ANALYSIS-McCain foreign policy approach differs from Bush
By Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful John McCain says he wants to restore U.S. standing abroad with an approach to foreign policy that breaks with George W. Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" and contrasts with Democratic rival Barack Obama's weakness.
McCain, an Arizona senator and former prisoner of war whose foreign policy experience helped propel his candidacy, disagreed with Bush's decision to go it alone on issues like global warming or harsh treatment of war prisoners.
But McCain, who has a long-standing reputation as a maverick, has been tougher than Bush on other issues.
He pressed for the United States to commit more troops during the early stages of the Iraq war, and when Georgia and Russia clashed in August, he demanded again that Moscow be ousted from the Group of Eight rich nations, going farther than either the Bush administration or European allies.
"His differences (with Bush) on a range of issues are well known, whether its detainee treatment, whether its climate change, Russia," said Randy Scheunemann, McCain's senior foreign policy adviser.
The Georgia-Russia conflict highlighted the contrasts between McCain and Obama, his rival in the Nov. 4 presidential election. The conflict erupted in early August, when Georgia attempted to restore control over the pro-Moscow breakaway province of South Ossetia, prompting a big Russian counterattack.
McCain reacted quickly, demanding that Russia halt military operations and withdraw its forces. Obama was more cautious, condemning the outbreak of violence but not initially blaming either side or demanding Russian withdrawal. He stepped up his criticism as time passed.
Scheunemann said Russia's actions demonstrate what McCain had been warning for a long time -- that Moscow was a threat to its neighbors and the United States needed to work with Europe to fashion a policy recognizing "the Russia that exists, not the idealized Russia that some people hoped it would be."
Aides said McCain would put a greater emphasis on diplomacy than the Bush White House has done.
McCain has a "greater tendency to work with allies and nurture those relationships rather than the unilateralism that has characterized significant components of the Bush administration approach," Scheunemann said.
DIFFERENCE IN APPROACH
Though he disagrees with the president at times on approach, McCain is advised by some of the same people who consulted with the administration on the Iraq war. Scheunemann was a director of the neoconservative Project for the New American Century and an early supporter of the Iraq war. Robert Kagen, another former Project director, is also an adviser.
On the war in Iraq, McCain and Bush are largely in line after initially disagreeing on approach.
The Arizona senator supports leaving U.S. troops in the region as long as they are needed, opposing a timetable for withdrawal, and he sees terrorism as a grave and continuing threat. Obama favors a 16-month withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and a greater focus on Afghanistan.
McCain's advisers highlight his ties with world leaders forged over more than two decades in Congress, compared with Obama, whose relationships are newer after less than four years in the Senate.
The differences with Obama extend to general philosophy, aides said. Adviser Richard Fontaine described McCain as a "realistic idealist" in his overall approach, with a desire for the United States to be a model international citizen.
"It's the farthest thing from cowboy diplomacy on one side," Fontaine said, but also a clear contrast to Obama.
"It's not just a contrast with the administration, it's a contrast with the sort of protectionist isolationist strain that you see" in the Obama camp, Fontaine said.
On trade, McCain's staunch support of the North American Free Trade Agreement as well as a proposed pact with Colombia contrasts with Obama, who opposes the Colombian deal and has said he would seek to renegotiate NAFTA to improve worker protections and environmental standards.
McCain traveled to Canada, Colombia and Mexico earlier this year to highlight that distinction.
Obama's willingness to meet with U.S. foes like Iran and North Korea is another difference the McCain campaign has criticized.
"Sen. Obama's preference is to seek out American's worst enemies and meet unconditionally with them. Sen. McCain's preference is to seek out America's strongest allies and to strengthen those relationships," said Scheunemann.
The Illinois senator's campaign strongly disputes that characterization and says Obama is in a unique position to repair relations with partners who felt alienated by Bush.
(Editing by David Alexander and Alan Elsner)
WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful John McCain says he wants to restore U.S. standing abroad with an approach to foreign policy that breaks with George W. Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" and contrasts with Democratic rival Barack Obama's weakness.
McCain, an Arizona senator and former prisoner of war whose foreign policy experience helped propel his candidacy, disagreed with Bush's decision to go it alone on issues like global warming or harsh treatment of war prisoners.
But McCain, who has a long-standing reputation as a maverick, has been tougher than Bush on other issues.
He pressed for the United States to commit more troops during the early stages of the Iraq war, and when Georgia and Russia clashed in August, he demanded again that Moscow be ousted from the Group of Eight rich nations, going farther than either the Bush administration or European allies.
"His differences (with Bush) on a range of issues are well known, whether its detainee treatment, whether its climate change, Russia," said Randy Scheunemann, McCain's senior foreign policy adviser.
The Georgia-Russia conflict highlighted the contrasts between McCain and Obama, his rival in the Nov. 4 presidential election. The conflict erupted in early August, when Georgia attempted to restore control over the pro-Moscow breakaway province of South Ossetia, prompting a big Russian counterattack.
McCain reacted quickly, demanding that Russia halt military operations and withdraw its forces. Obama was more cautious, condemning the outbreak of violence but not initially blaming either side or demanding Russian withdrawal. He stepped up his criticism as time passed.
Scheunemann said Russia's actions demonstrate what McCain had been warning for a long time -- that Moscow was a threat to its neighbors and the United States needed to work with Europe to fashion a policy recognizing "the Russia that exists, not the idealized Russia that some people hoped it would be."
Aides said McCain would put a greater emphasis on diplomacy than the Bush White House has done.
McCain has a "greater tendency to work with allies and nurture those relationships rather than the unilateralism that has characterized significant components of the Bush administration approach," Scheunemann said.
DIFFERENCE IN APPROACH
Though he disagrees with the president at times on approach, McCain is advised by some of the same people who consulted with the administration on the Iraq war. Scheunemann was a director of the neoconservative Project for the New American Century and an early supporter of the Iraq war. Robert Kagen, another former Project director, is also an adviser.
On the war in Iraq, McCain and Bush are largely in line after initially disagreeing on approach.
The Arizona senator supports leaving U.S. troops in the region as long as they are needed, opposing a timetable for withdrawal, and he sees terrorism as a grave and continuing threat. Obama favors a 16-month withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and a greater focus on Afghanistan.
McCain's advisers highlight his ties with world leaders forged over more than two decades in Congress, compared with Obama, whose relationships are newer after less than four years in the Senate.
The differences with Obama extend to general philosophy, aides said. Adviser Richard Fontaine described McCain as a "realistic idealist" in his overall approach, with a desire for the United States to be a model international citizen.
"It's the farthest thing from cowboy diplomacy on one side," Fontaine said, but also a clear contrast to Obama.
"It's not just a contrast with the administration, it's a contrast with the sort of protectionist isolationist strain that you see" in the Obama camp, Fontaine said.
On trade, McCain's staunch support of the North American Free Trade Agreement as well as a proposed pact with Colombia contrasts with Obama, who opposes the Colombian deal and has said he would seek to renegotiate NAFTA to improve worker protections and environmental standards.
McCain traveled to Canada, Colombia and Mexico earlier this year to highlight that distinction.
Obama's willingness to meet with U.S. foes like Iran and North Korea is another difference the McCain campaign has criticized.
"Sen. Obama's preference is to seek out American's worst enemies and meet unconditionally with them. Sen. McCain's preference is to seek out America's strongest allies and to strengthen those relationships," said Scheunemann.
The Illinois senator's campaign strongly disputes that characterization and says Obama is in a unique position to repair relations with partners who felt alienated by Bush.
(Editing by David Alexander and Alan Elsner)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Sotomayor pledges impartial justice
