america . he would have all the money he needs like iran is doing and they both could make life miserable for europe and us .

What an absurd non-argument your lovely McCain has come up with. And people bought his answer? Surely not. To deflect a perfectly reasonable political question by coming up with a hypothetical situation that could never come true (as Hussein is dead if you didn't know) is an insult to everyone in that rooms intelligence... And to pretend he cares about human rights records? Not heard him speak out against China's human rights abuses, or Zimbabwe, or indeed the good ole USA's abuses. Pathetic.

This sounds like a big fairy tale to me... If Saddam Hussein had remained in power, we would be paying about $1.70 for a gallon of gas and our tax base wouldn't be supporting a war where our brave Brothers, Sisters, Sons, and Daughters would not be getting maimed or killed. As far as the WMD thing, that was just a fabricated story that our illustrious leader George W. cooked up to get us to knock off the only competition to OPEC in the world.
As a veteran myself, I am really surprised that John "George II" McCain would think of using the term WMD without laughing out loud how that term got us in the mess we are in today.

Good Gods......if we hadn't invaded Iraq and tanked its production, forced ourselves so far into debt, damaging our own economy and devalued the American Dollar we wouldn't be at $120 a barrel let alone $130 or $140.

John, you need help. Your grasp on reality is less stable than Charles Manson or Windows ME. There were no WMDs and while Saddam was a loud mouth we haven't invaded Iran because their president is shooting his mouth off all over the place.

Oh....wait....forget I said that. No need to bomb bomb bomb Iran.

I don't think oil would have been $140 if we didn't start the war in Iraq. What was it, $50 when the war started? Gas was 1.60, I remember that much

this guy is something else

I've goto wash the filth of this statement off my body.

High gas prices is certainly no justification for war in Iraq.

...Unless of course you start sending military to Safeway and other various supermarkets because of the high price of orange juice, milk, etc...

Heck, why not just send troops to local dairy farms and really nip this problem in the bud.

Is there any proof that farmers aren't buying up stock-piles of fertilizer to make weapons? I remember some guy named McVeigh that did that sort of thing..."As president, I would eradicate farmers to keep the American people safe. I am John McCain, and I approve this message."

The old guard in Washington is a joke! We need fresh blood, a new approach, and a different viewpoint when it comes to world affairs. Fear shouldn't work in America and Americans are ready to be lead by hope, not fear.

IS THIS REAL?
OMG!
I CAN NOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM READING.
THIS IS TOO MUCH.
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THAT THIS IS ALL A BIG JOKE.
IS THIS GUY REALLY RUNNING TO BE MY PRESIDENT, TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD?
THIS IS REALLY SCARY.
AND I AM REALLY SCARED TODAY READING WHAT JOHN McCAIN HAS TO SAY. REALLY!
SOMEONE PLEASE REMIND THIS GUY THAT THERE WAS AN OIL EMBARGO ON IRAQ BEFORE WE INVADED.

Sorry McSame...your buddy Bush already used that line on us and we're not buying it anymore. The only people benefiting from the 120 barrrel prices are the ones who started this war in the first place.

the most ridiculous claim made so far in this election.

if we're talking what ifs, had the US not invaded iraq all the billions that went to war could have been spent on education, healthcare, job creation, and to an overall healthier economy where oil may never have reached the insane prices it's at now. not to mention all the fuel wasted powering the tanks, warplanes, warships, and missiles fighting a meaningless war.

STOP THE FEAR MONGERING MCSURGE

IT'S AN ABSURD AND FLAWED REASON! One of THE major reasons for high oil prices is the de-stabilization of the region by us going into Iraq! It's the same logic as killing your parents then asking for mercy because you're an orphan!

The Iraq War is why the prices are high. They were much lower during Saddam's contained period.

I hate old man logic like McCain uses.

Nah Bill from Alabama, I second your E-motion. I think others know its too ridiculous to even comment on such B.S. statements.

Did he really just bring up the WMD argument again? While they say Hindsight is 20/20, apparently that isn't true for McCain. What an idiot!

Of course, the value of our dollar might not have diminished so much if the policy of "charging" a war by adding its cost to our deficit hadn't been adopted to begin with. That reduced value is a real part of the increase in oil prices. Whether Senator McCain feels justified in his voting for the war or not is irrelevant. Please at least don't pick an argument that is flawed and preys on the very real pain most Americans (i.e., those who don't have $100 million laying around) are feeling right now.

Oh, so now you are a fortune teller and you knew in 2003 that the price of oil would be where it is in 2008, so to protect us from the evil Saddam in 2008, you voted in 2003 to kill him.

Do you EVER listen back on tape to the things you say and how ignorant they are. I would like to know how many of your health record documents you hid from the media.....documents referring to the onset of dementia. It is obvious you are no longer thinking straight.

are you kidding me? is this guy for real? i can not believe he is running neck to neck with Obama in polls for the presidency of USA. i am not sure what to believe anymore. is this really serious? OMG! i am speachless reading this non-sense.
does McCain not know that Iraq was not allowed to sell its oil?
THERE WAS AN OIL EMBARGO BEFORE WE INVADED IRAQ.
I mean really please someone tell me that this guy is really not running to be my president, president of the most powerful nation in the world.

this is really scary and truly i am scared today.

Who was supporting in the Iran Iraq war Sadam in the first place!
America is always on the wrong side first. America has also supported the Taliban in Afghanistan first.
So you have to fight against you own weapens.
America needs a leader with vision and who can look farther than his nose.
I know someone!
Out of Iraq, focussing on Aghanistan and get
Osama Bin Laden and his frends.

Barack for President.

With love from the Netherlands
Europe for Obama

McCain Policy: Let's go to war with all nations rich in Oil!

Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, heck...and if Off-shore oil is found in abundance, then, heck, let's even kick our own butt's!

When we're done with that, can you imagine what Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, etc.. will do with all of the money they make from their abundant exports to the US....let's go to war with all Electronic Gadget production power houses.

Automobile countries are after that: Sorry Japan, we're gonna have to attack you twice. Germany you get a good whooping again and Britain and France, you really shouldn't have become competitive in the automobile industry....we gotta invade you now.

McCain, war is the solution for all! "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb" em all!

No Thanks you Crazy Maverick you! (I bet he's cute in his cammie pajama's though)

Huh? If we didn't invade oil would be about $65 a barrel.

The question is though, would we have the same high oil prices if we weren't in Iraq? I am not so sure that we would!

This latest McCain remark is utter nonesense. If Saddam Hussein was still in power the flow of Iraqi oil into world markets would never have been disrupted, the Middle East would be much more stable and crude oil prices would never have risen as high as they have thanks to GWBush's obscene and totally unnecessary war. McCain and the Bushies still don't understand that each time they threaten Iran, crude prices go even higher. They don't understand that the corrupt Iraqi puppet regime they have put in place is sitting on its money rather than investing in urgently needed oil industry reconstruction and modernization after 17 years of, first, American imposed sanctions and then war with all its attendant damages. Saddam Hussein knew how to manage his country's vast oil resources prudently. Bush and McCain still just want to loot them.

....yeh, who cares about innocent citizens, as long as the US can continue guzzling oil.

Still, I guess that once you guys have ruined the planet with your vast consumption and blasé attitude towards renewable there will be no one left in the word for you to kill.

I'm from the UK- we weren't blameless for the war by any means- but please God America can someone tell me why anyone of you would vote for this guy- serious question- I want to know someones reasoning!!

McCain just doesn't get it. We've seen no benefits in terms of oil prices after destabilizing Iraq, which emboldened its natural enemy Iran and Iran's grip on the oil markets, in a dubious war that has been poorly executed. The real war is in Afghanistan, where the Taliban who attacked us were based and are now trying to make a comeback - with help, intentional or unintentional, from our supposed ally Pakistan. There's no justifying the mess. He ought to learn to sing a new song.

You know I laughed out loud, REALLY LOUD when I read this......but then I realized that people are actually gonna vote for this IDIOT! Now THAT is not funny.

John, oh John! Maybe we should have just put you in a museum as a fossil!

IF saddam were still in power and there were no war... there would NOT have been profits on $120 – 150 barrels of oil, because it would have not gone that high. Those prices are a product of this war!

I'm sorry, but you simply can't retro-justify a war that men and women like myself are fighting. I make no judgement on the rightness or wrongness of the Iraqi war– I simply have to say that you can't use this kind of argument.

If we hadn't Iraq, some people will ask, would gas actually be at the sky-high prices it is today? I'll leave the political judgements to each individual as members of the military are not permitted to use their status to influence the outcome of an election.

The fact is that yMcCain guesstimating what Saddam would be doing in a world where we hadn't invaded Iraq can't be tied into the real-world oil prices of today, since it's fairly obvious that the war in Iraq has shaped the country in many ways, including the economy.

GEE WIZZ..THIS GUY IS AMAZING

Is McCain slipping away in his own senility? It's disgusting the way Republicans have learned to ignore the consequences of their actions.

Bush's nightmare Iraq policy, or lack of one rather, is a major cause of our high oil prices. Also, don't even get one started on the fact that Bush and Cheney families are so close to big oil they both probably brush their teeth with black gold everynight.

It's disgusting McCain, stop perpetuating Bush's PR talking points, come up with your own stances on these important issues and drop your grandpa humor as a marketing plan.

Based on McCain's version of revisionist history, he probably believes that the surge began with the arrest of Sadam. This could not have been done without our Czechoslavakian partners. Yeah for the purge, sorry I meant surge.

No you are not. It is just to bloody pitiful for most to even respond. Essentially, lets go to war, kill and destroy because we are worried about what he would do with money from his oil. Well, we provided or cleared the way for him to get the weapons he got and then old rummie met with him after he used the chemicals on his own people. Give me a break on this bs already.

According to that logic...maybe we should invade Venezuela now that Chavez has so much oil money, no wait, it should be Saudi Arabia because that's where the 9/11 hijackers came from and they oppress their citizens, no wait, Nigeria because they are so corrupt.

Give me a break.

jb

LIES LIES LIES LIES

In the words of Paris Hilton:" John McCain is the oldest celebrity in the world, like super-old, old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket," and asks, "but is he ready to lead?"

HUH??? Does he seriously think people are that stupid? Iraq war is a HUGE part of the high oil prices and instability in the region. Are people really buying this load of balogna?

Here we go...

Unless I am mistaken the only oil he could have legally sold was within Iraq. And even then it was tightly controlled (oil for food scandals aside) as was where the money was supposed to go. Therefore I suppose McCain is suggesting Saddam would have either tried to sell all his oil on the open market and/or invade his neighbors? Dont know how he could have sold it considering nobody could legally buy it. Nor do I know how he could have invaded anyone with hardly enough strength to even keep control of his own country.

Since human rights abuses are evidently a reason to go to war (per mcCain), does that mean he will be willing to attack china, russia, and the bush administration?Sure Saddam would want to obtain wmd's, but was smart enough to wait until sanctions were lifted in 10 or 20 years, and by then he would be almost as old as McCain is now.

WE WOULD HAVE $130 PER BARREL OIL IF THERE HAD BEEN NO WAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is this guy really saying that we invaded a country on market speculation of oil prices, in order to make sure saddam didnt get richer? Is any one paying attention to this lunatic?

What McCain failed to mention is that the US gave Saddam WMD to use in his war against the Iranians. John McCain sounds like he's a bit unbalanced. Knowing what he knows now, a sane person would say, well, there were no WMDs, no imminent threat of WMDs, the intelligence was wrong and we made a huge mistake and 4400 soldiers died and 35,000 soldiers were severely wounded, and we spend $750 billion of taxpayer money. Instead, he is following the Bush credo of never admitting an obvious mistake. What a dope!

McCain is honestly not making a connection between the Iraq war and today's prices? How is it even possible for a presidential contender to be that stupid? The volatility in the market is directly tied to the mideast conflict. Rising demand in China and India would be contributing factors to a steady (but much slower) rise in oil prices, but it is the constant conflict that has enabled speculators to bludgeon the market and consumers.

Wow, this senile whimper, absolutely has nothing to offer this great country of ours.

if McOld gets elected, I would love to see the ones who voted for him four years later. They'll probably would not forgive themselves for killing the World's First Economy.

CNN post this message.....

Perhaps Mr McCain, the fact that there is instability IS a main contributing factor to today's price of oil. Duh.

Wow, does he even know what he is saying? Just by saying this he is admitting that one of the reasons that he voted to go to war in Iraq was for oil.

On top of that if you think through the argument at all you know that Iran is next in his mind.

Perhaps if there was no war the price of crude oil would not be $120+ per barrel.
This guy is out of his mind. He is speculating about something he couldn't possibly know about.

It's shameful to see McCain going one step further and fooling Americans on a issue that never was an issue. Americans know for good that Bush lied when he said Saddam had WMD. Now, McCain is trying scare Americans with what-ifs on the same lie. Wake up America!!! Even babies learn from their mistakes. What is McCain trying to prove here? That it is easy to fool America? Or that it is easier fool America repeatedly?

First off we built all those plants and refineries that Iraq is pocketing the money from right now and i think it about 100 billion and we paying for their infrastructure at the same time. JOHN THINKS YOU ALL ARE STUPID. Especially when we dont even get our oil from Iraq. We get it from Saudi Arabia. Take that and smoke it .

What if, what if...
grumble, grumble, grumble, hrumphf, hrumphf, hrumphf....

If MacCain wins this election with all these gafes, then something is wrong with the system, may God help us all.

What? McCain has lost it. That is crazy and I can't beleive he basically said, we went to war for oil!!!!!!

Jeeeeez still trying to justify the stupid Iraq war. How about we go and blow out N. Korea, Iran and the rest that have those issues that you've mentioned McCain???? Bottom line is the Iraq war was and still is a distraction and we'd not have $140 oil but $50 oil were it not for the Iraq war.

What the heck are you talking about Bill?
I dont see any absurdities from CNN you're nuts dude.

Now McCain is bringing back the non-existent WMD – Saddam claim? Wow I REALLY hope he doesn't get elected. We'd be totally screwed if he does.

McCain is a moron...the reason oil prices are high in the first place is due to the American presence in the Middle East. invading a country without the consent of the NATO, even if they are an immediate threat, is unjustified. What about Sudan? What about North Korea? What about the dictators of the world and yet, you pick the one in a oil-based nation. How convenient....

uhhh oil wouldn't be that high if we weren't in Iraq!
it's been said 1000000 times by professionals, but then again, mccain doesn't listen much to them. he listens to Bush and Cheney...

mccain is absurd grasping at anything and throwing it out hoping it sticks.

Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! Senator McCain is so whacked. Wake up America! You have been warned. Peazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzze do not vote for Senator McWar.

UMMMMMMM...... Wasn't Husseing constrained from fully exploiting his oil resources???

Oh, and let's not forget that much of the rise in oil prices is due the instability surrounding Iran's intransigence on the nuclear issue..... And, golly gee, a big chunk of the reason for that is that Iran no longer has a counterweight in a hostile, Sunni-controlled Iraq. In 2003, Iran was run by "moderates" (relatively speaking). The current joker in Iran (not going to try to spell his name from memory) arose in response to the greater instability thrust on the region by the American invasion of Iraq.

So, McCain's logic is completely nonsensical.

By the way, wasn't this invasion about Iraq's alleged HAVING (present tense) WMD's? You can't keep redefining the mission retroactively, when you are talking about a pre-emptive war.

So, in other words....

.... 4000 of our men and women died for oil.

e'nuff said.

And if Bush weren't in power oil would be much cheaper because we'd be well on our way toward renewable energy. Would it then have been ok for someone to take him out and kill hundreds of thousands of Americans in the process?

*laughing*
And this guy is different from Bush?
He is already making up new excuses for a war that was based on lies.
How STUPID do the repubs really think we are?

Wow, can you believe the audacity of this Idiot. Anything to justify a war.

You betcha John! Thousands of dead Americans, over One Million dead Iraqis. 79 billion extra for the Iraqis oil industry. And now they want us to get out. (And we should, there is no justification for us ever being there in the first place and devastating their country.)

You betcha "old, white haired, wrinkly, dude." You justify Oil Company profits to the thousands of graves you have helped fill, and all the ones you want to continue to fill.

Orwellian Doublethink. Or at the very least, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Oil costs are high due to, in no small part, the instability of supply in the Middle East. Sadam Hussein was a petty dictator and scourge of his people. But the war has left an increasingly destabilized region.

To use the current price of oil as a retroactive rationale for war not only ignores the gross misuses of other reasons during the build up to war, but completely misses the cause and effect relationship between the war and current prices.

Next he'll be telling us that it was ok that the administration didn't do as much as it could have during Katrina, because "not a lot of people live in New Orleans any more" .

If he's so concerned about human rights violations, what does he plan to do about Darfur, China, Zimbabwe, Kenya ... and N Korea already has nukes. McSame is just like bush, all about the oil and raking in the money for the rich.

Wow, so now the justification for the war is about fictitious hypotheticals. Most candidates won't even answer those as campaing questions, much less go to war and bankrupt the largest economy in the world based upon them. Shoot first, try to clean up later, that is the McCain way.

Senator McCain has totally lost his bearing! If there were no war in Iraq,the price of oil would not have sky rocketed out of control. It appears to me that Senator McCain is getting a bit cocky with The American People. He seems to think that we are a bunch of uneducated folk who have no access to media that is not slanted in his favor. I can only hope that this great country can see through his crooked straight talk and vote for what is best for OUR country.

I thought one of the reasons that the oil price hit the sky was cause of the war?? I think this guy doesn't think we are remembering the past holding on the present and worried about the future!! Thanks John for reminding me why I need to vote for Obama!

There is absolutely NO justification for what we have done to Iraq!

another question – if saddam was still in power and the war in Iraq never happened, what is the likelihood oil would be the price it is today?

The question is not whether we're better off without Saddam its whether it was worth almost a trillion dollars and close to 5000 American lives to do it.

Plus Iraq was under heavy sanctions and its oil industry had completely collapsed before the invasion. One of the main reasons Iraq hasn't been able to pay for its own reconstruction is that the oil industry there was completely destroyed even before the invasion.

Therefore Saddam would not have been making any money off of the current oil boom.

These statements are factually, and morally incorrect.

McCain needs to run a more responsible campaign, I expected much better from him.

wow. did he just really equate the Iraq war to a war on oil, when the Repubs have been fighting as hard as they can to say oil wasn't a factor? BRILLIANT!!!

Are you kidding me? How stupid is McCain? This is the most backwards logic I have ever heard. I'm not about to argue that the world may very well be a better place with Saddam Hussein no longer in power, however, if it weren't for the Iraq war it is just as likely that we would not currently be facing these gas prices.

Also, last time I checked the president of Iraq does not set oil prices. If Saddam could have jacked up oil prices before, don't you think he would have?

Maybe if he didn't authorize the war which led to several refineries, and all the oil they contain and produce, being destroyed, gas prices wouldn't be as high today.

So the war was fought for oil. Finally we have that cleared up. Morons.

Maybe, had he lived, Saddam would hav used windfall oil profits to finance his quest for WMD. But that ignores the fact that the surge in crude oil prices was a direct result of GW Bush's war for fun and profit.

Saddam was quite well contained by the UN sanctions in place before the invasion, oil prices were relatively stable, and Dorothy was safe at home in Kansas.

I guess no one realizes that if we never went to Iraq, oil prices wouldn't be high. If oil prices weren't high and Saddam was still in power then McCain's argument goes straight out the window. What an idiot.

McCain said WHAT!?!?! You can't be serious! A retroactive excuse for the invasion, based on current oil prices? Where's the logic in this? Who advises this guy?

HMMMMM...............still in moderation I see.

Oh God, haven't we heard this one before. George W. Bush told us if we went to war with Iraq our gas prices would be lower. Prices went from $28. a barrel to over $140. Shades of the Bush legacy. McSame is falling in lock step.

I'll vote for Barack who I think we'll do a better job with the economy. And people are excited about Barack, which means he'll get more done. Who in their right mind is excited about McCain. Heck, I'll go watch my grandfather before I watch him, at least it will be more entertaining.

O/08

So the War in Iraq was over oil? Given hindsight, McCain thinks that allowing the Iraqi's not to control their own oil was the best reason to lose thousands of American lives?

But the justification for the war was WMD's, not human rights or oil.

What is happening with Iraqi oil today?? It doesn't seem to have much of an effect on the current price does it??

Really?

Really?!

Goodbye America. You will be missed. It's too bad "men" like McCain fooled you into destroying yourselves.

McCain is a nightmare.

WOW, McCain really is an idiot!

Sad!!!

So I guess the McCain Doctrine will be "Invade now, justify later." Looks like McCain is really reaching to make Iraq the top issue.

This is a macaca moment for McCain. America believes the war in iraq was wrong.. no justification period..!!! For him to remain obstinate makes me believe suddenly he really wants America to stay in Iraq for 100 years.. after all to him its all about oil even it costs over 3000 American lives!

seems like I remember when he was in power.... the revenue from oil was used for humanitarian purposes in Iraq and Sadaam wasn't able to touch the money. McCain needs to study both geography and history.

Just what this world needs – a clairvoyant – he can speak for the dead knowing exactly what they would do!

um, that presumes that oil would be this high without the Iraq war. I doubt it would be.

Anybody catch his comment that he doesn't fully understand how speculation works?

OK...let's see now...

Doesn't fully understand Economics.
Doesn't understand Speculation.
Doesn't know how to use a computer.
Confuses Shia vs. Shiite
Confuses Czech Republic
Confuses border of Iraq.

I think I've come to the conclusion that yes he is a war hero. But he doesn't have the intellectual capacity to be the leader of the free world.

He seems more like a GOP puppet.

Invading Iraq didn't even secure us access to petroleum, and instead cost everyone in this country more money than we can count. Nothing about your vote was smart, John, and your opponent realized that from the beginning.

john McBrainless is a hopeless warmonger. He is just itching to insight Iran and goad them into a war so he can ruffle his war feathers. His tired point of WMD's is already a pretty well known fact that Iraq had no such weapons. Yet, here is McBrainless still pumping the notion of WMD's. Hey, McLame here's a news flash, that was a lie, there weren't any WMD's and there was no evidence proving that either. Yet, you still persist in expounding the Dubya talking points. It just shows how much he is aligned with Bush.

Then he bases his opinion on supposition, would if Saddam were still in power? And this is the guy who would commit this nation's resources on a supposition. And the killer is that nobody thinks there is anyhing wrong with this. We are apparently a nation of fools who like to be toyed with, then blindly follow along. What about the other nations whose leaders we don't exactly care for? Are we going to find some pretense to invade them as well? What about North Korea for one?

Go ahead America and put this demented man into office and see what happens. You will get exactly what you ask for; more confusion and distortions. There will be nobody to blame but yourselves. Not me because I am not going to be fooled by lunacy and blind national fervor again.

Our enemies are stronger because we invaded Iraq.

Worried about what Iran might do next in Iraq? Iran wasn't in Iraq before we invaded. Iran is stronger because we invaded Iraq.

Concerned al Qaeda in Iraq will regroup? There was no al Qaeda in Iraq before we invaded. Al Qaeda in Iraq is stronger because we invaded Iraq.

Upset about the spread of radical fundamentalist Islam – that 40% of Iraqis are now living under Sharia law? Iraq was a secular state before we invaded. Radical fundamentalist Islam is stronger because we invaded Iraq.

Angry that the Taliban and the core of al Qaeda are re-Surge-nt in Afghanistan? We could have crushed them if we had sent 30,000 troops to Afghanistan when we chose to send 130,000 to Iraq. The Taliban and al Qaeda are stronger because we invaded Iraq.

John – how dare you claim you understand national security when the actions you continue to support have done nothing but make our enemies stronger? You have no business telling anyone how to keep America safe.

I am certain we could say that the world would be a safer place if we got rid of half the dictators in the world. However, you don't trump up charges, lie to the american people, kills thousands of American soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens, on a war that is costing billions and driving our economy into a recession.

This is the man you want to be president? Whoa

Has intelligence taken a nap in America

Right on John-you understand-Obama is stuck in his ivory tower and only knows how to offer $ incentives to our enemies--another way to spell incentives is APPEASEMENT which only further enables them–

John McCain is the closest thing to Teddy Roosevelt this country has seen in a long time--we're behind you John-

This was too easy. But finally, someone's admitted to the primary reason for unprovoked attack of Iraq.

But hey, four more years of this sort of (hypathetical) reasoning is better than the smart young, new guy with his fresh ideas, uh OHIO voters?

I can't believe we still have to put up with this right wing bs.

That's a mean joke McCain made. McCain has an evil mind. One who projects evil is evil him or herself. Be careful! Plenty risk not to vote this evil mind.

Chicken or egg Senator? Maybe oil prices are high because of a US war with Iraq and poor foreign policy with Iran.

How about justification for war is so US companies can tap Iraq's fields which the press has recently (although inadequately) covered. One doesn't need a foil hat to draw that connection.

Woow..I cannot believe McCain came up with that view. If oil is that high today it is because the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, and in Africa is very bad. So, why is the political situation in the Middle East so bad? I wonder if he does not consider our invasion in Iraq as a probable cause. In 2003 oil was still $36/barrel.

Seems to me the prices really began to soar when the United States invaded IRAQ to control the oil. McCain admitted the war was all about the oil.

Well that insightful answer was about as good as an 'oil speculator's'. I love how the man who wants to lead our country is big on terms like would've, could've, and might have to justify the death of thousands of Iraqi citizens. I thought McCain was different from the rest of the GOP. Guess I was wrong. Seriously people, we cannot allow this man to become president! We can't take 4 more years of this kind of thinking! The man is a liar, a truth bender, a speculator, and he has no ideas different from the ones which got us in this predicament in the first place. I just pray that there are more voters like me who can see through the smoke he's blowing.

Mccain just wants to spread War. We have enough to say that Mr. Hussein was NOT making WMD

So according to McCain the price of oil is more important than a US service members life

Why is it taking you guys forever to post comments?

Great. ANOTHER non-WMD excuse for this illegal war that was never uttered upon the beginning of it.

Oh, for crying outloud. It was a bone headed call then and it still is.
McCain is throwing anything he can out there and hoping something works. If we as Americans vote him in we get a mini Bush and we deserve just what we get. If you're not fed up you either havn't been paying attention or you should'nt be allowed outside by yourself. If you are fed up vote Democrat.

Independent, nonpartisan research firms have estimated 50% of oil prices are from increased demand, ecspecially in China, Russia, and India. However 15-20% of the increase has been attributed to the Iraq war, since chaos anywhere in that region will cause prices to spike.

McCain's logic here is just so out of whack. The War in Iraq caused the price of oil to increase; having Saddam out of power is great, but that doesn't change that fact that Iraq is one of our biggest economic problems.

We need new solutions, not old answers for bad decisions.

He never had WMD, He never use WMD on his own people, those were American made Bio-weapons that have been around since WWI
There is no way he could have produced or launched these weapons without the US knowing about it.
The satilites would have picked this up in seconds.
Those type of weapons have to be tested before being used.
Plus, Ronald Regan put the (Stars Wars system) in back in the 1980s
The US can blow up any WMD before it reaches the US, north south east or west.
Bush, Cheney, Rumfeld, Rice, and Powell all know that, so does Mcain.

Whoa... misleading title. I expect nothing less or more of you CNN. You disgust me.

wow, some could argue that we have $120, $125, $130 a barrel oil now because of the war in iraq. thanks alot mccain.

So McGoofy, with full knowledge that the evidence for WMD was erroneous (not to mention fabricated), STILL thinks the Iraq war was a good idea. This guy is certifiable.

How gullible are you to listen to such meaningless statements. Justifying a strategic blunder! if you believe Mcdrill here and now, then your IQ is lower than his age

What a lame answer to a very good question. Mccain should be reminded that the war in iraq is one of the contributory factors to the rise in oil price.

Saddam had all the money he could have used to produce a wmd, but he didn't do it. Stop justifying a very bad war that has caused us close to a trillion dollars and is still costing us $10b a month. All borrowed monies!

Wow, McCain has lost it. I suspect oil would still be rather cheap if it were not for Bushes invasion of Iraq. It's even more ironic that the price of oil is making Iran stronger than ever.

That's how you catch the big fish.. right in his mouth!!

The High Price of Oil One Justification for Iraq War Vote

WHAT...? He can't be serious.

if the american people believe one word either candidate says then we deserve what we get. does anyone trust the man that sells them a car?not really.

Wow, McCain has lost it. I suspect oil would still be rather cheap if it were not for Bushes invasion of Iraq.

So now high gas prices are a justification for invading a country killing thousands of Iraqi's, spending billions of dollars, and LOOSING THOUSANDS OF OUR SOLDIERS.

This guy makes me sick!

So, CNN... are you going to do a factcheck on McCain's claim? Or are you just going to let it ride, as usual?

What an idiot. I used to respect this guy.. Now he just talking garbage about WMD's and how the Iraq War helped keep gas prices lower...

huh? seriously is this a joke?

I grow tired of the Republicans trying to justify squandering billions of taxpayer dollars for the sand and camels in Iraq. I worry about the millions of ignorant voters who buy into this fear mongering. I hope they wake up in time.

I actually heard a FOX news anchor remind viewers that there haven't been any new terrorist attacks since the war efforts. Who's reminding everyone that 9/11 happened on Bush's clock, AFTER Condoleeza Rice had seen a memo from the Clinton administration warning of potential attacks from Osama Bin Laden?

How far is McCain going dig to fine a platform:)

McCain is a NUT CASE! WMD's indeed....more false justification to back Bush's INVASION of Iraq!!!

So sad John that you can't say that it was the wrong time to go in there. Afganistan was where we should have consintrated on and bin Laden. And stop and think that at that time who in H- would have thought that oil people and the stock manipulators would get oil to the obscene price it got to. Now to do something so that it does NOT happen again to us or the rest of the world.

The king of the illogical argument. Oil prices are this high because the war you twit.

Wake up people, he keeps showing he is Bush III – older, more arrogant and less astute than the previous two.

Why is it CNN? I keep punching! The USA is a Super-Power, the only way you can continue this journey; is to spend money.. Gigantic amounts just as Protection/Defence... People want to come to the US to live, but they don't want to share the Bill... I want! I want! I want!...
Wake up America...

The standard Republican line: FEAR FEAR FEAR. No wonder FDR said, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." – He was a democrat.

The whole intent of using fear to control people is to evoke an emotional response. If you can get a 'gut reaction' first, then there is no need to think things through – the decision is already made.

So stop thinking America! instead let visions of WMD-seeking, oil-cartel-forming, fundamentalist Muslim, American-hating dictators in faraway places run through your mind. See them rubbing their knuckles as they plot to kill you and your family and destroy life, liberty and the American way. Then go out and Vote for McCain. It worked for Bush, and now they're trying on you again.

Whatever you do: DONT THINK FOR YOURSELF!

Seems a funny thing to say about justification for a war.

Perhaps looking to create or buy WMDs.
Has a large stockpile of oil that he could sell on the global market.
Noncompliance with UN resolutions.
And human rights issues.
Against American and Western culture.

Does this sound like another country's leader close to Iraq that would be able to take advantage of high oil prices to purchase or develop WMD? When is that invasion scheduled?

McCain said: "Obama's claiming that putting air in your tires is the equivalent of new offshore drilling. That's not an energy plan my friends."

But it is! The Republicans are in utter denial over the benefits of CONSERVATION!

An old man with old Republican solutions. The same old tired solutions that got us addicted to oil in the first place!

Hey, what about Iran making x-times as much with their oil $$$$. Does he talk about the next upcoming war?

The price of oil went up dramatically AFTER the war was started you freaking idiot!!!!!!

How much more of a stupid comment can McWar make???

This is one of many instances where the true motivation of the war is revealed. Just like all the wacky-liberal-conspiracy-freaks had said all along – this was a war for oil. I pose this question for my country: Do we lose our morality and purpose in imposing violence, death and destruction to secure our own resources?

Belated honesty or sheer desparation?

A Message to Sen. Obama and his supporters;

Here's a quote befitting of your whole improbable journey to the US presidency. You've probably heard it before. It's from the great Mahatma Ghandi:

First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they fight you
Then you win.
So be encouraged!

CNN please post:

McCain will say anything to scare people into voting for him. It has been proven time and again, that there were NO WMD. I agree Sadam was a bad guy but there is no justification in starting a war, not to mention the lame excuse that McCain is using in the article above.

He is accusing Obama of worthless promises. It is clear here that he is promising to continue this costly war. The difference in the 2 candidates!

The great thing about Obama is his promise of HOPE, his ideas of improving our lives as common people, and his plans for making this country GREAT again.

The scary thing about McCain is his actions mimic the same as GWB, his ideas are geared towards the protection of the rich (and making them richer), and his plans are leading the country in the same direction it has been going in the last 7 years.

The promise of something or someone is much better than the certainty of doom and more despair.

America, please look beyond the surface and see that the country needs positive change. Obama is the closest thing to this promise of hope and change.

The price of gas went up dramatically AFTER the war was started you freaking idiot!!!!!

How much more of a stupid comment can McWar make???

Let's see how Mccain will generate election coverage when Obama goes on vacation, let's wait and see who will be interested in this election!!

What kind of reasoning is that?

He admits it's true! A war purely for oil!

Disgusting.

MCCAIN SAID HUSSEIN DID IT TWICE BEFORE. HE OUGHT TO KNOW THE REAGAN AND THE FIRST BUSH ADMINISTRATION SOLD THEM TO HIM UNTIL 1993 WHEN CLINTON GOT IN........

These are all hypotheticals proposed by McCain. I too was a supporter of the Iraq war at first. If I had it to do all over, I would be in opposition. I'd much rather have the two no-fly zones in Iraq and would have preferred that maximum effort be devoted to Afghanistan. That is the conclusion of my hindsight. My suspicion is that McCain would rather have a similar situation, but he has painted himself into a corner with the support for the war. It will cost him the election.

Oh PLEASE!!!!! Let's manufacture a reason now that we are knee deep in it!!! Go home to Arizona and retire McCain. I can not believe people listen to this man and STILL want to vote for him!!!!

McCain's comment made me laugh out loud. Really? Did he even consider that if we had not gone to war in Iraq.... the dollar would be stronger, and oil would not be nearly as expensive....smells very Rovian....

Now the real truth comes out! McCain would support the war even using another list of bogus reasons. Give me a break!

Wow, now republicans can read the minds of dead people. This just in, reason number 115 of why we went to war in Iraq. Or,,,,,,,,, he might have kept production up which would have increased the world supply and the prices wouldn't have gotten this high. This guy really is an idiot people. A fear mongering idiot.

Does McMoldy know Hussein is dead?

ah?!

Oil price is that high, at least partly, BECAUSE the war in Iraq (and Iran getting stratigically stronger as a result).

SAME OLD BUSH CRAP!!!!!! When are the Rep. going to quit using scare tatics to scare the American people into voting for them and to try to justify a WAR we shouldn't be in? MCbush can't know if he was sitting there with Hussien that he would use the price of oil to buy WMD.......... Just another Rep. tatic and they are getting really old!!!!!!!!

FEAR...FEAR...FEAR...FEAR...FEAR...

You can hear the Republican drumbeat getting going.

How many times have we heard this crap before?

I ask every proud American (including John McCain):

What happened to "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"

That is the statement that made America great.

The fear-mongering that we have heard for the last decade is what has made America weak.

This crap about what Saddam Hussen would have done is...

COMPLETEY IRRELEVANT!!!!

I am so tired of Americans being afraid. We are better that this!

Amazing... have you noticed that speech after speech McCain is actually addressing issues, while Obama is just addressing McCain's address of the issues? Is there an echo in here?

So the high price of gas was worth 100,000 civillian lives? Is this guy for real??????????? Please tell me what kind of person would vote for this dipstick?

This is plain dumb and hypocrisy at its best – sewing stories and justifying the war and no "Bill from ALabama" you are not the only one. If only McCain were to accept the truth my vote would go out for him.

Be afraid America!!
Be afraid of everything!
Be afraid even of people we killed!

And remember, only John McCain can protect you!!

sheesh

Well, at least one republican admits that we invaded Iraq for the oil. That's a step forward!

Is that all McINsane thinks about is war, war, war,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so stupid.

....and then no one mentioned that if we hadn't invaded Iraq, oil wouldn't be at these prices?

Did he just say what we have been saying, and the republicans denying this whole time? Did he, did he, did he?

The war is about oil?

Hey you Maverick you, yea, let's go to war for oil!!

Nimrod McCain and his pro war stances.

Wow same old fear. This guy has totaly lost it. How could anyone sit there and listen to the same lies bush used to justify going into Iraq in the first place? Now it would have been oil profits. Really is anyone dumb enough to buy into this.This is Tales from the Cript at its best.

If we had never gone over there, gas would not be this high. This presidential race is becoming a farce.

Why would we want someone else to control the oil supply when Exxon, Mobil, and Chevron could be doing it? Let's attack Iran and Saudia Arabia while we're at it, so American oil companies can continue to exploit American addiction...smooth McOil

The price of oil didn't start to sky rocket until we invaded! McCain, you're an idiot.

CNN how do you continue to allow this IDIOT get away with all of the stupid things he says?

Please.

How does he dream up all this crap anyway ?
If these aren't the raving senile droolings of a man who has obviously lost control of his mental abilities, then I don't know what is.
This man is not to be taken seriously.
And on the world scene McCain promises to be a much greater threat to world peace than Saddam ever was.

Sometimes best to say I don't Know!!!

Doesn't McCain sound like a snake oil saleman when he speaks. What do you think he would do? what do you think he would do? I'll tell you what he would do my friends?

Reminds me of the old westerns with the guy in the wagon trying to sell the town folks a bunch of miracle cures in a bottle. Will it work? will it work? I tell you my friends, this will not only work, but it is guaranteed to.......... oh you get the idea.

This is absurd. "You see, if we hadn't invaded Iraq, then, uh, gas prices would be high."

Is McCain getting desperate? Oh, and I thought we invaded Iraq becuase of terrorism or something. I guess we should be grateful that a republican has finally admitted that our soldiers are dying in Iraq for oil.

This guy is an idiot.

Does he think Americans are idiots ? Maybe ( Rs. ) ?

If the US can help stabilize Iraq and establish a pro-US democracy there successfully, President Bush can score a big one in history!

So I guess he just told us we went to war for oil. Thanks for getting this out there CNN.

If I were the Obama team I would be pouncing on McCain's comments until next week. What a moron? He should really keep his comments to a minimum until the debates if he really wants to win.

McCain is one STUPID man, now he is using hypotheticals to justify this illegal war. Dose he ever stop talking about war? Did anyone suggest to him that if we had not started this ILLEGAL WAR , then maybe oil would be $60.00 a barrel.

EVERYBODY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES – UNLESS MCCAIN IS ELECTED THE WHOLE WORLD IS DOOOOOOMED

BE SCARED OF ANYBODY BUT MCCAIN

thats pretty much what the rethuglican argument is these days

FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR

IT WON'T WORK THIS TIME

OBAMA 08

We knew the war was about oil all along anyway.

EVERYBODY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES – UNLESS MCCAIN IS ELECTED THE WHOLE WORLD IS DOOOOOOMED

BE SCARED OF ANYBODY BUT MCCAIN

Saddam was always opposed to radical Islam. The Iraq war brought Al Queada to Iraq. The war was and is stupid, wasteful and criminal. Only McBush is crazy enough to not see this.

Nevermind the fact that the turmoil in the Mideast created by Bush's policies and the war is largely responsible for the current price of oil.

Sounds like some PURE speculation that is highly unlikely since it's been proven that Sadaam was nowhere near any kind of real development of WMDs. You can't punish someone for something they didn't do but in theory may be capable of doing 5 years in the future if oil prices shoot up to $130 a barrell.

Booo. Did we scare you?

OMG. Another Republican falsehood to take us to war. What is it going to take to get these war mongers out of office?

Would oil be at $120, $125, $130 a barrel if we never invaded Iraq, John?

He is really reaching. Yes Saddam used chemical weapons on his own people. I wonder where he got the material to make them. And this was over 20 years ago. Why didn't the US do something then? Bush and his cronies wanted this war and the Congress allowed it to happen. Shame on them

Obama should have a field day with this one.

Johnny, this might be slightly plausible if you had, y'know, said ANYTHING like this in real time. Here you go rewriting history again. This is really a stupid rationale.

Yep, JohnnyMac, it was about oil all the time, and you've lied the whole time and changed your tune with every note sung by the lyin', cheatin' Bush administration. Thanks for all the "straight talk" you dried up, old, geriatric mess.

mcsame has no substance. his only words in his vocabulary is WAR AND SURGE. and to attack sen. obama. so that americans don't see his lack of substance. wait for the debate.

Kerry was right: this guy is really dangerous!!!!
4000 boys killed for big oil, and he has no regrets???
Shameful!!!!!!

I wonder if mcOil really is this stupid or he just thinks we are that stupid. The Iraq war caused the high oil prices you dangerous, crazy old man.

If McCain had supported alternative energy over the last 26 years, we wouldn't have needed foreign oil and we wouldn't be a trillion dollars in debt and would't have lost 4000 American lives. What a " little jerk" to coin one of his idiotic expressions.

YOUR PROBABLY RIGHT JOHN. GOOD THING SADAM IS OUT OF THE PICTURE.

This guy is too old.. thats it too old... plus looking more and more senile...

really mccain? you don't think that if we had never gone to Iraq, oil prices would have never gone so high? you're completely out of touch.

You still never answer the question.

Does he really think Americans are that stupid? The price of oil was half of what it was today BEFORE THE WAR. Everybody knows the Bush/Cheney war has caused the price of oil to rise.

What McCain fails to acknowledge publicly is that one of the main reasons oil prices are so high is because of the invasion of Iraq. He knows this though and hopes to continue talking about paris hilton so the american people are distracted from the mess him and the rest of the rubber stamp republicans have gotten us into

McCain is a pathological liar just like Bush and Cheney.

Ultimately, McCain concluded, “If he were still in power, I believe that the world would be far worse off, especially with all the money he’d be making off of oil.”

Oh. As opposed to say all those oil corps I guess. Yes, I feel much better now.

When are we going to Venezuela and Iran? You gotta love McWar and his rationales.

That a boy McWar.....WMD.......are you ever stuck in neutral.

McWar got caught with his pants down with this question and he

blurbed what he was programmed to say......but guess what McWar

I'm going to watch it again, and I'm sure you probably said the war was

over OIL.

Is this McBush's confession that the Iraq war is all about oil?

How sad Sen. McCain has become. It's the instability in the Middle East that has led to this gouging. If Saddam (yes, a brutual dictator but one of many) was still in power, more stability in the Middle East could have led to the oil flowing more freely. Prices may not even have jumped. We no longer have any way of knowing but it is a ridiculous stretch for McCain to come up with this.

Well who do you think has been holding the money bag for the last almost 8 years after invading Iraq for not one reason just a pack of made up lies to frighten citizens ?The crooks that come to mind Bush,Cheney , G raham, Rove, McWar ,Haliburton and the list goes on and on.
McWar
Get your your story straight before you open your Frog mouth then grin like one.
We are fed up with your made up lies you no doubt have Buffalo chips in your head .

So McCain thinks this is a good reason to go to war and lose over 4,00 Americans lives with untold hardship for injured vets and the families of all servicemen not to mention a million Iraquis killed, many children? For oil? So spending billions each month in Iraq somehow off sets his view about the expense of increased oil if we were not invading such a country? Where is this logic when he voted against all the recent bills that would have supported new energy sources like wind power? So going to war for oil is OK with him? Wake up people, if he wins we will invade Iran, Pakistan, you name it. We will be a broken nation with no army left and ruined finances. Thats how Al Q. will win.

What a doofus....how can anyone vote for this clown? After all that's happened he still clings to the WMD theory. How can someone be so out of touch.

The cause of the Iraq War was Oil period! McCain and Bush say repeatedly that we are getting oil from a part of the world that does not like us very much. With rising demand for oil in the rest of the world (Russia, China, India), those countries would reach a point where they would not have to sale oil to us. That would have destroyed our economy. I am sure the Oil executives briefed Bush on this threat very early on in his presidency. The Bush administration felt that they had to install a government that was friendly to the United States and would continue to sale us oil at a reasonable price. I think that was the rationale for going to war. Sounds logical, right? Iraq was just the easiest target for the installation of a U.S. friendly government (We basically dismantled their military during and after the first gulf war, they had a crazy dictator nobody liked, and they were under U.N. sanctions). We invaded them expecting that their people would love us for doing so. However, they were not happy with our presence and we dismantled their military and police force which created a law enforcement void that Al Queda exploited. This is what happened folks and I strongly believe that those that think otherwise are foolish.

Right on, John! Let's invade Iran too! And Saudi-Arabia, since al the 9/11 hijackers came from that country! Keep 'em coming..."bomb, bomb, bomb Iran." "100 years in Iraq"

Wow! These republicans are actually scientists! They had discovered the time machine in 2002 and traveled in 2008 to see how high the oil prices would be and how many weapons saddamm hussain would be making in 2008!

That's why they attacked Iraq, but had a difficult time explaining their action since they weren't allowed to disclose about the time machines....

Bunch of fanatics......

I thought we had sanctions and Iraq could only use their oil for food? Or was that not the case!!!! So how exactly was he going to be making the big bucks?

If Saddam were still isolated and contained as he was when we invaded Iraq, the price of oil would likely still be stable and McCain's fear-mongering would be even more laughable than it is in this story.

McCain is a total nut case. Saddam never controlled oil pricing, OPEC did when Saddam was alive and OPEC still does. McCain needs a history lesson on the middle east and stop using lies and fear that only tells informed people how misinformed he is.

Even if this premise made any sense (e.g. no WMD ever found), who says the price would have ever gotten this high without the Iraq war?

At last someone is telling the truth – this war has ALWAYS been about oil...from the very beginning. This is why is it is vital that we rid ourselves of our dependancy on foreign oil, and oil period. Than no one ever has to die or kill for oil again.

We already knew this. Please, please give McCain the news coverage he is whining about!!!! America needs to see the real McBush!!! Let the media fawn on him for a while. At least, America will begin to be informed at his "oil hungry-warmongering" ways!!!

Iraq was being embargoed. He wouldn't be getting that money.

You are confused, old man.

Yeah, I'd much rather have a backwater dictator whose country is under all sorts of economic and trade sanctions than U.S. oil companies who get a free ride from the government and have Americans by the balls in control of Iraqi oil. People don't seem to understand that American oil companies don't care about the pain of American consumers any more than Saddam Hussein, AND they have much more power to raise prices. Oil probably wouldn't be AT $120 a barrel if we hadn't invaded Iraq.

Now he's trying to use the same old Iraq scare tactics that got us into this misguided war in RETROSPECT? God, McCain is so dumb! How dumb does he think we are? It makes me so mad!

So you are finally admitig that the only "plausible" reason for invading Iraq is because we didn't wan't them to have access to the large amounts of Oil stored in THEIR "Sovereign" lands.....??!!!! After the enormous death toll (US, Allies and Iraq's)......this is all about OIL??!!!!

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE TRIED for TREASON!!!!

Or... if we had never gone in... and the Iraqi resistance hadn't blown up most of the Oil production devices, and therefor cut the supply from Iraq, and caused billions of dollars in reconstruction....

MAYBE OIL WOULDNT BE 125 BUCKS A BARREL YOU SHMUCK

Finally the truth, we went to war over oil. All those lives lost, and for what? It has done no good. Wish McCain would stop insulting our intelligence.

war-monger!

Does this guy really think that we'd be dealing with oil at $120, $125, $130 a barrel if it weren't for his war?

Yet another lack of understanding on McCain's part. Considering the price of oil was around $30-$40 when we went into Iraq, how can he say if we didn't go into Iraq oil would be at the price it is now?

Does he not understand that our Middle East policy, especially what we've done in Iraq, has had a big impact in the cost of oil today?

Again, will someone tell me how town halls meetings are where McCain does his best? Do people who report that not watch those town hall meetings? Seems if he gets a question that isn't pre-selected to match his current policies, his answers are always so ignorant.

ARE WE GOING TO 'WAR WITH CHINA', BECAUSE OF CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHT'S VIOLATION.

YOUR A REAL JOKE-MCCAIN

All Hypothetical BullShiza! I have one too, John McCain is better off dropping out so the world can be a better place.

Wow.

So much pandering to do, so little time to do it in.

I had a lot more respect for John McCain a few years ago.

So, in other words, we went to war for oil? Or did I miss what he was saying when he spun his answer. This is really sad...over 4100 soldiers are dead because of him and those who voted over a lie to the American people. I hope you all know that McCain will keep over half the staff that G.W. Bush has.

So pathetic.................

Heck,it looks like I am the only guy caring about your absurdities,CNN.

McCain is so sick and I am tired of looking and listerning to him-Bush
had Saddam killed so he could try and take the oil what did it do but get a lot of people killed for a lie and oil is still high.

WAR FOR OIL!!!! OLD MAN JUST TOLD ON HIMSELF!!!!

Since Sadam is dead and gone and we are paying through the nose for fuel. Given your rationale Senator McCain, who do you suggest the United States of America next hunt down and kill over the price of oil? Obviously we need to keep murdering until everyone who can raise the cost of oil is dead.

That brings us to the McCain pledge for 100 more years of war.

McCain is telling the truth about the threat Hussein would have been if he were still there garnering today's,price of oil..........there is a big difference.

Um .... isn't the US action in Iraq a big part of the reason for the higher oil prices? We create instability, the price goes up, and McCain blames Sadaam? duh

MCSHAME, MCSHAME, YEA AND IF WE HADN'T INVADED IN THE FIRST PLACE WOULD GAS BE 147 $ A BARREL!? NO. WHAT A TOOL MCSAME HAS TURNED OUT TO BE.

So senator McSame by your logic the US should attack the Saudis since they funded the Sept 11th attacks and Bin Laden's family ties are there?!

So McCain has finally admitted that we invaded Iraq for oil.

Congrats to him for honesty, even though it's 5 and a half years too late.

As for the effect on the price of oil:
When we invaded, Iraq was pumping out the same volume/day as it is now. During the intervening 5 years, Iraq's output was consistantly lower than before the invasion. The instability that our invasion caused has caused price fluctuations, often increasing the fundamental price of fuel by as much as 30.00/bbl (though right now the additional "security concerns" increase is less than 5.00/bbl.

Since the invasion, Iraq has exported ~4 billion barrels of oil. Our invasion cost 1.6 trillion dollars thus far. Which means that if the invasion was actually about oil (McCain has finally admitted it), the cost of oil from Iraq's military misadventure have cost an additional ~400.00/bbl – before we pay regular market price for them.

Empirial expansion is not a good way to obtain oil. McCain should revert back to lying about this again... the truth just makes him look even more stupid about energy.

WHAT!! don't speculate on what he would do. we found no wmd and were so tight on what that country could and couldn't do. he couldn't order a venus fly trap on the internet without someone knowing.

just a crock of bull dung to try and tie todays oil prices, which have gone up drastically with this war, to removing him and his wmd's. wasn't there and oil for food program in place? sell the oil and all they could buy the proceeds was civilian supplies?

McCain does not understand ... the issue is not whether Saddam should have been toppled = but how it was done - circumventing the Constitution and Lying to the American public should be an impeachable offense (certainly registers higher than what Clinton did) ... we would have succeeded in toppling Saddam in other ways (including economic) - but that was not the way that the neo-cons decided to drive this thing ... and now there have been probably 500,000 people killed so that Americans can drive Humvies ... John – bite me - go back to Phoenix now and just leave us alone!!!!

That's taking stupidity to a new lower level. Saddam was limited by the amount of oil he could sell by UN sanctions. None of the price surge would have helped him much. All of the war has helped the dictator of Venezuela, the Iranians and the Russians.

Gimme a break.....What other "what if's" can this clown shoe babble on about? What if Bush hadn't been elected president? What if the current oil cartel wasn't in Washington? What would the cost of crude be then?

Maybe, just maybe...if there wasn't so much turmoil in the middle east (ie Iraq), the prices wouldn't have jumped so high in the first place...McCain, you're a riot, I can't help buy laugh, I miss the McCain of 2000, you know, the respectable guy.

So, Mr McCain, using that line of gibberish, if Brittney had not shaved her head and was still in power, do you think she would have a chance of a cabinet post in your administration?

And volunteering your wife for the topless beauty contest in Sturgis???
Nothing is connecting too well for you upstairs these days, is it John? Are you a firetruck today? Or is it biker Thursday? Tapioca Tuesday?

Do you really think that the American public would trust you with all of the important decisions that are going on in our country right now?

Huh? So he would've voted for a lie because he knew oil would dramatically rise in price. John McCain can "tell you" what Saddam Hussein would do? Is that kinda like how he "knows" how to catch Osama Bin Laden? Is John McCain a psychic? If so, then we definately should elect him to office. On the other hand, if he was a psychic why didn't he cheating on his first wife leading to his divorce. Or why didin't he "know" how to prevent a visit to the Hanoi Hilton? Maybe his psychic powers have grown since then. Sheesh

When he says that Saddam had aquired WMD twice before, is he referring to the weapons we sold him?

Also, gas didn't go up this high until we invaded Iraq.

dealing with hypotheticals is all he has..

Bush agrees to 2010 time-horizon

Oil is down

Tire gauges work in reducing daily consumption..

This guy is too OLD tooooo LEAD... even a horse to water..

hmm so why isnt the US attacking Iran then?

If Saddam was still in power, the only person who would benefit from sky-high Iraqi oil is Kofi Annan's son. Guess McCain already forgot the heavy U.N. sanctions in place while Saddam was in power and that the Oil for Food program was the only legitimate way Saddam could get Iraqi oil to market. Saddam had to sell Iraq's oil for pennies on the dollar in return for food and medicine because Kojo Annan ran the most corrupt program in the history of the U.N.

mcshame you are a loser bro oil prices are jumping because your Bush buddy is the one making the prices with EXXON

What would the price of oil be today if we didn't enter Iraq? Any educated feedback on that one?

What a lame, lame way to spin this! McCain can sputter all he wants, but that war vote is indefensible.

Oil may not have gone so high without the war; we certainly would have spent fewer billions of American dollars on a fruitless effort that has cost untold lives; maybe this, maybe that.

And this may tries to distance himself from the Bush administration? Please - he just can't hide his true colors.

If Saddam were still around we wouldn't be in this mess.....why would it be different now than before we invaded his country? The only reason the prices are so high now is because bush and his gang are purposely keeping certain fields in Iraq shut down allowing no production.....that's why we invaded the country.....he and his buddies wanted control.....is there anyone who has not yet seen the pictures of daddy bush and the sheik?

I seem to recall that oil was between $40-$50 per barrell BEFORE we invaded. McCain is out of touch with Americans who are not lifelong politicians.

Let me get this straight. John McCain is justifying his support of the Iraqi war in 2002 based on what Saddam Hussein would do if he were alive today? That just does not make sense. I think McCain is having another senile moment.

If you think John McOilmanbush, will ever admit he "the maverick" has made a mistake in wanting to go to war, you are ever so mistaken. There are some, and McBush is one of those, who believe it's o.k. to invade a country, kill its leaders and citizens so that they might steal from that country its wealth.. All in the name of democracy. And we wonder why the rest of the world looks at us as tyrants... Our ever so brillient BUSH is in China right now telling the Chinese how to run their government (as though he has done such a fine job here in his own yard). All the while begging for more money from the Chinese so we Americans can keep killing Iraq's country. When will our people and politicans learn to keep their nose out of other countries business and tend to our own problems first... When are we, the Citizens of the United States going to demand our military leave Iraq NOW and for god sakes keep that thug George W. Bush padlocked in the white house until his term is up.....

What a long winding spin to answer a very simple question. What McCain conveniently choses to forget is the fact that if Saddam was in power, the price of oil wouldn't be this high given the oil output on the supply side from stable Iraq.

Hey McCain, you can take your audience for fools but not the rest of us.

OK. SO NOW... HE "KNEW" THE PRICE OF OIL WOULD SKYROCK AFTER 2003, SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WOULD NEED TO GO IN AND TAKE SADDAM OUT..

BECAUSE SENATOR McKARNACK-THE-MAGNIFICENT, KNEW SADDAM WOULD SOON BE RECEIVING AN OIL PROFIT WIND FALL, AND THAT HE 'KNEW" HE WOULD USE IT FOR WMD !!!

Really guys.... really???? 'this' is better than Obama????

really?

What a clown McCain is. Four thousand American lives later, of course the war was about the oil and greed. How does a man runnig for president make a statement like that so proudly. What a shameful old man. McCain would bring four more years of Bush.

So in other words, it's not okay to make billions of dollars from oil revenue?

Uh, the war is the reason why prices are so high, you nitwit!

We pre-emptively invaded a country that had not attacked us and destabilized the Middle East.

Does anyone actually think the Iraq war was a GOOD idea? Apparently McCain does!

McCain's comment shows that 5+ years in captivity has rendered his brain unuseable. He should seriously consider declining the nomination – or the party should demand he do so-in order to allow a sane person to run on the GOP ticket.

oil? well at least one of these jerks admits it.

NoMoreRebulicans 08.

Yeah. We believe that!! McCain could barely remember his bearing let alone see into the future that oil prices were gonna go up that's he voted for the war. Hmm, I still believe in the tooth fairy and I will bet I could sell John an ocean front property in Arizona.

John McCain knew in 2001 that these six months was going to happen? And his answer was to go to war with the country as a solution?

When all you have is a hammer, suddenly all your problems begin to look like nails.

Give that man a Klondike bar

It is funny how John McCain came up with this conclusion. He is trying to justify the war in Iraq and this is the best he has? Iraq war was fought for self defense, a clause in International Law. Its his frustration and unpopularity for the prime post that is making him make such meaningless comments.

Perhaps McCain did not get the memo that there were no WMD in Iraq. Is he now saying it is okay for us to attack a sovereign nation because we don't like their leader? Should we start making a list of future engagements under a McCain presidency now?

Oh, and by the way. Wasn't Iraqi oil supposed to pay for rebuilding? Where the heck is all of the oil money? Are we still not pumping any oil 5 years later? Or do we have no control over the money? (boy, that would be a surprise!) If the oil was supposed to pay for this mess at $30 a barrel, why do we have $120 oil AND a $1 trillion bill for the war? Who's pockets are full of oil money???????????????

I believe the world will be far worse off if men with the mindset of our current President are allowed to continue running this country.

That a fat lie,just remember Micheal More 9/11 video where he tape Dick Chaney say they're all fools. The American public will pay whatever we set the preice of gas they will pay what ever....

Look at the video

Keep going John, you're saving the Obama Campaign a lot of work.

Seems like more of the same... The politics of fear are at play by the Republicans before an election. I reject this nonsense rhetoric as pandering for votes. Everyone knows that Saddam didn't have the weapons that Bush and McCain said he had. This is just a hypothetical statement from a proven liar.

I guess senile McCain forgot that there was an embargo against Iraq and he couldn't sell that oil unless it was through the UN oil for food program. He also forgot to mention that Saddam got those WMD's and permission to use them from the Reagan administration.

Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it. What a moron. I'm sure his ignorant followers are eating it up though. Good job on the fact checking CNN.

Well this man is cazzy, on what world is he living

How worse off can the world be. Everyone hates us. We have lost just about all of our allies. The oil was not this high before we went to war. Supposedly, atleast this is what we were told, that the war would pay for itself through Iraq's oil reserves and that has just not happened. This man truly does not know what he is talking about. And all jokes aside he is not ready too lead. Celebrity or not I trust American under Obama's leadership. Because the more I hear this guy talking the more he scares me.

Yes, and this is why McCain comes across as an intellectual nut case. There is no way that Bush would have gotten the public behind a war with Iraq if it was not for 9/11 and the lies that followed. I am personally upset with the Democratic nuts that took impeachment off the table. There needs to be safe guards in place to prevent this type of misleading the public from ever happening again. There should never be a war without a direct threat and proper justification.

Aha! So it finally comes out – this war really was all about the oil.
We knew it, but it's interesting to hear a Republican finally admit it.

What a wonderful reason to sacrifice the lives of thousands of American soldiers. Saddam may have been the worst dictator that ever lived but he was never worthy of a drop of blood of any American soldier. To hear that we invaded a sovereign country for the simple reason of violation of human rights is disgusting. If there's enough reason to invade a nation why haven't we invaded china. China has been one of the world's violators of human rights and they are still ecnonmically and politically thriving. Same are for countries in the thrid world countries and how many have we invaded or are threatening to invade them too if they have natural resorces especially oil?

Now McCain is nostradamus, to bad 26 years ago he didn't predict high gas prices.

Expensive gas is always a good reason to bomb another country. I think the price of Guiness is too high - can we invade Ireland??

You have to be kidding me...

No, seriously, did McClain just pull WMDs back into the discussion?

Isn't he speaking in a town in which one his campaign managers DOOMED to outsourcing because he lobbied for DHL?

Meanwhile, the member of Saudi royalty known as Osama Bin Laden is still alive, and he IS profiting from the high price of oil. So three cheeers for that (sarcasm there folks).

Remember, as the article from a few weeks stated, "speculators were allowed into the market by a THEN REPUBLICAN CONGRESS."

And remind yourselves again, just how much money is Iraq making from oil revenues this year?

Everytime I think McClain (who I used to like a lot) sinks low like this and can not sink any lower, he one-ups himself.

Sad, just plain sad.

Did McCain just confirm that a primary motivation for the Iraq War was oil?

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life. He took her question and turned it into something completely different. I'll bet if CNN tracked her down and asked how she felt about that answer, she'd tell you she's really pissed off to have been used that way.

Wow, unbelievable!

Senator, oil prices have skyrocketed in part because we are IN Iraq. Do you not get that?

Listen, even though Paul Wolfowitz, Cheney and the gang said that we'd be paying for the war in Iraq with Iraqi oil, IT HAS NOT HAPPENED!! Even though the government of Iraq is raking in billions in oil revenue, it is still, you and I, the American taxpayer who are footing the bill for this mess. The military has a name for stuff like this. FUBAR.

Wow this is going to come back and bite him. Outright stupidity that's all I can say.

Everyone knows the war wasn't about WMD but the oil. Bush and Cheney have a nice fat bank account waiting for them after January.

oh McNuggets please shut up

So the Bush team decided I want that and so here we are 5 years later, trillions of dollars in debt and countless of lives lost so he (Bush) can have control of that oil.

Hey McCain, if we didn't go into Iraq we would have billions of dollars to invest in renewable resources. You are a warmonger, all you know is to kill and destroy for power. You will be dead in 20 years and have no vision for the future, leave the rest of the civilized world alone.

Where is this logic? We did not find WMD. So, he would have acquired this all of a sudden. So, are we now the UN enforcer while other countries were not in agreement? Sounds like a WarHawk.

When he is talking about "human rights"- Is China next on the list?

I wish the Straight Talk Express and Maverick were here to see this. They would not recognize this guy at all. So sad.

MCcain,
American loss over four thousand men and woman in this War.
What you think he would have been doing is not worth the lives of four
thousand service men and woman.
Saddam's brutal human rights issues is no our business, we should
take of our own human rights ISSUES. Your reason for the War
resulution is sick.
Thanks.

HA! That's funny, when Saddam was in power, our petro wasn't that high. Next justification for war please

Unbelievable! The man has a one track mind!

except the UN already had sanctions against what he could use the oil for and price, etc......MCCAIN IS TOO OLD AND HYPOCRITICAL!

I don't know, the same thing all the other middle eastern states do? Fund terrorism, oppress their people, live like kings while their people suffer...we don't mind allying with them though.
The reason we went to Iraq turned out to be a lie, you can't fix that with hypotheticals 7 years later.

So while the Iraq government has an $80,000,000,000 surplus from their oil reserves, the United States is still bearing the full cost of this invasion and occupation, and somehow it's Hussein's fault? Is McCain incapable of using reason? This man is wackier than W.

This unjustified war against a fully contained Saddam Hussein is WHY gas prices got this high. How many straws can this fool grasp at?????

War monger.

if we had not gone to war, would our economy be this bad?????????!!!!! This joker is just like Bush. I guess Saddam cause the mortgage mess too.

McCain is out of his mind!! You can not project "what ifs"!! McCain is sooooo out of touch with reality. All he wants is an excuss for war, war and more war. No Draft, No more wars. Out with the very old, and in with young, educated, good judgement, and no radical temper!!! mcCain scares me!!!! Go Obama

Go home McCain–as crazy and adolescent as Obam is–you are old enough to have more common sense.

Libertarians–no games, no crap, just commons sense and the constitution/bill of rights.

Thank you for your support.
Bob Barr 2008

These people can only fool the American people. They will swallow any line hook line and sinker. They were duped into getting rid of Saddam for the Iranians(i.e. curveball and Akmed Chalabi) and they gladly went along because the big oil companies were complicit and satiated. I don't know about the average Joe, but "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me."

Wow, WMDs. Haven't heard that one in a while. McCain's dusting off the oldies (no pun intended).

This is so Ridiculous and sad that Mr. McCain is still trying to justify that horrible war . You do not need to do that anymore Sir. Please move on with the real issues at hand . Loss of Jobs and house foreclosures have got to be the # 1 issue !

He must really be joking with this.

One of the BIG reasons for oil's price increase is INSTABILITY IN OIL-PRODUCING REGIONS, LIKE THE MIDDLE EAST. Iran did it a few weeks ago with their missile testing to raise oil prices and make a few million more bucks. Doing something like starting a war is sure to make prices go up, not down! This says something about his grasp of economics.

And for the record, Saddam had given up his nuke program years before we invaded. And he had no ties to terrorists either, so those are out.

If you want to talk about a brutal human rights record as a justification for invasion, then let's go after Saudi Arabia next. Public executions, subjugation of women, complete lack of religious freedom, etc.

Oil wouldnt be $130 a barrel if the likes of you hadnt gone and messed the world up in the first place!!

The US should invade any country that has what we want unless they voluntarily turn it over to us at what we decide is a fair price.

McCain 08
Better than Bush

Amen.

As someone who worked over there during the "U.N. Sanction" years, I personally saw oil being smuggled out of Iraq in trains of tankers.

We definitely weren't cutting into his income, and let's not forget all the other resolutions he broke, kicking the weapons inspectors out numerous times and taking pot shots at American pilots enforcing the no-fly zone.

People seem to have short memories in this country.

Everyone complains about the current cost of the war, but I'd like to know how much money we spent policing Saddam Hussein from 1991 until the current war. That was over a decade of wasted resources trying to keep that man in line.

Good riddance.

Ummm...hello...Iraq had an embargo against selling its oil on the open market. That's why they needed the oil for food program. So what is he talking about Saddam taking advantage of high oil prices???

one would think that after saying the same talking points , pandering and lying as long as John has...one would think he would not need Que cards...guess it must be memory loss. that happens at that age i guess

Was there proof of WMD's because I can remember we found none.

I really think John McCain has gone insane. He is using the worst hypothetical scenario I can think of. I can tell you the reason oil is where it is today is because of The Iraq War. Look at your calenders when oil started to rise. Just like George W., McCain thinks it's cool to drop bombs on people who might have a weapon that could get into the hands of a terrorist and may end up being used against America. He will drop a bomb if someone sneezes wrong and call it the threat of getting Americans sick. Come on America..do not buy into this war mongers fearful philosophies on why we should kill and train people in the middle east to think like Americans.
If John McCain is telling the truth how come he is not leading "INVASION: THE SURGE IN IRAN"? I mean, the threat of Nuclear weapons is a serious threat. Come on McCain don't be lame and play games, what is it you are saying? Be consistent. Be real and have a tiny bit of morals.

Nice Speculative Justification, McSame. Sounds like something Bush would say.

Fear Talk Express : Full steam ahead!

Well now isn't this special. First it was Saddam was a dictator hell bent on getting WMD's, then it was becasue he committed genocide on his own people in the 80's while certain Administration Officials held hands with them, then it was to liberate the Iraqi people. McCain just does not get it. He and his party claimed it would be a swift and fast victory, the Iraqi's would throw candy and flowers at us and the best one is hey their oil would pay for the war. While we as taxpayers are paying billions of dollars for this war, the Iraqi Government is sitting on a 79 billion dollar surplus. And the beauty of all this is we are paying them interest for holding their money. Is this what John McCain calls winning in Iraq? Just wanted to ask that question. I along with the majority of Americans now want to know John McCain what is your definition of victory in Iraq? We though it was "Mission Accomplished" several years ago aboard the big boat Fly Boy George was on. thx for all your support

why doesn't the white house just admitt that the war in Iraq is all about oil. Our soldiers are giving there life for the greed of George Bush. Why can't americans see the forest for the trees. there's a reason why other countries don't like america, it's because they know why america invaded Iraq, and it wasn't for WMD.

But the price of oil is more than triple what it was when Saddam was in power BECAUSE of the war! Man- McCain is better at Orwellian newspeak than I thought!

what a thing to say.............shameful.

Gas wasn't expensive when you voted, or did you forget again. Idiot! Please dont vote for this guy. At least vote for a real Republican in Barr.

Huh? The prices wouldn't be as high as they are if we hadn't gone into Iraq.

What about the 80 billion that the Iraqi's are making off it and the US is still funding this unholy war?????

wow!you voted for the war ,so,saddam wouldnt get rich,when the price of oil went up?o.......kay........whatever.....you must have gotten one of bush's "memos",too.....maybe you should drop out of the race,and write a book about how you were mislead by a forged letter or something.i hear there's lot's of money in it.

Mcwar just likes to start fights and have someone else do the fighting for him. Send Mcwar to the inner-city on one of the corners and have him start his own war. Not only start it but fight it too. I feel more threatend by whats going on in our own communitys than in Iraq.

Fear mongering!! (and btw, Canada/Mexico provide us WAAAY more oil than the middle east)

Stop diluding yourself to suit your agenda McSame! You'll find ANYTHING to justify a WAR because you want "winner" written next to your name in the history books. My children will NOT fight a war for you!

war drill war drill war drill

If George Bush and John Mccain hadn't invaded Iraq, the region would be much more stable, in which case, as anybody who understands the economy would know, there would not have been a huge run up in the cost of oil. Yes, the price oil would obviously be increasing due to increased global consumption, but the huge RUN UP was caused by the unstable situation.

Once the Bush administartion started to negotiate with Iran, as Obama has suggested all along, and Congess started talking about cracking down on speculators, also as Obama has suggested all along, oil prices started to come back down.

It is obvious to any rational obserer that the failed Republican policies are to blame for high and unstable oil price.

That is absurd. So Senator McCain would still enter into a war in Iraq, knowing that the reasons were false? That is essentially what he is saying here because the advantage of hindsight tells us that all the evidence of WMD was false.

WMD in Iraq = Bush/Cheney Lies = Hillary Supporters for McCain

Don't you remember, John, or is your memory gone too, that we were not allowing him to sell oil freely anyway, and so he'd still be facing sanctions and unable to profit in the way you suggest. And isn't it sort of odd, now it's not that the US went to war to find WMDs, but to prevent him from being able to buy them when the price of oil went up six years later. Tongue disconnected from your brain, old chap?

Did McCain ever consider the possibility that the high cost of oil is partially attributable to the war in Iraq?

This old dude is out of his mind and out of touch. Please God in heaven help us.

COUNTRY FIRST? MY FRIENDS, CHCK OUT EXXONMCCAIN.COM TO SEE HOW MCCAIN IS REALLY COUNTRY FIRST.

This man really scares me. No hindsight and he is even trying to tie in the oil prices to WMDs!! WWIII seems a certainty if we elect this senile, bitter old man who is still trying to make up for Vietnam. The US will soon become the lost Roman Empire with this way of thinking. Overextending our military presence while owing countries like China trillions of dollars – not very patriotic if you ask me.

WHAT!!!!!!!!! This is supposed to be the foreign affairs guru???

This is the silliest answer I've ever heard. Money was the least of Saddam's worries. He had access to enough money when gas was $30 a barrel to buy whatever he would've needed to make WMDs. What an idiot. Why doesn't the media call him on the bull.

Well if thats the case...a McCain presidency means war with Iran and Venezuela.

I hope no one has any 18-21 year old children.

OH MY GOSH – the mindset of McCain is WRONG. To say a man, whose sons were killed, and his life destroyed was based on speculation.

Well, there's your answer to why a lot of American's were killed and STILL are being killed, because of OIL.

CNN, your posting of MCCAIN ALL day long has finally made me literally SICK! THIS IS TOO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McCain ... did you ever stop to think that if Saddam were in power the region would be much calmer and the price of oil would be well below $100 per barrel.

Don't you and Phil Gramm believe we are in a psychological recession and that the psychological impacts on the price of oil are superior to the effect of supply & demand ? (you non-economist).

Not True, Obama would go have tea with him and the whole world would sing be as one.

your the reason the oil is so high mc-have -no-shame
Sinnce the the white house has been with Bush evrything has gone up...........

How dumb does he think we are? Oil prices surged after the Iraq war started, Oil prices go up when there is a war, I said it before McCains strategy for the White House is to tell so many lies that no one knows exactly where he stands.
This is not the 2004 McCain r the 2000 McCain, Just imagine the 2009- 2012 McCain, it will just get worse.

That statement is insulting

So in hindsight, McCain would still have invaded Iraq because Saddam was a bad man and had oil at his disposal. That tells you what we can expect if McCain gets elected. Using that criteria, we will soon be invading virtually every country in the Middle-East. What a swell idea.......NOT!

McCain's strong suit is town hall-style meetings? He really wants to go toe-to-toe with Obama in a venue where a script is worthless? He wants to challenge Obama in a setting that requires off-the-cuff responses?

Obama should suggest they have one every other day.

One of the strongest upward pressures on oil prices the past 5 years has been our military engagement in the region. McCain falls victim to the fallacy of the pre-determined outcome. If we hadn't removed Hussein by force, the Middle East would be more politically stable, which would mean lower oil prices today. Give it a rest, old man. You've done unspeakably courageous things for your country in the past; let us move forward into the future with our eternal gratitude for your service.

The Crypt Keeper is an idiot. The entire reason oil is $120/barrel is because we are over there stirring things up for no good reason. Oil traders use the excuse of "regional instability" to drive up their profits. If none of this had ever happened, and Hussein were allowed to pump oil unimpeded, we would be looking at oil prices in the $30-$50/barrel range. As far as security goes, Hussein was being well-contained for years. Even if did have WMDs, nobody has ever explained how Iraq could have delivered them to US territory. Absent that, it's not our problem.

McCain is speculating more than those who actually drove the price of oil up!!!

That is QUITE a stretch!

The mental gymnastics it takes for him to get to THAT conclusion would qualify McCain for the OLYMPICS!!

CNN. don`t you know or even remember that it was the US who provided Sadam Hussein with all his weapons to attack Iran, or are you that short minded?

Are the hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqi's far better off? How about the almost 4200 dead Americans are they better off?

You senile old man. You are a disgrace to humanity!!!

What happened to the McCain of 2000???

Sold his soul to the devil and will do and say anything to reach the White House.

Disgusting!!!

The only reason we are in this war is because of oil. The criminals that attacked us on 9/11 are not in Iraq, they are in Afghanistan. McCain signed off and voted for this wrong war. He gets millions from the oil companies and he will sell us out for another dime.

Wow, never thought someone this blind could make it this far:
1. We could of heavily subsidized oil in this country and reduced gas by $1/gallon easily if we didn't spent all that money in Iraq.
2. We wouldn't be wasting fuel driving tanks and airplanes around the desert, which causes an increase in demand.
3. We wouldn't of created instability in the region which is a chief cause of a lot of this speculation.

Sadaam had palaces with the nicest amenities. He had no problems with money at oil's current price. Yes, giving him more money would be a bad thing, but maybe McCain should of voted for alternative energies in the past so we wouldn't be so frigging dependent on that oil. Solving the problem instead of prolonging it, what a novel idea.

Another misleading headline by CNN.

Along with spin in the article.

Somehow, CNN loves to help aid Obama into a dishonest campaign.

Childish and dishonest.

McClueless... there was no attempt. there was no weapon...

THERE WAS NOTHING

Lil Kim of North Korea is killings his own people too... does that mean you'd start another Korean war given the chance?

My friends... if we elect this old white-haired dude, we're in trouble.

You have got to be kidding me.

Obama's vacation timing is perfect. McCain with several days in an uninterrupted media spotlight (just what he wanted).

He might concede the race next week.

Isn't that putting the "cart before the horse"? Sounds like someone needs a course in logic.

In any case, I'm glad McCain finally admitted it: THIS WAR IS ABOUT OIL AND CONTROL not about terrorism or wmd's

This is pure crazy talked so we go to war five years before high fuel price to keep fuel low .We wre told that this war was not about oil.

Wrong again McSame.

This disastrous war should NEVER have happened, and we all know it.

Probably the same thing our president has been doing with our money...destroying the planet and our nations image all at the same time.

Oh my gosh! Prices wouldn't be so high if we hadn't invaded Iraq! This argument is VERY weak.

Wow! I can't beleive he said that. I hope Obama is all over this ridiculous statement. The Iraq war is justified because Saddam would have obtained WMDs with all the money he made off exploiting the oil market. That's crazy talk old man!

What an idiot...

This is specious reasoning at it's finest/worst.

So the war was for oil?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? It's pretty obvious that one reason oil is so expensive is BECAUSE we invaded Iraq!! Wow, and I used to have a bit of respect for McCain. How far he has fallen...

If Hussein were still in power, at least IRan would have a balance in the region. We took out Hussein, leaving Iran with the strength in the region. If we had spent these 700 billion dollars on alternative energies 8 years ago, we would be almost completely energy independent by now.

"cause & effect" was never analogous to "chicken & egg", mr. mccain. you can't just put one before the other at your convenience.

With that Justification then we may as well bomb bomb everyone making money off oil.

It's nice to know that John McCain could read the future the back in 2002–he knew oil prices would get this high, and was determined to get rid of Saddam before he could take advantage. Who knows what vision of the future McCain will have next that might drive the U.S. into it's next ill-conceived war?!

Well, McCain must have lost his Magic 8-Ball, because these days it would be telling him to drop out of the race before he's humiliated in November.

So, McCain is now officially insane, right?

You vote war coz you are a warmonger,,,,obviously you are not watching the news about the new book of Ron Suskind.

John my friend, the reason gas prices are crazy is because supplies are tight (war in the middle east), the dollar is weak (Thanks George for your un-funded, un-ending war) and demand is going up (no convervation and alternatives based energy plan)

Invading Iraq and GWB CAUSED these problems!!!

Without the Iraq war, oil wouldn't BE at $120 a barrel.
And we wouldn't have spent so much of our tax dollars, and worse, American blood.

And imagine the horrible state of America if McCain was in power. Point made.

So he and his goons got rid of him and yet oil more then doubled this year. Way to go.

This is exactly why we dont need him as president, he will lead us to another dumb war, they said Oil will be cheaper after the war, well it is now more expensive. Where are the WMD's, why have you killed 4000 of our brave soldiers for nothing?

What? Isn't that the justification Bush used?
So it is okay to stage preemptive war against countries that have oil or something we want? Isn't that called Imperialism?

Tell me McCain misspoke.

How many times does this man have to tell us the truth about his Iraq war stance, and we just turn our heads?

We need sanity and peace.

Obama '08

At least Saddam kept the oil flowing. Is it always fear, fear, fear with this guy?

Grandpa McCain forgot the the price of oil is higher because we went to war in Iraq in the first place.

Using this pretzel logic, it would be in the interest of the US to invade Saudi Arabia, as the majority of the hijackers during 9/11 were Saudi. Blowing up mecca might turn the whole Arab world against us, but that's the cowboy mentality, isn't it?

New day..new message...a desperate man/

So...are you saying the war really WAS about oil after all?

"Trust me, my friends."