McCain Calls For Cooperation With Allies

GOP Candidate Outlines Foreign Policy Approach, Seeks To Draw Contrasts With Bush

(AP)  Republican John McCain on Wednesday called for the United States to work more collegially with democratic allies and live up to its duties as a world leader, drawing a sharp contrast to the past eight years under President Bush.

"Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," the likely presidential nominee said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," McCain added.

Coming days after his trip to the Middle East and Europe, McCain's speech was intended to signal to leaders abroad - and voters at home - that he would end an era of what critics have called Mr. Bush's cowboy diplomacy. McCain never mentioned Mr. Bush's name, though he evoked former Democratic Presidents Truman and Kennedy.

It was, in effect, a fresh acknowledgment from the Arizona senator that the United States' standing on the world stage has been tarnished and that the country has an image problem under Mr. Bush. Critics at home and abroad have accused Mr. Bush of employing a go-it-alone foreign policy in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks when the administration spurned international calls for caution and led the invasion into Iraq.

"The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone," McCain said, noting that the United States did not single-handedly win the Cold War or other conflicts in its history. Instead, he said, the country must lead by attracting others to its cause, demonstrating the virtues of freedom and democracy, defending the rules of an international civilized society and creating new international institutions.

He renewed his call for creating a new global compact of more than 100 democratic countries to advance shared values and defend shared interests, and said the United States must set an example for other democracies.

"If we lead by shouldering our international responsibilities and pointing the way to a better and safer future for humanity ... it will strengthen us to confront the transcendent challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terrorism," said the four-term senator and member of the Armed Services Committee.

"Any president who does not regard this threat as transcending all others does not deserve to sit in the White House, for he or she does not take seriously enough the first and most basic duty a president has - to protect the lives of the American people," McCain added, suggesting that neither of his Democratic rivals, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama, understand the stakes at hand.

Democrats, in turn, chastised McCain as offering the same policies as Mr. Bush - even though McCain's foreign policy pitch stood in contrast to Mr. Bush's sometimes unilateral approach.

"John McCain is determined to carry out four more years of George Bush's failed policies," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

McCain also staked out anew his position on Iraq, staunchly defending his support for a continued U.S. military mission as the war enters its sixth year and the U.S. death toll tops 4,000. He derided calls for withdrawal from Clinton and Obama.

Recalling his father's four-year absence after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, his grandfather's death a day after returning from war, and his own imprisonment in Vietnam, McCain said: "I hold my position because I hate war, and I know very well and very personally how grievous its wages are. But I know, too, that we must sometimes pay those wages to avoid paying even higher ones later."

Without naming them, McCain said both Democratic candidates "are arguing for a course that would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would entail far greater dangers and sacrifices than we have suffered to date."

Overall, the speech offered little new. Rather, McCain repackaged long-standing positions in an attempt to stand on his own and set himself apart from Mr. Bush, whose support is at a low point as the public craves change.

Answering questions afterward, McCain floated a fresh proposal the United States entering into a free trade agreement with the European Union. "It would be a massive undertaking," he told reporters, but said he'd like to start a conversation about it.

[infidel_us]

Sen. McCain is a leftwinger RINO. If he''s a republican, I''m the Dalai Lama.

[jgunther7]

Poor old John McCain; bomb, bomb, bomb,

bomb whomever he can, he is a dangerous man.

[randynason]

Where was McCain before this? Now that he is a candidate for office, all of a sudden he has developed a sense of decency? Too little, too late, my old, boot-licking, flip-flopping friend.

[gkc99]

"I''''m the Dalai Lama. "--Posted by Infidel_Us

We''ll relay that information to the Chinese. They have a nice camp all ready for you.

[samthetvcat]

"Instead, he said, the country must lead by attracting others to its cause, demonstrating the virtues of freedom and democracy, defending the rules of an international civilized society and creating new international institutions."

Aren''t other countries, particularly Europe, still pissed about Bush''s decision to unilaterally invade Iraq given that they were all privy to the same pool of intelligence and knew he was lying?

In light of that, I would guess McCain''s words sound like he NOW after voting to go to war unilaterally wants other countries'' help in bailing him out of his messes. I mean THAT''s how he thinks he''s going to bond with other countries - over the ideas of ''freedom'' and ''democracy''? Really, given the way he''s signed onto King George''s tyrannical quest for global domination?

I don''t see that happening . . . I read on ABC that the world is enchanted with Barack and Hillary because everybody wants a change . . .

[gkc99]

"McCain said: "I hold my position because I hate war, and I know very well and very personally how grievous its wages are. But I know, too, that we must sometimes pay those wages to avoid paying even higher ones later."


And what did we gain from the Vietnam War, John?

John McBushit seems to have forgotten any lessons he may once have learned.

It''s due to hitting his head as he fell to his knees to kiss the ring of the Proddie Pope, the late Jerry Falwell, and due to lack of oxygen from having his nose buried deep in Cheney''s colon.

[getcentered]

MCSAME!!!! We were cooperating!!! That is until the GOP started beating the war drums spookin gAmerica in to war.......
"We had a good discussion, the Foreign Minister and I and the President and I, had a good discussion about the nature of the sanctions -- the fact that the sanctions exist -- not for the purpose of hurting the Iraqi people, but for the purpose of keeping in check Saddam Hussein''s ambitions toward developing weapons of mass destruction. We should constantly be reviewing our policies, constantly be looking at those sanctions to make sure that they are directed toward that purpose. That purpose is every bit as important now as it was ten years ago when we began it. And frankly they have worked. He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors. So in effect, our policies have strengthened the security of the neighbors of Iraq...Colin Powell %u2013 February 2001

But in terms of Saddam Hussein being there, let''s remember that his country is divided, in effect. He does not control the northern part of his country. We are able to keep arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt.

Condoleeza Rice %u2013 July 2001

[mcvet]

Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," the likely presidential nominee said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," McCain added.

Where WERE YOU McSame when that pathetic LOSER you call a LEADER was LYING to and insulting those very people you say we should be pals with. Now why would they trust YOU? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush

[danstoned]

The USA has lost its allies because of Bush/McShame. Just await until McShame is exposed for embellishing his record as a veteran.

A former Vietnamese Communist Party official is claiming Sen. John McCain was "quickly singled out for softer treatment" as a POW because "he was the son of an American admiral. Phung Van Chung, 70, who was a Communist Party official at the time McCain was captured said "top" Vietnamese leaders wanted to use McCain "for negotiations." Chung also said McCain is refusing "to acknowledge" the heroism of Mai Van On, a Vietnamese peasant who the Vietnamese say swam out during the bombing raid and rescued McCain from drowning. McCains refusal to publicly recognize Mai Van On for saving "his life" has some in the media speculating that McCain is afraid that to do so would "fuel other, more damaging allegations that McCain exaggerated elements of his PoW ordeal in Hoa Lo prison.

[mcvet]

Sen. McCain is a leftwinger RINO. If he''''s a republican, I''''m the Dalai Lama.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Infidel_Us at 02:18 PM : Mar 26, 2008
+ report abuse

I can''t believe it! We agree on something... LOL He''s still to old though. But yep you got it Sparky he''s as liberal as they come... you just figured that out?

[danstoned]

Why are US taxpayers paying for the liberation of Iraq when Corporate America will be the only US benficiary? Do you think that Exxon will be selling US Iraqi oil for below market value, same as the Russinals do for their country?

[getcentered]

I don''t know if I can take anymore comments from our President. He and the people pulling his strings think Americans are dumb, and maybe some of us are, but I know what the word DEFICIT means and that''s what this country is in. A huge deficit. The dollar was matched againsts the euro 8 years ago.

I know lets just print some more money.....AND THEN give it to the banks!! So they can loan us some money that we aren''t making from our jobs to help us pay for things like houses, which we will eventually defalt the payments on becaue the interest rates scyrocketed!! (because the country was in debt) Then our GOVERNEMNT bails out the banks!! Yea!! Rich people win!!!

A vote for McCain is like another 4 years of BUSH. Same string pullers%u2026%u2026%u2026

Vote for Democrats!!

[danstoned]

McCain has forgotten his own history of involvement with betrayal, deceit and corruption. In the senate, McCain managed to stay low key until suddenly he found himself on television trying to explain himself as one of the "Keating 5," five senators who became enmeshed in the scandal involving the collapsed Lincoln Savings and Loan and the financial machinations of Charles Keating.

Keating was convicted of federal fraud and racketeering charges and in 1997, McCains friend Symington was forced out of office after being convicted on seven counts of fraud.

For years McCain has successfully cultivated a false facade as the "straight-talking" politician unsullied by big-money influence of special-interest groups. He has shrewdly manipulated most of the national press corps into ignoring (or forgiving) facts that expose him as a disreputable character and enemy of the truth.

[infidel_us]

... you just figured that out?
Posted by MCVet at 03:34 PM : Mar 26, 2008

I usually come late to the party. I really didn''t know much about him at all. Back last summer, I thought he was a gonner for sure. The more I find out about him, the less I like him.

I admire him for the service and sacrifices he made for his country. Other than that, he''s a loser! I will NOT vote for McCain.

[jean243]

I don''t want "McCain''s War": I watched "Bush''s War" on PBS last night. Shocking. This documentary showed one terrible policy action after another after another, til I lost count. Bush was completely inadequate to the task of conducting this war. Bush was out to lunch, just gone--he just had no idea of how to conduct leadership to be successful. Bush handed the war over to people under him without a plan. Then when these people seriously screwed up the war effort, Bush dithered. I had''t realized that Gen. Tommy Franks quit because of Bush''s lack of leadership, and Gen. Franks refused an offer from Bush of Chief of Staff of the combined forces, with some comments to Bush about the craziness going on. This is the war that McCain wants to continue. A war that had no reason to be ever started, a war that was a total screw-up from start until the present, a war that was and is a complete mistake and disaster for America and for Iraq and the region. No, we shouldn''t continue this war. Not at all. Just like Vietnam, upon looking back at it, was a complete mistake, nothing gained at all, and we lost 53,000 or was it 58,000 troops. Killed. One of the few people that tried very hard to change policies was Condoleeza Rice, by the way.

[jean243]

I read a great book on Abraham Lincoln and how he kept a very close eye and hand on the daily course of the Civil War. This is in direct contrast to Bush''s handing the control of war over to some in his administration who were not in the armed forces, then not correcting their mistakes immediately, not listening to military advice, and then waiting years before events and good people who quit on him forced Bush to take any steps to change players. By then, we''d dug ourselves into a hole in Iraq. Bush''s lack of leadership caused a domino effect that has resulted in the stalemate we are in today. This was made very clear in the documentary on PBS, "Bush''s War."

[bogdog30]

Will Pantsuit the **** require Bubba Red Nose to make corkscrew landings on Sheryl One Square in the future ...

or will it be Pantsuit corkscrewing ?

Or did the shots come from inside the plane ?

[gwagener]

"Any president who does not regard this threat [Islamic terrorism] as transcending all others does not deserve to sit in the White House"

What? He is actually ignorant of whole spectrum of threats that have nothing to do with Islamic terrorism? Someone so ignorant has risen to such a promenant position. That is scary!

[rushlimpdrug]

"McCain Calls For Cooperation With Allies"


Pleeeze verify that he meant "Allies" and not "Aliens".

Thank you.

[bogdog30]

Wolfie (Killer Rabbit) still on ''top of things'' in the Situation Stall with Jack ...

confirms that Sheryl One Square heard the shots inside the plane just as the **** made her final corkscrew landing on her.

The **** may dis-remember this.

[obamagrls-bf]

From the New York Post, Hillary Clinton''s lies about "coming in under sniper fire" in Bosnia when she was co-president, er, First Lady, has insulted our heroes in the military.


"She has no sense of what a statement like that does to soldiers," fumed retired Maj. Gen. Walter Stewart, the former head of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

"She is insulting the command in its entirety," he said yesterday.

Last week, Hillary said

"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead, we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."

[infidel_us]

One of the few people that tried very hard to change policies was Condoleeza Rice, by the way.
Posted by Jean243 at 04:03 PM : Mar 26, 2008

FYI - take 80% of what you see on PBS ''Frontline'' type documentaries and flush it and you''ll be somewhere near the truth.

[rushlimpdrug]

FYI - take 80% of what you see on PBS ''''Frontline'''' type documentaries and flush it and you''''ll be somewhere near the truth.
Posted by Infidel_Us at 04:44 PM


Especially when you are seeing and hearing from the very people that witnessed what was happening.
Right?

As opposed to some idiot anchor person is reading from a teleprompter.

[jesterbelle]

"Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," the likely presidential nominee said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," McCain added.



ROTFLMAO!This from Bush III,LOL!

[jesterbelle]

Pleeeze verify that he meant "Allies" and not "Aliens".

Thank you.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rushlimpdrug at 04:28 PM : Mar 26, 2008

LOL!

[ixoye_02]

I''m glad that McCain said these words. But in my opinion, McCain = More of the same = McSame. Plus I couldn''t trust another republican partisan loyalist which McCain embodies.

[bogdog30]

Wolfie (Killer Rabbit) in ectasy in the Situation Stall with Jack ...

confirms that Sheryl One Square heard the shots and a sucking sound inside the plane just as the **** made her final two corkscrew landings on her.

The **** dis-remembers this. Young Chintzy is, well duh.

[providence_-2009]

These elections are getting out of hand. I do not know who to vote for? Should we vote for Hillary or Obama or McCain any ideas anybody? The fighting on lying and racial bigotry that is going on in this election between the candidates is not good for the country! One idea is to go to Http colon slash slash pilgrimswaylighted dot blogspot dot com do not add the www at all. Let me know what you think ok by the voting tab. whoever is the next president will be dealing with a big can of poisonous worms. Like the economy, illegal aliens and terrorism to boot etc. etc.

[walt1944-2009]

John "The Great Pretender" McCain, attempted to distance himself from the foreign policy of the Great Emperor Bush II, the "Bush Doctrine", by saying we should work with our allies instead of pushing them around like the "big bully on the block".

Few people took the Great Pretender seriously, however, considering that he is the "almost" neocon Fascist Nazi Republican nominee for the throne in the Oval Office and has embraced the "Bush Doctrine" over the past 4 years, even to the extent of allowing the torture and rendition of alleged "terrrrrrrorists" in custody.

What caused an even greater concern was The Great Pretender''s fantasizing of a "free trade agreement" with the Europeans. Considering that those words are poison to anyone who considers them, it is, once again, typical McCain shooting himself in the foot!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil (more of the same), McCain????

[j-whitman]

McBush''s idea of cooprerating with the allies is appeasing Sunni Arabs & Communist China

[j-whitman]

More of the Same McCain.... How are you going to pay for anything ??? You''re the Prince of Lobbyists, Mr. Amnesty ---- Your economic policies result in 4% less revenue for the United States.

[ponco seno]

Either Obama or Hillary will be 1000% better presidents than McBUSH

[ioweign]

n 1999, George W. Bush criticized President Clinton for not setting a timetable for exiting Kosovo, and yet he refuses to apply the same standard to his war.

George W. Bush, 4/9/99:

"Victory means exit strategy, and it''s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is."

And on the specific need for a timetable, here''s what Bush said then and what he says now:

George W. Bush, 6/5/99

"I think it''s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn."

[ed. note: article originally ran in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on 6/5/99]

VERSUS

George W. Bush, 6/24/05:

"It doesn''t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you''re - you%u2019re conceding too much to the enemy."

[sgtrds]

McCain has his lips firmly attached to Bush''s ***. Once upon a time he was a man to be respected, but he sold his honor to Bush and the Neocons in hopes of winning this election. He''s become pathetic.

[chitown639]

McCain should spend sometime learning exactly just who we are fighting in Iraq and for what reason. The U.S. should leave Iraq as soon as possible.

[gwagener]

McCain''s best bet is to keep a low profile and hope the Democrates who comes out of the campaign is so damaged that he wins by default. He is not doing himself any good.

[sgtrds]

McCain''''s best bet is to keep a low profile and hope the Democrates who comes out of the campaign is so damaged that he wins by default. He is not doing himself any good.

Posted by gwagener at 05:38 PM : Mar 26, 2008

He hasn''t much of a chance either way. He''s a throw-away candidate, like Dole was in 1996. The GOP doesn''t expect him to win, it''s just his turn to be on the ticket as his last hurrah. Sort of like when the Navy sometimes promotes a Captian to Rear Admiral when they retire as a present. Allowing him to run is sort of like the GOP giving him a gold watch on his way out the door and on to the nursing home. In a year he''ll be pitching Viagra or Depends on TV.

[providence_-2009]

These elections are getting out of hand. I do not know who to vote for? Should we vote for Hillary or Obama or McCain any ideas anybody? The fighting on lying and racial bigotry that is going on in this election between the candidates is not good for the country! One idea is to go to http colon slash slash pilgrimswaylighted dot blogspot dot com do not add the www at all. Let me know what you think ok by the voting tab. whoever is the next president will be dealing with a big can of poisonous worms. Like the economy, illegal aliens and terrorism to boot etc. etc.

[zach55]

McCain is good, so many fans on boomermingle.co support you

[bogdog30]

Lawnjockey (Shoeshine) asks if he could go on the next trip to Bosnia and do some corkscrewing.

Pantsuit not wanting to call a spade a spade with all the party troubles ie. prayer time in the hood etc ...

Advises him he can corkscrew sheryl next time she''s in town - at the Motel ***.

[demslie]

if you libs so sure he isnt going to be president why spend all day bashing him?

Posted by jamesm12341

I agree. Democrats and CBS (Communist Broadcast System) would never show the national polls. When asked who do you think is more honest?, McCain beat OBAMA and Hillary. But of course, Democrats hate everything so, nothing matters as you can see by the Anti-American Hate in these posts. McCain has already stated the fact that other countries want the United States to be a world leader. Democrats hate this Capitalist Christian Country as much as any terrorist. No Republican President will ever deliver the unconditional surrender of America. That will be the job of Democrats.

[samthetvcat]

"McCain floated a fresh proposal the United States entering into a free trade agreement with the European Union. "It would be a massive undertaking," he told reporters, but said he''d like to start a conversation about it."

I just saw this - didn''t he learn anything from the backlash over giving away the military oil tanker contract to France?

He''s pursuing trade agreements that we''re in no position to profit from at this point . . . like before opening up our military contracts to foreigners to force Boeing to compete, why didn''t he think to bust Boeing''s monopoly by forcing them to compete against themselves first?

Like, McCain''s a true patriot for what he withstood for us in VietNam, but his policies are oddly anti-American . . .

[getcentered]

How is John McCain going to inspire twice the voter turnout for his party? His great speeches? Conservative talk radio? His flip-flop talk express bus overstuffed with Lobbyists? We all love to engage in punditry but the facts are the facts. Repubs do not have the votes to win. Outside of a total collapse (And I mean TOTAL colapse, not merely a split of the electorate)the Dem party they can offer up a broccoli *** in a jar and still gain the White House. What planet are you conservatives living on? Your Reagan Democrat pink cloud from 20+ years ago?

[rowdytexan2]

Very refreshing to hear McCain speak of cooperation. Now go out convince others in the party to take a like stance on domestic issues.

[rebelscout]

My god, McBush light can''t even tell Sunni from Shia''!He say''s he want''s more cooperation with our allies which is good until he call''s the german''s french and the irish english!

[danstoned]

Posted by demslie
No Republican President will ever deliver the unconditional surrender of America.

ConDumbslie: Richard Nixon surrendered to the Vietnamese. John McCain has sold out US foreign policy (surrendered) to Israel, thus the reason McCain will never become president.

[shawnhussey]

I think Senator McCain''s speech demonstrates that he has a tremendous aptitude for American foreign policy.I share his belief that the U.S. should work in harmony with its allies to promote liberty and democracy in the world.John McCain fully comprehends that the war against terrorism deserves the highest priority in our military policy.The U.S. and the world''s other democracies need to prevail against Islamic fascism in order to preserve Western Civilization.If Senator McCain becomes President,our nation will continue to be the greatest force for liberty on the globe.That is a major reason why I will proudly cast my ballot for John McCain in November.

[danstoned]

RowdyTexan2

You as a Hillary McSame supporter, you must be on of those southerners that would never vote for a black man, althjough he is the best choice for America. White does not make right, this we know from too much experience.

[danstoned]

How bout McCains honeymoon with the US media? The Phoenix, Arizona papers know McCain all too well. They have all been banned from McCains "double talk express" because they do not right nice about McCain because he has more flaws than the other two candidates put together. Americans need to write every author of McCains "make nice propaganda bias" and tell them to start writing the truth about John McCain. Although this article has no authors, just some Fascist organization called the "Associated Press of selling out the interests of unbiased journalism."

[danstoned]

sincityq

Do we hear a Southern drawl in your bias view of the relentlessly biased reporting of John McSame by the US media? Americans do not deserve to live in a democracy: too fvcking dumb.