THE PR, IT GETS WORSE

According to Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV), withdrawing from Iraq will result in something like an Apocalypse. He claims this is what he was told by Petraeus and Crocker.

Aug. 30, 2007 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CLARIFICATION - 09/01/07 -- A headline in Thursday’s Review-Journal attributed to Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., a suggestion that a premature withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq could result in the rise in the price of gasoline to $9 a gallon. In fact, Porter merely was relaying such a suggestion, which originated with officials with whom he spoke during his recent trip to Iraq.

Porter ties U.S. withdrawal from Iraq to $9 gasoline
Lawmaker reports on his trip to country
By TONY BATT STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Gasoline prices could rise to about $9 per gallon if the United States withdraws troops from Iraq prematurely, Rep. Jon Porter said he was told on a trip to Iraq that ended this week.

The Nevada Republican, who returned Tuesday from his fourth trip to Iraq, met with U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Iraqi Deputy President Tariq al-Hashimi and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh.

"To a person, they said there would be genocide, gas prices in the U.S. would rise to eight or nine dollars a gallon, al-Qaida would continue its expansion, and Iran would take over that portion of the world if we leave," Porter said Wednesday in a phone interview from Las Vegas.