The Associated Press

John McCain in Jordan.

Featured Topic | Posted 36 weeks 1 hour ago

Can McCain mend U.S. relations with the world?

John McCain’s trip abroad last week — which took him from the Middle East to London and Paris — was more than just a congressional fact-finding trip, or even a candidate’s attempt to appear statesmanlike. It was also an audition on the world stage for McCain in his new role as the Republican presidential nominee.

The trip offered McCain the chance to test his hope that he could repair America’s tattered reputation by shifting course on some of the policies that have alienated its allies, in areas like global warming and torture. But he is making his foray even as he embraces what much of the world sees as the most hated remnant of George W. Bush's presidency: the war in Iraq.

Can McCain navigate foreign affairs without alienating voters at home? Could a President McCain repair America's reputation abroad? Or would McCain the Republican be too beholden to the policies of President Bush's administration?

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Ben likes: If Iraq is better, it's because of John McCain

Con Coughlin/The Daily Telegraph

McCain's robust attitude towards those who would threaten the security of America might have caused some friction among Washington's European allies, but nothing approaching the scale achieved by Messrs. Bush and Rumsfeld and Vice-President Dick Cheney.

It will be eight months before we know whether McCain's second run for the White House has been successful, but he has made it clear that his presidency would be very different in tone and substance from that of Bush.

Apart from adopting a more practical, less ideological approach to the war on terror, McCain has indicated he would be prepared to be more conciliatory on other key international issues, such as the threat posed by global warming. After meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, McCain declared that he was confident "we can reach a global agreement that would include China and India. It's a compelling issue for the world's environment and I am committed to it."

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Joel likes: More bellicose than Bush?

Paul Waldman/The American Prospect

Given how often we are told these days that McCain has "credibility" and "experience" on matters of foreign policy and national security, it's worth asking what effect all that alleged experience has had on him. Because when McCain actually opens his mouth to discuss these issues, his ideas and beliefs often sound so simple-minded they make George W. Bush look like Otto von Bismarck. And the one consistent theme in McCain's thinking is his support for the application of military force as the best way to deal with foreign-policy challenges. Because it's been working out so well for the last five years. 

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Thoughts

Well Said

Submitted on March 27th, 2008 by Chuck_Johnson

The notion that U.S. foreign policy has suffered under Bush is misleading at best.

It's a concoction of the press which covers the protests but not the agreements or resolutions.

By the way, if McCain really wants to send a key message to the world, he should visit Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

The future is Asia, not ageing, dying, decaying, Europe.

Chuck Johnson is a student at Claremont McKenna College. Feel free to contact him.

Bad relations???

Submitted on March 25th, 2008 by Anonymous

The assumption that America's relations with the rest of the world are in disrepair is a false assertion and one made primarily by those on the left. Our "old allies" - UK, France, Germany, Australia, and western Europe are fine - regardless of what anyone says. Brown, Sarcozy, and Merkel are are all working with the US on all major foreign policy issues. Africa LOVES Pres Bush as demonstrated by his recent trip there/ Millions have been saved by US aid for AIDS and malaria over the last 7 years and they appreciate it A LOT. The only countries that have a problem with the US are N Korea, Iran, and Russia - that I know about. They all have a radical agenda and none are to be trusted. Worked with - yes. Trusted - NO WAY. India and China are about the same as they have always been - growing and competing with the US on many issues. India remains a staunch US ally. Pakistan is a hot spot - as it has always been - and that it has nukes makes it complex. Israel remains a solid ally in the cauldron that is the Middle East. The Palis (Hamas and Hezbollah) do not like us - but they never have as they are terrorist orgs. The Iraq War strained our ties with old Europe, but Chirac and Schroeder are GONE and they were replaced by more conservative and more America friendly PMs. Thankfully.

No.

Submitted on March 24th, 2008 by Anonymous

No. McCain brings nothing that Bush didn't try.

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