Russia-Georgia Conflict Highlights Extreme Differences In Presidential Candidates’ Likely Foreign Policy Responses During International Crises
The Politico’s Ben Smith is reporting both Barry Obama and Señor McCain of Arizona Panama have weighed in on the Russian attack on Georgia in what Mr. Smith bills as their “First True 3 A.M. Moment“. Shockingly, Obama is encouraging a diplomatic solution to the crisis while his Republican opponent, McCain, seems to be taking more of a “Bush-Cheney-ish” warhawk position on the affair. Whoda thunkit?
Some “snips” from The Politico article:
“… While Obama offered a response largely in line with statements issued by democratically elected world leaders, including President Bush, first calling on both sides to negotiate, John McCain took a remarkably — and uniquely — more aggressive stance, siding clearly with Georgia’s pro-Western leaders and placing the blame for the conflict entirely on Russia. …”
(Snip!)
“… Both American candidates back Georgia’s sovereignty and its turn toward the West. But their first statements on the crisis revealed differences of substance and style.
Obama’s statement put him in line with the White House, the European Union, NATO and a series of European powers, while McCain’s initial statement — which he delivered in Iowa and ran on a blog on his Web site under the title “McCain Statement on Russian Invasion of Georgia” — put him more closely in line with the moral clarity and American exceptionalism projected by President Bush’s first term. …”
“UNIQUE”? “REMARKABLE”?
Interesting how Mr. Smith assigned the words “unique” and “remarkable” to describe Panama John’s response, isn’t it? The man has a well-documented propensity to respond quickly, minus the application of critical thinking skills, in predictable “pro military industrial complex” solutions to internationally critical and complex situations. In what ways were Señor McCain’s warlord solutions to this crisis “unique” or “remarkable”, Mr. Smith? I’m missing something here. Next thing you know, Ben Smith will revert back to referring to Panama John as a “maverick Republican” again at this rate.
THE “MAVERICK” REPUBLICAN?
Should one think of President “Surge” W. Bush and Vice President “Shotgun” Cheney as “maverick Republicans”, then CLEARLY — Señor McCain deserves the same label as well. Senator McSurge has voted along the party lines again and again, particularly in matters of war (Iraq), rumors of war (First, Iran, now Russia) and the prosperity of the “Bush-Cheney-McCain Big Oil And Nation Buildin’ Bidness”, courtesy of overpaid contractors whose paths are paved by the dead and maimed bodies of America’s Bravest And Finest — our troops and their bereaved families. If this is what “Maverick Republicans” do, then by all means, Panama John is, INDEED, a “Maverick”.
So — who is winning in the “First 3 A.M. Moment” test? If you favor a hardliner’s INSINUATION that leaving military options on the table to get one’s desired way in the end, your clear winner is Maverick McSurge. On the other hand, if are more prone to FIRST attempt a diplomatic solution before issuing a veiled threat, your clear winner is Barry Obama. Frankly, this one is up for grabs depending upon which of the two foreign policy “types” one prefers to lead the free world…
So, you tell MOI — who won this first “3 A.M. Red Phone Test” — Republican Señor McSurge or Democrat Barry O-Bomber? I say Barry won this one…
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2:49 pm on August 9th, 2008 1
In the matter of international affairs, taking a delicate approach and encouraging diplomacy first would seem the more appropriate path to take.
Our nation has rushed to war in the past without clearly thinking through the situation, but fortunately it has never wound up hurting us, so maybe there is something to McCain’s approach of shoot first, ask questions later.
3:34 pm on August 9th, 2008 2
Good point, Steve! I hadn’t thought about it but we’ve done great in both Vietnam and Iraq, so why wouldn’t McCain’s idea to immediately attack Russia work just as well, bro?
Appreciate the “wakeup call”
9:37 pm on August 9th, 2008 3
Let us all stop drinking the Bush Kool Aid and start thinking like mouth breathing human beings! McCain is nuts, senile, and pretty much out of touch with America.
If McCain wants to put American troops in every civil war all around the world then we need to re-institute the draft and raise the age limit to seventy! You crack me up Gunny!
1:48 pm on August 11th, 2008 4
How quickly we all forget.
Putin is a throwback to the old Soviet ways, and there is nothing he would like more than to resurrect the old Soviet Union in all its former glory.
It is much more important for the next President of the USA to understand his adversary than to have one established position that he will always take. If the anti-christ Obama always (for now anyway) appears to seek a “diplomatic” or “negotiated” settlement, you can bet our adversaries will use that knowledge to their advantage.
Putin and company will not respect a weak response, nor will they honor the results of negotiations – they never have in the past, and there is no indication that they will start now.
At least McCain understands that we cannot appear weak to the Soviets, errrr… “Russians”. Putin and company are just dipping their toe in the water right now. The United States’ response will have a huge impact on how fast they begin re-assembling the USSR.
A weak-kneed Obama-like response will surely hasten the process.
Although we may not want to get involved in a conflict between Russia and Georgia (ahem… not a civil war), we had better make sure Putin believes we are willing to do so. McCain understands this. Obama does not.
This isn’t a game where we pick who won or who lost the first 3 AM wake-up call. This is America’s wake-up call, for real, on who will be able to handle an increasingly agitated and hostile Russia.
And it ain’t Obama, people.
3:21 pm on August 11th, 2008 5
GTL
No wonder Sen. Obama doesn’t support Georgia. Not only has Georgia voted Republican for years now, but I’m sure that secretly the Democratic party has wished for Georgia to be invaded by Russia for a couple of decades now.
10:43 pm on August 11th, 2008 6
How quickly, indeed. Putin is not the President of Russia.
9:24 am on August 12th, 2008 7
That is right – Putin is the Prime Minister, the guy who holds the real power in Russia. He also has a few other titles, sort of roughly equivalent to the old Chairman of the Supreme Soviet.