told American Digest's George Vanderleun that victory in Iraq was possible even if U.S. troops were not based there.

"[It] would be sufficient [for victory]," the then-Pennsylvania senator said. "It's a democracy. We've got folks in Europe that don't want our bases there. I'm not concerned about that as long as this government that may not want us there is in secure enough hands to make sure that it does not become a terrorist state or otherwise problematic. Whether we are there or not is of secondary importance."