Big Mac's Blazing Saddle Diplomacy

John McCain went before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council yesterday morning to showcase his foreign policy credentials and convince Americans that he is the only candidate experienced enough to take that 3am telephone call. While Clinton and Obama are distracted by a pre-Pennsylvania primary food fight, McCain's address constituted a dress rehearsal for a future national security agenda that, at its very core, resembles nothing more than discredited cowboy diplomacy. It is essentially fermented old failed warrior wine in new bottles...camouflaged unilateralism gussied up in a Potemkin village of storefront global engagement.

Democrats should not ignore the content of McCain's speech while our internal bout continues, or remain passive at the free ride McCain will enjoy from a fawning media lauding the speech's "presidential" character and its perceived break with Bush/Cheney/Rice foreign policy catastrophes. To remain impervious to McCain's attempted act at presidential statesmanship risks cementing in the minds of voters a dangerous perception that McCain will chart a new, more responsible and appealing foreign policy course that represents a break with neoconservatism orthodoxy.

Caveat Emptor: read between the lines!

First and foremost, McCain reasserts his ominous commitment to an endless engagement in Iraq. He justifies his bottomless pit commitment by arguing that a "premature" withdrawal will lead to a wider Middle East war because Al Qaeda will be able to turn Iraq into a cauldron of sectarian strife. This, he argues, will ultimately embolden Iran to confront Sunni Arab states and Israel, and lead to a regional war that will surely force the United States back into a wider conflict that it will have to wage against adversaries far stronger than they are today. In other words, the domino theory of Middle East extremism lies at the core of McCain's endless summer in Iraq.

McCain would like to convince voters they face the choice of accepting his Churchillian "never surrender" approach, or a dangerous Democratic "cut and run" alternative. In other words, leave Iraq and America will be in more danger and have to fight a more bloody and costly war later on many Middle East fronts, or stay the course in Iraq (courtesy of McCain's surge policy) and vanquish Al Qaeda and quell the sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shiites and we will be marginalize the threats arrayed against us throughout the region.

The trouble with this set up is that McCain's core premise is dead wrong. By our own senior commanders' accounts, Al Qaeda is but a minor player in Iraq, and there is no way the U.S. presence, surge or not, that will keep a lid on sectarian tensions. Just look at what is going on in Iraq at the very tragic milestone of 4,000 Americans killed: the worst sectarian violence in months has broken out with hundreds of lives lost despite a McCain's surge that he continues to tout as the fire extinguisher that will stop sectarian strife from igniting once again.

How inconvenient timing just when McCain keeps claiming that the surge has succeeded.

McCain's black and white version of the Middle East is what I find so troublesome. There is absolutely no redemption possible for adversaries such as Iran and Syria and no room for creative diplomacy other than his beloved surge strategy. In a nutshell, we must stay in Iraq to contain regional threats or risk engaging in a fool's errand by resorting to defeatist diplomacy.

I just don't buy that equation, and neither should the American people.

Moreover, McCain claims that an unending presence in Iraq can be legitimated by a new "League of Democracies" (a.k.a. a new Coalition of the Willing) that would conveniently marginalize those pesky international institutions such as the United Nations that seem to always stand in the way of American unilateralism or the McCain version "semi-unilateralism."

Creating parallel international organizations composed solely of "acceptable" democratic states would create a 21st century version of a new bi-polar world: A U.S./European Union plus India, Israel, Japan and other democracies lined up against Russia and other authoritarian governments. Democracies banding together to set a new global course has that soft, sweet appeal to our patriotic virtuosity, with every other undemocratic nation outside the McCain's democratic tent left to create their own mischief from the stage of the UN General Assembly, or create their own "anti-democratic" alliances and competing anti-democratic groupings.

What is so strikingly and inherently wrong with McCain's world vision is that America's global leadership will not be restored by ignoring adversaries that, left to their own devices, may further challenge and undermine America's national security.

Democrats should not permit McCain to gain further traction by falsely asserting he is charting a new foreign policy course that will restore America's image, global leadership, and reduce the threat posed by Al Qaeda and its spinoff terror groups. Despite McCain's assertion that he no warrior at heart, he is no prince of peace either. Any national security policy that, at its core, leaves America stranded in Iraq with hundreds of thousands of troops fighting whatever enemy we can conveniently label is a calling card for extremists and ultimately risks creating stronger adversaries. It is nothing more than a continuation of the failed Bush/Cheney/Rice status quo. The surge that McCain is so proud of will, by most impartial assessments, fail to stop the very civil strife that it is designed to prevent.

Sadly, there is nothing in McCain's speech that will convincingly steer our ship of state back on a truly righteous course that will undo the damage that the past seven years of failed national security policies have wrought. McCain is offering America nothing more than more of the same, and more of the same is what got America into this mess in the first place.

Comments

[bavaria]

This is what I would like to know
How does a public servant for over 20 years become a multi millionaire

[knighthowl]

Through marriage, I believe.

[JulieSA]

It's pretty simple. He married it, like John Kerry, Diane Feinstein, etc. did.

[charlesrfd2003]

Here are some common themes about our interventions including the present ones. Americans continue to deny these themes so they listen to the Pied Pipers like McCain.

First, we attacks with tactics that make very little distinctions between civilians and combatants. Yet, we always say the death of civilians was accidental or unavoidable.

Second, we attack in the name of “freedom and democracy”. Since WWII our attacks were to defend dictators controlled by USA interests and sometimes to prevent locals from installing a democratic government to their liking.

Third, we always characterize violence by others as “terrorism”, “atrocities against civilians”, or “ethnic cleansing,” but minimized or defended the same actions by U.S. or our allies. We have a double standard.

Fourth, while we portray ourselves as a neutral peacekeeper, we divide the country into friends and foes that enflames rather than dampen the conflict.

Fifth, our interventions are counterproductive because we fail to solve the root political and economic problems. Factions polarized and destabilize the country. These countries continue to reappear on the list of 20th century interventions.

Sixth, US efforts tend to strengthen rather than weaken the hold of the enemy leader. The enemy leader then blames the US internal problems on the US economic sanction.

Most Americans are in denial about what we have repeatedly done. They see themselves as an international John Wayne character who always does good. How can we change that?

[daddysboy]

Very well said. I applaud your direct, accurate analysis. Might I add that I don't think there was or is ever an intention to secure the region. I believe that the intention has been to keep the region insecure. Every possible way of diminishing violence will end up having the opposite effect somehow with mccain at the helm and we'll be traipsing into Iran before you can say conspiracy theory.

[tandrmcdonald]

Note to daddysboy;
Absolutely! As usual you pinpointed the core of the thing. With the region in turmoil few people will be paying attention to what Haliburton, KBR and Blackwater are doing. Of course, they'll still be there!
The fawning media moonies who described McCain's speech as "presidential" are simply corporate shills for the Republicans. The only thing that scares the Bejesus out of me is the notion that McLoonie might actually win the election.
If the Democrats don't get their collective acts together that just might happen.
Gramma Rose

[abluevoice]

Lets see, Al Qaeda attacked us on 9/11. Since then they were allowed to re-group, and recruit and re-arm thanks to Bush's unprecedented incompetency as Commander of our armed forces, and his invasion and occupancy of the wrong battlefield.
Now john McCain, the heir apparent to the Presidency, thanks to a brainwashed media and a pathetic Democratic opposition with zero leadership skills, wants to make this occupation of the wrong battlefield and a raging religious civil war the keystone of his 4 more years of Republican expensive and mis-guided foreign policy.
The Republicans just keep dumbing down the spin and the lap dog media accepts it. The spineless Democrats argue among themselves, and the world and it''s people suffer the consequences.

[RickO]

McCain's Blazing Saddles approach, an apt metaphor, misses the larger global and domestic picture and focuses all his attention on the toll booth in the desert, conveniently erected by the Bush administration and perpetuated by a feckless congress willing to provide an endless "shitload o' dimes".

If, by some stroke of unlikely good fortune, the Dems capture enough of a majority to step over Republican obstructions and cut off the Iraq war funding (like the majority of the country has already told them to do), what will McCain do then? His entire presidency will be based on the premise that he has the authority and funding to make war. Without that, what does he have?

[nanton29]

John McCain is a hero no doubt about that, so let us bestow a few more medals on him for the sacrifices he made, but McCain's strongest suit could turn out to be his weakest as is evident in his persistence with continued confrontation as a way of resolving the Iraq crisis. Any attempt at solving that sectarian conflict that had nothing to do with us in the first place will be at the expense of our men and women serving in Iraq. It is annoying watching the president insist that we must stay the course. He made America unsafe by invading Iraq, now he claims that to withdraw now will leave us at the mercy of terrorist. We should have concentrated on Afghanistan,finding Bin Laden and looking after our national security at home. Bush, Cheney are war criminals, and McCain should not be allowed to continue this madness.

[NURREDIN]

Has Mr. McCain or anyone running for President this year considered the fact that maybe, just maybe if people in the Middle Eastern countries that are our "Allies" were to have free and fair democratic elections there would be no need for terrorism or Al Qaeda? Al Qaeda got it's start when they tried to overthrow the Saudis and replace it with democracy. We, the British and the French quashed the rebellion in 1979. We then train them to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan so the Afghans could vote, and now we're pissed at them 'cause they're pissed at us. Before the Soviet Afghan war, Ben Laden was an Anti-Monarchy revolutionary. Then he turned his sights on the "Godless" Soviets . Now he perceives (correctly so) that the Monarchy can't survive without Western support. We got rid of our king over 200 years ago, why don't we help these people get rid of theirs? Why do we keep doing this to people who would be our friends? If we hadn't overthrown the government of Iran in 1953 and put the Shah in power, the Iranians would be our allies now. When are we going to learn? We've made a folk hero out of a guy who attacked us. He could not have survived this long without help. The average guy on the street in the Middle East sees him as a savior against the Kings, Shaikhs, Emirs, and Presidents for life we support. Is the oil really worth that much?

[sierra]

Good comments..­.
A good book to read:
"The Tragedy of American Diplomacy"
By, William Appleman Williams
New Edition, 1972
Get a good intellectual "view -full" of the "Open Door Policy" of the US and how it views the countries, peoples, their natural resources and our desperate necessity of "expanded overseas markets" so as to fulfill, "prosperity (and perceived democracy) at home."
If you can't afford the paperback edition (even used on major bookstore sites) you can order it thru your local libraries.

[daddysboy]

The oil isn't worth that much, but all the collateral profits (where are those "reconstruction" billions anyway?) sure seem to be.

[Garvagh]

Great piece! John McCain potentially could be even worse than George W. Bush. McCain believes the US war machine belongs in the Middle East for decades to come, inflaming Islamic radicals and putting American national security at risk.

[thebeerdoctor]

Here is a question I would ask the Arizona Senator: Have you ever read, or even looked at, Robert Fisk's book The Great War For Civilisation?

[PADDYWHACK]

I'll get to it after I finish the last three Tom Clancy novels.
John

[josephjsalas]

I can just smell the 'Blazing Saddle" campfire now! Especially with this BB-Q Master!
He's already reaching back for the Charl...er­....Domino Theory!

[Purple Girl]

9/11 did Not happen in a Vacuum.The Middle East has been a n Unruly mess for Decades.WE have suffered from 'Terrorists' for Decades Focus- the Targets have been basically Industrial, Govt or Military. No 'soft ' targets. It Is Not US they hate, it's those they affliate with US. Those who have hidden behind our Flag, Reputation and Resources to Develope their own parasitic NationState. It is no coincidence their were Corps Ready inthe wings to file newly developed 'Sub Contractor' duties ("Heckova Job", Inc's).
If we want to win the hearts and minds- Or at least show them No One is Above the mankind - we Must Do so Here First.- Gov' & Industry Leaders who allowed this Enterprise to be spawn and thus Placing Our Citizens in Danger.
It is far past the time to bring Cheney et al to Justice.! REAL Democracy=2/3 e .If the 'minority' in '01 would have at least had theopportunity to be heard- this may have gone differently- We were Effective silenced from paritipation in Our Democratic Process! Public Officials should Remeber their Oathe to Protect and Defend the People and the Constitution From Foreign and Domestic enemies. WE've got a list an arm long (in 8 font). !And Perhaps the World will stop and look at their 'leaders' and decide they have not live Up to their Duties. . If Not US then Who, If Not Now Then When. It has gone on far too long already!

[annieR]

Don't blame McCain for his broad-brush "cowboy diplomacy.­" I believe that he is mentally incapable of finessing any subject. I'm 73 years old, a Phi Beta Kappa who graduated summa cum laude, and did not spend five years in captivity being mentally and physically tortured. However, I and many, if not most, others my age, if pressed, will confess to some degree of decline in mental acuity. I've been fussing about his conflation of the Al Qaeda who attacked us and Al Qaeda in Iraq (plus the problem with who the Iranians are training), but I've decided that he can't help it. It's a problem of confusion, not conflation. Mr. McCain is mentally incapable of being president. It would be a very dangerous situation.

[Purple Girl]

It is Not his Age- but it is his mental ability,
this is not the mac I recall all these years- He is not only different in his Rhetoric, but his body mechanics- Possble mini Strokes? My mom's 74 and my dad 76- very sharp (well ok Dad- moms always been a bit ditsy) and still will run up the stairs (but not down- smart). they even think something has happened to his agelessness.
I fear our Formidable Admirable Foe has Health issues which I hope ( no malice) he decides to Place Higher on the priority list than this Sh* t pile from Bush
John you have served this country with distinction- It's time to let the next generation take the reins, just as the generation before you did when your turn to serve came. Don't let this admin do to you what they did to so many Other Great patriots over the last 7 yrs (Col. Powell)
Go ahead John You can let go of the back of the bike Now- We'll be fine, We're AmericaNs!

[battleborn1]

Two points I'd like to make; Colin Powell a "Great Patriot"? Are you really serious? And second, I'm Costa Rican and am also an "American" and myself and many many others are sick and tired of you egocentric, uninformed, violent arms merchants and terrorists thinking you are any more special than any other human being on this planet. 4000 dead in an essentially terrorist action is splashed all over your bumpers and yellow ribbon festooned SUVs, while the hundreds of thousands of freshly dead Iraqis and the million or so your "great President" Clinton used for target practice and to draw down your stockpiles of ammo so your main contribution to the world, arms factories, could reap yet more 'manna' replentishing the spent WMDs you feel so free about using on others. If there is a God each and every one of you has a hell of a price to pay and crimes against humanity to explain. Since uninformed ignorance seems to be your national credo, I'd be more than glad to provide you a reading list because you quite obviously are living in a fantasy world.

[realistic2008]

I wonder if Mcain is ready to mend the US diplomacy with the world if he will be willing first to bring to justice Bush, Chenney, Rumsfeld, Pearl and the architect of them all, Wolfowitz, now that will be believable.

[OnceProudAmerican]

Amen brother, Amen

[realistic2008]

Right you are, Alcaeda's influence in Iraq is the latest WMDs defense of the administration, in other words a propagandistic strategy which wants US to believe requires the might of the US army or at the very least spending trillions of dollars to defeat them, hogwash pure unadultered BS. Even Reagan never feared the Soviet Union that much but as I recall he feared the great armies of Granada and the Panama Republic as well as the powerful army of Daniel Ortega in Nicargua, same crap.

[Honest George]

Dear Marc,
As I am honest George I have to honest .When W was savagely attacting McCain I felt so sorry for the man and I sent him an E-mail telling him W sure is nasty for using the attack machine against him. Many might not know but it was brutal. I have thought many time since this election cycle what a damn fool I was. McCain might be right about the domino thery. Look what happened to Cuba. They went communist anf all the countries in the area went communist as well as Central and South America. Just making a point because McCain is full of something about his theory,You are right he is getting a free ride. I ama Democrat so I will vote for the nominee. I am afraid if Senator Obama gets it we have not seen anthing yet from the Republicans. Lee Atwater would lok like a Saint. I am 77 years old now and I have never seen such a nasty and crooked administration in my life. I still can't get over the Senator Max Cleland ad.

[Bob Egan]

The stupidity of our current administration is nothing new. We are continuing to embark on one failed policy after another!

An interesting read is
U.S. Interventions:
1945 –1999
http://thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/US_Interventions_WBlumZ.html

After reading this, our failures seem minor in comparison to the death, carnage and suffering we have caused because of the corporate greed that really runs this country!

[goodolboy]

this is definitely a MUST read. That 'rah-rah' mentality have isolated us to the rest of the world!