“Today, we are reminded again about the consequences of failure in Iraq and why the surge and the current counterinsurgency campaign must continue. Iran’s Holocaust-denying president today told the media that ‘soon we will see a huge power vacuum in the region’ as the American effort in Iraq collapses and that his regime is ‘prepared to fill the gap’ in Iraq. Some time ago, Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden’s lieutenant, warned his terror network to ‘be ready’ to extend the ‘jihad wave’ to other nations once they ‘expel the Americans from Iraq.’ This is why it is imperative we give General Petraeus the time and support he needs to continue implementing his new plan, which even leading opponents of the surge, including Senator Clinton, acknowledge is succeeding, and do everything necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
“In the coming month we will face a fork in the road. We can pursue our opportunity for victory in Iraq, strengthen our hand in the larger war against Islamic extremists, and make our nation more secure. Or we can fold our tents, embolden our enemies, throw a region into instability and greater conflict, and increase the risks faced on American soil. That course will make the world a more dangerous place.”