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Jay McDonough
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The hysterical foreign policy of John McCain
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Last week, John McCain called the Russian invasion into Georgia "the first probably serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War." I suppose that's arguable, but not if you paid any attention to Senator McCain over the last twenty years - it seems nearly everything is the "most serious" crisis in the world.
When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1991, Senator McCain said "the peace and security of the world for future generations [demand] that the world community act decisively to end the Gulf Crisis now."
In January 1994, he described North Korea's nuclear weapons program as "the most dangerous and immediate expression" of "the greatest challenge to U.S. security and world stability today," and warned that "there can be no serious doubt that our vital national interests are imperiled."
In an April 1999 speech (McCain) said that "America's most important values—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—are under vicious assault by the Milosevic regime," requiring "an immediate and manifold increase in the violence against Serbia proper and Serbian forces in Kosovo," including mobilization of "infantry and armored divisions for a possible ground war."
...during the current campaign, he has repeatedly reminded voters that he's running for president to confront "the transcendent issue of our time: the battle and struggle against radical Islamic extremism."
Consider another line from last week: "I think it's very clear that Russian ambitions are to restore the old Russian Empire. Not the Soviet Union, but the Russian Empire." (Link)
There can't be many explanations for this kind of hyperbole. One is that John McCain is genuinely terrified by world events and unable to rationally assess their significance. To be sure, each of the above were dangerous situations requiring concerted attention, but they can't all be the absolute most dangerous crisis confronting the world. Another is that Senator McCain actually believes this plays well to voters and portrays him as a decisive commander in chief figure.
It doesn't work for me. Instead, it makes the Senator look melodramatic and panic struck, and about the farthest thing in the world from an effective and strong commander in chief.
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