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Editorial Commentary
Scott Sullivan:
Clinton, McCain and the Albanians
Little Albania is about to create a big crisis for the US. Within two weeks Albania intends to urge the Serbian province of Kosovo to declare full independence from Serbia. Kosovo is expected to quickly accept this advice, which will produce a US confrontation with Russia and China that the US is not likely to win.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Kurds are about to create yet another crisis. The Kurds intend to annex the Iraqi city of Kirkuk and its vast oil reserves, a move that is authorized under current US policy. The Kurds would then proclaim their political independence from Iraq, a move that will produce US confrontations with Turkey and the Arab states.
Iran is delighted. As the largest state sponsor of international terrorism, Iran will find many opportunities to promote Balkan and Middle East terrorism by supporting Albanian/Kosovo and Kurdish independence. Moreover, Iran will be delighted as the US is forced to commit troops to the Balkans and the Middle East to cope with the chaos that will be created by the Albanians and the Kurds.
What do Hillary Clinton and John McCain say about this Albanian and Kurdish challenge to international stability? Clinton and McCain are the two strongest proponents of Kosovo and Kurdish independence that can be found in the US Senate. Freeze that frame: Albanian and Kurdish independence will force the deployment of significant numbers of additional US troops to Iraq and Kosovo; will provoke needless US confrontation with Russia and China, which the US is not likely to win; and will embolden the Iranian terrorists.
In other words, Clinton and McCain must back off their knee-jerk support for the Albanians and the Kurds. If Clinton and McCain do not retreat, the voters should demand that they surface an immediate plan (before Super Tuesday’s voting) to cope with the disastrous consequences of Albanian/Kosovo and Kurdish independence. Most likely, Clinton and McCain cannot develop such plans. No one before them has been able to do so. In this case, both Clinton and McCain must ask President Bush to join Russia and China in opposing Kosovo/Albanian and Kurdish independence.
Clinton and McCain want to be president. Good. First, however, both Senators must take action and assume responsibility for their rhetoric, as a president does.
Scott Sullivan is a former Washington government employee. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views
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Petroleumworld News 02/04/08
Copyright© 2008 Scott Sullivan. All rights reserved.
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