OnTheIssuesLogo

John McCain on Foreign Policy

Republican Sr Senator (AZ


Maintain Cuban embargo; indict Castro

Q: Cuban dictatorship has survived nine U.S. presidents. What would you do differently, that has not been done so far, to bring democracy to Cuba?

A: Of course we need to keep our embargo up. Of course we cannot allow economic aid to flow to Cuba. And if I were president of the United States, I would order an investigation of the shoot-down of those brave Cubans who were killed under the orders of Raul and Fidel Castro, and, if necessary, indict them.

Source: 2007 Republican primary debate on Univision Dec 9, 2007

Situation in Pakistan very serious, but not nuclear threat

Q: Pakistan appears to be on the brink. Tremendous political instability, raging Islamic terrorism. How serious a threat to US interests if Pakistan is destabilized?

A: It's very serious. Waziristan, where I have visited, is clearly at least partially under the control of Taliban and Al Qaida military units who are launching attacks into Afghanistan. The Pakistani army has not been successful, and they made this unholy truce with them which has led to attacks into Afghanistan.

Q: So what happens to us if the country is destabilized?

A: It's a nuclear nation. I am convinced that there are some military people within Pakistan who are more Islamic than the present leadership--radicalized, I mean. What the US should be doing is encourage the reconciliation between Bhutto and Musharraf. I would hope that we would be able to defuse some of the situation. But it would have to be a very, very radical regime to take over for it to be a nuclear threat.

Source: FOX News Sunday, 2007 presidential interviews Oct 21, 2007

Naive to exclude nukes; naive to exclude attacking Pakistan

It's naive to say that we will never use nuclear weapons. It's naive to say we're going to attack Pakistan without thinking it through. What if Musharraf were removed from power? What if a radical Islamic government were to take place because we triggered it with an attack?

I believe the reason why we won the Cold War is because of our advocacy and our dedication to the principles that all of us are created equal and endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights.

Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate Aug 5, 2007

We have good reason to expect solidarity of our allies

The Democrats emphasize that military action alone won't protect us, that this war has many fronts: in courts, financial institutions, in the shadowy world of intelligence, and in diplomacy. They stress America needs the help of her friends to combat an evil that threatens us all, that our alliances are as important to victory as are our armies. We agree. As we've been a good friend to other countries in moments of shared perils, so we have good reason to expect their solidarity with us in this struggle
Source: 2004 Republican Convention Speech Aug 30, 2004

Suu Kyi and the people of Burma will rule themselves someday

On the first public appearance following her release from house arrest in 2002, Aung San Suu Kyi apologized to her people. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting. But my freedom is not a major triumph for democracy; my freedom is not the object of our struggle." So she fights on. And she will prevail. The regime must relent eventually. Suu Kyi and the people of Burma will rule themselves someday. The tyrants who have opposed and terrorized them for so long are simply no match for them. They lack their courage.
Source: Why Courage Matters, p.165 Apr 1, 2004

Overthrow “rogue” governments to keep Americans safe

Q: What area of international policy would you change immediately?
A: Our policies concerning rogue states: Iraq, Libya, North Korea-those countries that continue to try to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. I’d institute a policy that I call “rogue state rollback.” I would arm, train, equip, both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically elected governments.
Source: GOP Debate on the Larry King Show Feb 15, 2000

Our conscience influences US intervention, as in Rwanda

Q: Would you intervene militarily if human rights abuses were at stake?
A: There are times when our principles are so offended that we have to do what we can to resolve a terrible situation. If Rwanda again became a scene of horrible genocide, if there was a way that the US could stop. But we can never say that a nation driven by Judeo-Christian principles will only intervene where our interests are threatened because we also have values. If genocide is allowed, the consequences later are more severe.
Source: GOP Debate on the Larry King Show Feb 15, 2000

Africa: Money for AIDS would be lost to corruption

Q: Should we appropriate $300 million out of the surplus to help fight AIDS in Africa?
A: I would do anything in my power to stop this terrible affliction. But we have corrupt governments; we have organizations that don’t treat the people. So before I spent our taxpayers’ money on that, I would have to make sure that it would go to the recipients and those of these poor people who are afflicted with this terrible disease. Frankly, in a lot of parts of Africa today, I do not have that confidence.
Source: GOP Debate in Michigan Jan 10, 2000

Concern over Chechnya spreads to Caucasus oil reserves

McCAIN [to Forbes]: I want to talk to you about Russia. We’re concerned about Chechnya. We’re concerned about the Caucasus and Georgia and the oil and gas reserves that are there, and I’m particularly interested in your views of Mr. Putin and what we can expect and how you would handle our relations with Russia at this particular moment.

FORBES: I think that our relations with Russia today are another prime example of the lack of a foreign policy of the Clinton-Gore Administration. The way they’re applauding this coup that just took place with the thieving oligarchs of the Kremlin, told Yeltsin get out and we’ll let your family keep their illegal gains, and this way we can move the election up. Have the war fever from Chechnya. The war in Chechnya is simply an election ploy. It’s also, I fear, part of the first step of the old Russian nationalist of reestablishing the old Soviet empire. Chechnya today, perhaps Georgia tomorrow, Armenia after that. It’s a disaster.

Source: Republican Debate in West Columbia, SC Jan 7, 2000

Russia: Sanctions until Putin exits Chechnya

McCain says acting Russian President Vladimir Putin should be urged to end the conflict with Chechen militants under threat of sanctions, as issue he would talk about “every day” as president. “I’d state unequivocally that there would be no more US Export-Import Bank loans, that the US would not support any furhter IMF funding until this thing is brought to some kind of reasonable conclusion,” he said.
Source: Associated Press, in The Enterprise (Brockton MA), p. A9 Jan 4, 2000

IMF’s Russia policies bad, but agency is OK

A spokesman for John McCain saif the Senator “generally would not call” for eliminating the IMF but has criticized the agency’s work in Russia, where there are accusations that IMF loans were misused and that the government misled the IMF about its finances.
Source: Boston Globe, p. A14 Oct 5, 1999

Urge Japan to open economy to ensure Asian recovery

Asia’s economic recovery will not be sustained over time, and its markets will not recover their former profitability for American goods and services, unless the greatest economy of Asia - Japan’s - is freed from the market distorting restraints that are inherent in its unique political economy. If it is to thrive once again, Japan must commit to systemic reforms that are politically difficult for powerful constituencies, among them, Japanese farmers and banks.
Source: Speech to National Press Club, 5/20/99 May 20, 1999

Clinton abandoned framework of “assertive multilateralism”

A conceptual framework establishes the relationships among our many interests in the world, provides the basis for prioritizing those interests, and obliges us to integrate policies to serve those priorities. Early on, Clinton [supported] a conceptual framework: “assertive multilateralism.” But it fell apart in Somalia & Bosnia, and assertive gave way to passive multilateralism, where we act in concert with other nations when they determine it necessary to safeguard their security.
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 4/30/99 Apr 30, 1999

Korea: ease starvation, but avoid war during death throes

[Five years ago,] the US promised North Korea food and energy support, [plus] nuclear reactors, in exchange for the cessation of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. A firmer response might have triggered a war; refusing to help ease the deprivations in the North, and hastening the collapse of the regime might have also resulted in war. North Korea is still inexorably nearing total collapse, and its leaders remain quite capable of launching in their country’s death throes one final, glorious war.
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 4/30/99 Apr 30, 1999

Pay dues to UN after UN reforms

Regarding the United States-United Nations relationship, McCain says the “US should pay arrears to UN after the UN implements management reforms.”
Source: Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998

John McCain on China

Support the One-China policy, don’t weaken it

Q: If Taiwan moves towards declaring independence from China, would you try and stop them?
A: Of course I would. There has been “strategic ambiguity,” but Clinton destroyed that policy, when he went to China and called the Chinese his strategic partner. He destroyed the delicate balance of ambiguity, which is causing many of these problems now. Of course I would tell the Taiwanese that they should observe the one China policy which calls for peaceful reunification.
Source: GOP debate in Los Angeles Mar 2, 2000

$1M political donations by Chinese Army should not be legal