May 1, 2007
THE ONE MAJOR LEAGUER IN THE '08 RACE:
McCain Favors a 'League of Democracies' (LIZ SIDOTI, 4/30/07, The Associated Press)
Republican presidential candidate John McCain envisions a "League of Democracies" as part of a more cooperative foreign policy with U.S. allies.The Arizona senator will call for such an organization to be "the core of an international order of peace based on freedom" in a speech Tuesday at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
"We Americans must be willing to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," McCain says, according to excerpts his campaign provided. "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom, knowledge and resources necessary to succeed."
"To be a good leader, America must be a good ally," he adds in the speech, another in a series of policy addresses as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination.
Such comments offer a contrast to President Bush, who critics contend has employed a stubborn, go-it-alone foreign policy that has dramatically damaged the U.S. image abroad.
Huh? President Bush has already crafted an Axis of Good that includes not only our traditional Anglospheric allies--including Canada whose Eurocentric PM he outlasted--but Poland, India, Brazil, Indonesia, a newly-militarizing Japan, etc. It's outstanding news that Senator mcCain recognizes the usefulness of the project, but he inherits the League near fully made. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 1, 2007 7:48 AM
It won't be "fully made" until we drop out of the UN and work to destroy it as an institution.
Posted by: Bruno at May 1, 2007 8:12 AMCome on, that's the plan. McCain is the not-Bush, remember. With McCain we get continuation with the appearance of change.
Dropping out of the UN would be a mistake. The UN does little good, but litle harm also. The real world goverment has sprung up without the UN.
Economic reality, communications technology, cultural diffusion and the balance of military forces are evolving into a world governmet before our eyes, although most of us don't see it, to the extent that we are stuck in far-outdated concepts of "sovereignity."
The UN actually facilitates the process by perpetuating the illusion that it is not happening.
Posted by: Lou Gots at May 1, 2007 10:06 AMWe didn't need to drop out to destroy it.
Posted by: oj at May 1, 2007 10:58 AMIf the 'league of democracies' has any teeth it will be built around the Bush/Bolton Proliferation Security Initiative which is essentially a naval alliance against arms smuggling (India is beginning to cooperate as OJ has noted -- though this cooperation seems to negate is claims regarding the uselessness of naval spending). It will also likely begin within the UN, which as a democracy caucus that has become more active in recent years.
I agree, it's much easier to destroy the UN from within.
Posted by: JAB at May 1, 2007 11:25 AMBush go-it-alone without the permission of the Frenchies, the Rooskies, the Chinese. As Fred Thompson said, the criticisms from this bunch should be worn as a badge of honor.
Posted by: ic at May 1, 2007 12:53 PM