Al-Qaeda could spark US economic crisis: McCain

WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate John McCain warned on Monday that Al-Qaeda could trigger a major US economic crisis with just one successful attack on a Middle Eastern oil installation.   

The Arizona senator argued that terror groups understood America's reliance on foreign oil -- and did not believe it had the will to find alternative energy sources.   

"Al-Qaeda plans for attacks on oil facilities in the Middle East to destroy the American economy," McCain said, in prepared remarks released by his campaign ahead of a speech in South Carolina.   

"We're one successful attack away from an economic crisis," McCain said, adding that US enemies knew the damage a disruption of supplies would wreak on the US economy.   

While other Republican candidates have been reluctant to lay out policies to combat global warming, or questioned the science behind claims that mankind is a major contributor to climate change, McCain has called for action.   

"It is a serious and urgent economic, environmental and national security challenge," he said.   

McCain has called for a plan to limit carbon emissions by using market forces to develop advanced technology and nuclear energy to reduce US reliance on foreign oil.   

McCain was once the Republican establishment frontrunner, but his campaign slipped deep into crisis earlier this year.   

However, recently the former Vietnam War prisoner has been showing signs of a revival, especially in New Hampshire, which holds its primary nominating contests on January 8.