GOP Presidential Candidate John Cox Speaks Out on Petraeus Report Findings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Laura Grock/Martin Janis & Co.
(312) 943-1106

September 10, 2007

(CHICAGO, IL ) - This is John Cox's statement concerning the Petraeus report:

"All over the talking heads are talking about the pullout, the lack of progress and how the report may or may not be truthful. What we ought to be talking about is how to move forward and improve our security. It is not about the honor of the soldiers; it is not about politics; it is about the security of the American people and keeping that economic power away from people that want to hurt us."

"I invest in a stock or a business based upon what it will do going forward from that day. I don't care what my cost is; I don't care how long I have held it; I don't care how nice the management or employees are. I only care about their future success and its impact on my future. The same thing holds for our investment in Iraq. It is not about the honor of our soldiers. We ought to honor them when they return and we owe it to them to not put them into a losing battle."

"I would part company, however, with those who just want to pull out now. I do believe there is a strong chance of very negative impacts to OUR security if we leave an unstable Iraq. Why? They have 200 billion barrels of oil in reserve. Anyone who gets control of that wealth is a world power overnight, able to pay for the armies or weapons to do us harm. This is not Vietnam, which had little wealth, only a domino theory to justify a fear."

"The trouble is, no one, not Obama, not Giuliani, no one knows what happens when we leave. All we know is what is in that region. Clearly, that region has wealth and leaders who want power and hate the US and its allies, like Israel. I don't know what will happen either but I can surmise that all that oil would help make Iran stronger or al Queda stronger and would cause us to be worried about their power to do harm to us."

"What is the alternative? Is this winnable? I think it is for the very reasons I cited. There is a lot of wealth there and you don't need to do anything to oil to make it very valuable. The immediate plan should be to start the oil pumping, get the proceeds into the economy, get people believing a democracy can flourish and you may achieve stability. Get that oil into the world market and the price goes down, making Putin and Chavez much less dangerous or powerful. Make Iraq prosperous and the Iranians may just rebel, throwing off the government they have in favor of one that will allow them to trade with the world."

"Money is not everything but prosperity is why Iraqi Kurdistan is stable, why the Shia are peaceful in Saudi Arabia. A little noticed news item in the Wall Street Journal today say Hunt Oil is in a contract to drill in the north of Iraq. This will create jobs and wealth - that is what will best fight radical Islam."

If you are interested in interviewing John Cox or having him on as a guest commentator on this issue, please call Laura Grock at (312) 943-1106.

ABOUT JOHN COX

John H. Cox, 52, is the first announced Republican candidate for President in 2008. A self-made millionaire businessman and attorney, Cox made his fortune running successful companies in real estate, law, and venture capital. He helped turn around major potato chip manufacturer, Jays Foods, saving hundreds of jobs and turning millions of dollars in loss into profit. He served on the steering committee for Jack Kemp for President and on the boards of charitable organizations, such as the USO. He is a former president of the Cook County Republican Party in Illinois.

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