Just what exactly is McCain's foreign policy experience? (vote, Iraq, middle east)

[sandycat]

Just to be fair, we need to let the conservatives answer:

How is the McCain-Palin ticket more experienced in foreign policy than Obama-Biden? They aren't. They simply aren't. Don't you remember the clip with Leiberman whispering the correct answer to McCain as he made a blunder? They think all brown people are the enemy. They are war mongering fools.

[ZGACK]

Extensive world travel to 70+ countries, personal relationships with world leaders and would be world leaders, deep understanding of internal politics of regions and countries of the world important to America's interests, ranking member of Senate Armed Services Committee, consistently superior judgment vis a vis Iraq. And by the way, he has a 'brown' child whom he adopted.

[sandycat]

And the same could be argued about Obama and Biden, minus the adopted child. And if he is so well versed in the Arab world, why then did JL have to whisper the right answer to him? He's made so many idiotic statements that I just don't believe he knows what he is talking about. God help us if they win.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by ZGACK

deep understanding of internal politics of regions and countries of the world important to America's interests.

Iraq/Pakistan Border


"Common knowledge"


Sunni Awakening mixup

I realize we should not vote for a president based on YouTube gotcha soundbites, but this stuff does concern me.

[rightofcenter]

I don't consider myself to be a neo-con, but I hope I can still give an opinion.

I think McCain does have extensive foreign affairs experience - if nothing else just being a Senator for as long as he has anyone would pick up experience. However, IMO he has been completely myopic since our invasion of Iraq. He has been completely and totally focused on that conflict and almost nothing else. When he says thinks like it's ok if we are in Iraq 100 years, it shows he doesn't understand the Arab mentality and how they view that as an occupation - even if the Iraqic people were to want us there.

[ZGACK]

Originally Posted by sandycat

And the same could be argued about Obama and Biden, minus the adopted child. And if he is so well versed in the Arab world, why then did JL have to whisper the right answer to him? He's made so many idiotic statements that I just don't believe he knows what he is talking about. God help us if they win.

Biden I'd agree. They come at it from different points of view but both are probably equally knowledgeable. Obama's foreign policy is too insignificant to consider, just like Palin's.

[ZGACK]

Originally Posted by rightofcenter

I don't consider myself to be a neo-con, but I hope I can still give an opinion.

I think McCain does have extensive foreign affairs experience - if nothing else just being a Senator for as long as he has anyone would pick up experience. However, IMO he has been completely myopic since our invasion of Iraq. He has been completely and totally focused on that conflict and almost nothing else. When he says thinks like it's ok if we are in Iraq 100 years, it shows he doesn't understand the Arab mentality and how they view that as an occupation - even if the Iraqic people were to want us there.

We're still 'in' Western Europe after 60 years. I don't think he was intimating we'd be engaged in hostilities 100 years out. But if we have an arrangement with Iraq that allows our troops to be based there then what the other Arab countries think about it doesn't matter. As a personal note: I'm not about to listen to any Arab opinion on anything until every Arab country recognizes publicly Israel's right to exist.

[rightofcenter]

Originally Posted by ZGACK

We're still 'in' Western Europe after 60 years. I don't think he was intimating we'd be engaged in hostilities 100 years out. But if we have an arrangement with Iraq that allows our troops to be based there then what the other Arab countries think about it doesn't matter. As a personal note: I'm not about to listen to any Arab opinion on anything until every Arab country recognizes publicly Israel's right to exist.

I wasn't suggesting that McCain was saying that nor was I suggesting that Arab opinion should be anything to guide us, however, our leaders should not say things that like that without knowing what they are saying. That sentence alone is helping to enable the radicals with their propaganda against us.

[geeoro]

Maybe instead of just pumping money into Iraq as Bush has done we had used the vast Iraq oil wealth to rebuild Iraq the so called foreign policy of Bush/ McCain might be a different successful issue.

[walidm]

Originally Posted by ZGACK

We're still 'in' Western Europe after 60 years. I don't think he was intimating we'd be engaged in hostilities 100 years out. But if we have an arrangement with Iraq that allows our troops to be based there then what the other Arab countries think about it doesn't matter. As a personal note: I'm not about to listen to any Arab opinion on anything until every Arab country recognizes publicly Israel's right to exist.

Is the distinction between the relationship we have with the European Nations that have Americans based there versus the reality of occupying the Middle East, being made on a level playing field? Clearly there are distinct differences in policy, environment and security that challenge the wisdom of long term occupation in the middle east, particularly if one accepts the premise that the neighboring Countries opinions do not matter.

Senator McCain clearly is knowledgeable about foreign policy and military matters. I may not agree with his vision of what we should do next, but he is qualified to speak on these matters. Senator Obama may not have as lengthy a tenure as the Senator from Arizona, but it is disingenuous to claim he has no experience in the arena of foreign policy. Senator Biden shores up the intimate long term historical variables that the Senator should understand when making his decisions; however, the Cabinet does this for all Presidents and there's no reason to believe this will be different for either candidate should he become President.