Obama and McCain on foreign policy
John McCain’s impetuosity is either thrilling or disturbing. Barack Obama’s cool is either sober or detached. It’s clear now how each would govern.
This article concisely sums up the candidates approaches to dealing with: Iraq, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Cuba, Columbia, China, North Korea, Russia, and Darfur.
Iraq
Barack Obama: Obama opposed US-led invasion of Iraq, calling it the “single dumbest thing” of the Bush administration’s eight years in office.
He favours a 16-month timetable to withdraw US forces from the country if elected.
However he voted against one major military spending bill in May 2007 but otherwise voted in favour of money to support the war.
He initially opposed the US troop “surge” deployed in Baghdad and surrounding areas last year, but said recently it had succeeded beyond “our wildest dreams”.
However he says he was still right to oppose the “surge” as it had failed to bring about political reconciliation.
John McCain: Has been a firm supporter of the so-called surge of US troops in Iraq, backing the strategy of General David Petraeus, the former commander of US forces in Iraq.
He famously said US troops could stay in Iraq for 100 years but has since watered down that prediction, saying that most combat troops could leave by the end of his first term in office.
Iran
Barack Obama: Obama advocates “tough-minded diplomacy” on Iran over its nuclear programme and has said he would not take a military option off the table, describing a possibly nuclear-armed Iran as a “game-changer” in the region.
He also has said he would meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, without preconditions, but has since said he is not sure if Ahmadinejad is the right leader to meet.
He has argued direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders would give US more credibility to press for tougher international sanctions, has said US must ensure “we are tightening the screws on Iran diplomatically … to get sanctions in place so that Iran starts making a different calculation.”
John McCain: McCain has taken a tough stance towards Iran, calling for international efforts to put pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities which Iran says is solely for energy purposes.
He has refused to rule out military action to prevent Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
The Arizona senator has called for the US military to “bolster its regional posture” toward Iran and said he would work with the European Union to toughen economic sanctions on the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
He has attacked Barack Obama for saying that he would consider holding top-level talks with Tehran but has said that current low-level talks should continue.
Israel and the Palestinians
Barack Obama: Obama says the US must have a “clear and strong commitment” to Israel.
He says that the US must help the Israelis identify and strengthen those Palestinian partners who are “truly committed to peace” in reference those the US considers moderate leaders, such as Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, while “isolating those who seek conflict and instability” in reference to Hamas.
Obama caused controversy when he said that Jerusalem should be “undivided capital” of Israel.
However, he later backtracked on the remark, saying the city’s future it would have to be negotiated with all parties.
John McCain: McCain says the US “must continue” its longstanding support for Israel as threats to the Jewish state from Iran, Hamas – which he has described as a “terrorist syndicate” which “seized power” in Gaza and Hezbollah by providing further military aid.
Says “genuine peace” must be attained in Middle East conflict by isolating Hamas and dealing with moderate leaders.
Afghanistan
Barack Obama: Obama has made Afghanistan one of the cornerstones of his foreign policy platform, arguing Iraq has detracted from the real fight in the US’s so-called war on terror and vowing in his nomination acceptance speech to “finish the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan”.
He has said he would add about 7,000 troops to the US force of 36,000, bringing the reinforcements from Iraq, and send more aid to areas where Taliban are regaining strength.
He also wants to encourage Nato to build up its forces in the country.
John McCain: Says success in Afghanistan contigent on Pakistan.
Last year McCain said he believed Nato should increase the number of its forces in the country and that training of Afghan forces should be expanded.
However earlier this year he indicated he would advocate sending more US troops to the country.
Pakistan
Barack Obama: Has said he would make the hundreds of millions of dollars given to Pakistan by the US every year conditional on progress in “closing down the training camps, evicting foreign fighters, and preventing the Taliban from using Pakistan as a staging area for attacks in Afghanistan”.
He has also said that the United States must be willing to strike al-Qaeda targets inside Pakistan, something that angered Pakistanis.
John McCain: McCain advocates continued co-operation with the Pakistani government, urging a “long-term commitment” to the nation in its struggle against the Taliban and fighters in the nation’s North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan.
He has vowed to capture Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be hiding in the region.
Cuba
Barack Obama: Obama has said he would ease restrictions on family-related travel and on money that Cuban-Americans want to send to their families still in Cuba.
He has said he is open to meeting Raul Castro, leader of Cuba, without preconditions, but with “careful” preparations before such a meeting, and has said he would ease the US trade embargo if Havana “begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change”.
John McCain: McCain has said he would ease decades-long sanctions against the Caribbean nation once he is confident a “transition to democracy” is made.
He has criticised Obama for his stated willingness to meet Raul Castro, leader of Cuba.
Colombia
Barack Obama: Obama says he will continue to aid Colombia’s anti-drug programme and its battle against Farc fighters.
However he also says he will make clear the US’s support for human rights and labour rights in a nation where thousands of labour and union activists have been murdered.
John McCain: McCain is strongly in favour of a controversial US-Colombia free trade agreement that has been stalled in US congress over the nation’s poor human rights record.
He has praised Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian prime minister, for his work in combating Farc rebels and also the US-government backed Plan Colombia as an effective strategy in combating drug smuggling.
China
Barack Obama: Obama has urged work to ensure China “plays by international rules”, says the US must remain vigilant over China’s military might and that the conflict between China and Taiwan is resolved.
He also wants China to end its support for “genocidal regimes” in nations such as Sudan and Myanmar.
He has promised to press China over its rights record on Tibet.
John McCain: Has warned China must be more “transparent” about its military forces and must also move towards “political liberalisation”.
Denounced China’s crackdown on Tibetan protesters earlier this year and says China must open dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
McCain also advocates continued support for Taiwan, which China claims sovereignty over.
North Korea
Barack Obama: Obama has dismissed the six-party talks with North Korea over its nuclear programme as “ad hoc”, instead arguing for a more “inclusive structure” across east Asia.
John McCain: Says it is “unclear” whether North Korea is fully committed to abandoning its nuclear programme, has taken tough stance on talks and that it must make a “full accounting of all its nuclear materials and facilities, two steps that are necessary before any lasting diplomatic agreement can be reached”.
Russia
Barack Obama: Obama said there was “no justification” for Russia’s escalation of conflict in Georgia over the breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions and that he will work to curb Russian “aggression”.
Also says he will work with Russia to reduce its nuclear weapons stockpile.
John McCain: Says he is keen to establish good relations with Russia however has criticisd Moscow for “rejecting democratic ideals”and for invading Georgia in the hopes of “reassembling the Russian empire.”
Darfur
Barack Obama: Obama says if elected he will increase pressure on the Sudanese government to halt killings and permit a “robust” international force for peacekeeping.
He says the Sudanese government should be held to the peace accords it has signed.
John McCain: Warned in 2006 that “urgent action” was required over Darfur. Has said stronger action must be taken and “every possibility” should be exercised in dealing with Darfur, but has stopped short of saying US troops should be sent to the region.
(5 votes, average: 4.6 out of 5)
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