The knock on John McCain, besides his age and besides his rage, is he tends to care too much about foreign policy at the expense of domestic policy. To be sure, his candidacy was made possible by, besides the incompetence of his Republican competitors, the competency of David Petraeus's "surge" into Iraq. He is a war hero who firmly opposes torture. He sits on several committees devoted to foreign affairs. Let's face it: Unlike his rivals, he is no slouch when it comes to foreign policy.
But McCain's global agenda is not something that would be welcome in these troubling times. First, it is muddle-headed. He still insists that Iraq is the central front in the global war on terror. This despite the fact that a recent 60 Minutes interviewwith the FBI agent who spoke most intimately with Saddam before his death confirmed that the Baathist leader had nothing but hatred for global jihad or Osama bin Laden. Senator, as someone with so much foreign policy experience, doesn't it strike you as odd that Iraq is the central front in the GWOT and not, say, oh, I dunno, the Afghan-Pakistani border?
Second, McCain would do next to nothing to repair America's image in the world. Far from it. He seems hardly concerned with catering to American voters--something I actually admire about him--let alone the world's denizens who have turned American flag burning into a spectator sport. Why would McCain go out of his way to kiss the butts of foreign dignitaries after he's won the presidency? I fear McCain will step on toes and rub our allies the wrong way. He will stick his foot in his mouth and he will create needless conflicts. Europeans (and most of the world) hate Bush not just for his ignorance on foreign affairs but also his stubbornness. Wait until they meet John McCain.
Third, McCain is maybe Musharraf's last supporter in the world. "We must continue to work with President Pervez Musharraf to dismantle the cells and camps that the Taliban and al Qaeda maintain in his country," McCain wrote in Foreign Affairs last year. The Arizona Senator cannot seem to grasp that Musharraf is neither a democrat nor a reliable ally in the war on terror.
Fourth, I fear McCain harbors John Bolton-like views of the United Nations that may grow more extreme once the international community confronts his foreign policy as president. For instance, he favors something called the "League of Democracies" to, if not directly supplant the United Nations, which is full of pesky member nations who--gasp!--disagree with the United States, then to reduce the UN's power over Washington. This rubber-stamp body would needlessly complicate world affairs: Would a League of Democracies resolution allowing for a U.S. invasion of Iran be seen as legal under international law?
Fifth, McCain would give Russia the heave-ho from the Group of Eight (and maybe include India and Brazil instead). That sounds sensible enough. But though the G8 has become a meaningless talking shop that says a lot but does little due to bureaucratic overreach--every subject under the sun is fair game--Russia loves its seat at the table. To just boot it out, no questions asked, may not be sound policy--as it is one of the few trump cards we hold over Moscow (seeing how Russia will never join the EU or NATO). Plus, better to keep your friends close but your rivals closer.
Finally, contrary to the Council on Foreign Relations' Max Boot's claim in the Los Angeles Times that the presidential candidate who would "scare the snot out of our enemies is a certain former aviator who has been noted for his pugnacity and his unwavering support of the American war effort in Iraq," a McCain presidency would only make matters worse. Bush has already tried scaring our enemies and guess what--it didn't work.
“In a speech yesterday on Iraq policy Sen. John McCain told the American people just what would have to be done in order to carry out the mission in the Middle East as he had stated it.
“First, being a military man he knows better than anyone how the current War on Iraq and the subsequent occupation has essentially destroyed the best of the American military's ability to fight land wars and then run policing operations such as we have ongoing in Iraq. Thus his first act as President would be to send Congress a bill to reauthorize the draft, which is absolutely essential for the new 100-year mission.
“Second, he has put meat on the bones of his determination both to cut unnecessary government spending and to find the funds to continue the Iraq operation for the next century. Determined to show that his Party, not those spend-thrift Democrats, will lead the way, he will send to Congress a bill rescinding every single piece of pork-barrel spending that was passed during the first six years of the Bush Presidency, when the Republicans dominated the Congress.
“Third, he recognizes that for the 100 Years War he says is essential for peace and U.S. security, the U.S. cannot continue to carry it out on borrowed money the way it has been under Bush. Thus, regretfully, he will propose a recission of all the tax cuts awarded to those who can most afford to pay for the effort and who appear to want it the most, that is the rich.
“Asked if he was putting his candidacy at risk by making such a speech, he said that he knows that above all, the American people value honesty and integrity, and that it was time that somebody from his Party gave it to them.”
Drawn from an item that appeared on BuzzFlash on 1-18-08, http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/jonas/096, by Steven Jonas
Torture Torture Torture!
Bomb Bomb Bomb!
Nuke Nuke Nuke!
Another ten years of this and we'll win!
Beware McCain.
Its not that he had acquired any broad knowledge about strategic planning as Eisenhower, Churchill or deGaulle did about how wars are conducted and won. Does getting shot qualifies a man to end the Iraq war?
All this poor guy ever learn't was "Bomb, bomb, bomb" and thats all he'll do.
But, tis true, even when he once did make some sense, it always seemed clear that Johnny-boy never really gave a shit about us regular folks, not at'all.
Well, I feel the same-way about Johnny-boy. I'm only 64, but I'm no freaking PUNK. I have learned much about my citizenship, my Christianity, AND my veteran's tenure in that time, but no more so then today, when we American are surrounded by False Christians, Patriots, and VETERANS.
To whom should McCain cater if not to those who pay his salary? The corporate lobbyists? Do you like them better than ordinary citizens?
I agree with you....I didn't really believe my eyes when I read that line!!
Bomb, Bomb, bomb bomb Iran McCain!
That's the sum total of his "foreign policy!"
disturbing, is that no other nation is
intimidated by the US. In fact, most have
larger armies with better equipment, and
a lot have as many or more nukes. Not that
it takes more than one to do a good job.
He won't raise taxes to pay for war, but
he will continue the "sell-out" of America
to the highest foreign bidder. He is after
all endorsed by President Bush. What I want
him to answer is, are you going to strive
for as close as you can get, the idea of
pure Capitalism? You know, bulk up the rich
Capitalists, tear down everyone else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFqgGpKqSsU
This Land is not the Oil Companies and neither is Iraq's Oil theirs either.