I'm sure they'd also like us to stay in Afghanistan, too. The communist USSR was essentially dismantled as a result of their extended war in Afghanistan, and they seem to have learned more lessons from it than either of our presidential candidates. From the news agency at ITAR-TASS, Russia is willing to give their blessing to our continued stay in Iraq, and elsewhere I'm sure. The money quote;
Russia will support Iraq’s request to the U.N. Security Council for an extension of the international military presence in that country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.
"There are international troops in Iraq in accordance with a U.N. Security Council mandate," Larvov said.
"If the government of Iraq asks for the mandate of these troops to be extended, Russia will certainly support it," he said.
I found the link to this site today while rummaging around at Informed Comment, the blogsite of Juan Cole, who keeps track of these matters for me. Why would Russia be willing to assist US in our ongoing occupation of Iraq, or Afghanistan, take your pick. Might it be that we, the US, are attempting to destabilize their borders? The recent conflict over Georgia or perhaps high tech missle systems on their doorsteps, maybe our efforts to get their neighbors to join NATO? Anyone?
I don't blame the Rooskies a bit, I mean, we did the same thing to them when they had an Afghanistan nightmare on their hands. Turnabout is fair play, as they say, and if they can convince US to stay in either of these lands, they win. So be it.
I included Obama in the introduction as being a part of the problem, but I would far prefer that he become President, I've already voted for him myself. McCain, however, built his whole campaign around "staying in Iraq until we've won" and continuing the war in Afghanistan. Only recently has he shifted to a "Be afraid of the black (different, other) guy, as the Iraq message failed him.
I do fear warmongers; McCain is one, and I hope that Obama isn't. Peace, to all of us.