PROFILE: War hero McCain portrays himself as multi-lateralist

Washington - John McCain, a decorated war hero with a reputation as an independent legislator, has promised he will not adopt the go-it-alone strategy of the Bush administration if he wins the November 4 election and becomes president. U.S. Senator and Presidential hopeful John McCain speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual policy conference at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, USA on 02 June 2008. McCain spoke about the threat that Iran poses to Israel and criticized his Democratic rival Barack Obama for his willingness to talk to Iran. EPA/MATTHEW CAVANAUGH

U.S. Senator and Presidential hopeful John McCain speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual policy conference at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, USA on 02 June 2008. McCain spoke about the threat that Iran poses to Israel and criticized his Democratic rival Barack Obama for his willingness to talk to Iran. EPA/MATTHEW CAVANAUGHAlthough he's a Republican known for taking tough positions when it comes to international affairs, McCain believes the United States must now seek out and respect the opinions of friends and allies before acting militarily. 'Our great power does not mean that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want,' McCain, 71, said during a March foreign policy address in Los Angeles. 'Nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed.' McCain would bring strong foreign policy credentials to the White House with a Senate career of more than 20 years that has largely focused on foreign policy issues. His straight-forward manner of speech and tough view on foreign policy resonates with American voters, but he must balance his support for the war in Iraq with adequately distancing himself from unpopular fellow Republican President George W Bush. McCain supported the original 2003 decision to invade Iraq and advocates keeping US troops in the country as long as necessary to succeed. But the Arizona senator has also harshly criticized the Bush administration for the post-invasion management, and carries added credibility when it comes to peace and war. McCain was shot down as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War, and was subjected to torture at the hands of his captors during the more than five years he spent as a prisoner - leading to his status as a war hero. His experience prompted him to criticize the Bush administration for failing to take steps to ensure detainees of the war on terrorism were not mistreated or tortured. McCain championed a law in 2005 that banned the inhumane treatment of the prisoners and restricted interrogation methods. He got the law passed by a 90-9 vote despite efforts by Vice President Dick Cheney to thwart the legislation. McCain's campaign for the White House had been largely overshadowed by the celebrity style candidacies of the more dazzling Barack Obama, who on Tuesday became the first African American to win a major political party's nomination, and his rival, Hillary Clinton, who was vying to become the first woman president. McCain also must convince voters that he is healthy enough for the country's top job. He'll be 72 on inauguration day in January, which would make him the oldest to ever begin a first term in the White House. McCain has survived skin cancer and also suffers from achy bone joints from his confinement in Vietnam. But otherwise, doctors gave him a clean bill of health, according to McCain's medical records released by the campaign in May. McCain was born on August 29, 1936 in Panama while his father, who also served in the Navy, was stationed abroad. McCain left the Navy in 1981 to pursue a career in politics, winning a seat in the House of Representatives the following year. He was elected to the Senate in 1986. McCain has fought to enact laws to reform political election campaigns and to reduce the influence of lobbyists, although he has been accused of having too close a relationship with lobbyists. McCain was implicated in a scandal during the 1980s with five other senators collectively dubbed the 'Keating Five.' The affair gave the appearance he had improperly sought to influence government regulators on behalf of Charles Keating, a campaign donor whose bank faced federal seizure. McCain would later cite the meeting he held with the regulators as the biggest regret of his career. The affair prompted him to pursue an agenda to reduce the role of lobbying in Washington and to place limits on how campaigns raise and spend money.

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a multilateralist...Jun 4th, 2008 - 14:59:54

is a person who doesn't know what they stand for. They try to be all things to all people, as a result they really have no firm convictions. They don't want to disappoint anybody. A multilateralist is so plastic that they were made by DuPont.

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PROFILE: War hero McCain portrays himself as multi-lateralist

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