Digby takes note of McCain’s strategy for ending the civil war in Iraq:

“One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, ‘Stop the bullshit,’” said Mr. McCain, according to Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, an invitee, and two other guests.

Brilliant. What’s he got in mind for Darfur, smacking the Janjaweed around a little? I’m sure that’s the problem in Iraq - no one’s ever told those guys to just cut it out…

Does the Middle East have some sort of sick sex appeal when it comes to pompous militaristic bloviating by republicans?  This is what Senator John McCain has to say about American Security Threats:

“The greatest single threat that we are facing right now to our national security is Iran,” he said. “If they get that weapon, and they have the capability to deliver it, put yourself in the position of the government of the state of Israel. This could be one of the most unsettling and difficult challenges that we have ever faced.”

Senator John McCain seems to forget that unlike Iran, North Korea likely is in possesion of at least one nuclear weapon. Moreover, North Korea is ruled by a maniac dictator that has shown previous indifference to starving his entire country.

Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons. Its government appears to want them, but unless our ally Pakistan gave them a couple, they don’t have any at this point.

So who is the larger threat to America?

Are these the words of a level headed, intelligent moderate?

if you want to call them freedom fries, that’s fine with me

Senator John McCain, always a voice of incompetence…

Nate makes a great point about McCain and the security of our ports. This administration has given the American people no reason to be confident when it comes to security. And, as Matt Stoller at MyDD has pointed out, McCain once thought so, too:

U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday that he has “no confidence” in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, citing Rumsfeld’s handling of the war in Iraq and the failure to send more troops.

So, Two-Faced McCain was against the Bush security strategy before he was for it? Is there anything this guy won’t do to get elected?

McCain commented today on the brewing port security scandal facing the Whitehouse:

“We all need to take a moment and not rush to judgment on this matter without knowing all the facts,” McCain said.

“The president’s leadership has earned our trust in the war on terror, and surely his administration deserves the presumption that they would not sell our security short.”

Yeah, the President has done a great job with security. Good thing we quickly apprehended Osama and found all of those WMDs in Iraq. Our ability to discern threats has clearly aided us in the past.

You have to wonder whether the same people who were working on WMD intelligence worked on clearing this UAE company for port security. Trust the president? America has been there, done that, and have 2,000 + of our best and bravest dead to prove it. By supporting the President in this matter, McCain again shows his true craven political face. He needs to continue to engender himself with hardcore bush supporters and he appears to be willing to sacrifice America’s national security for political gain.

As I previously mentioned, McCain should learn to be more tactful when dealing with other nations that just so happen to hold the keys to our economy (oil). I don’t advocate coddling them, but at the same time a modicum of decency is called for. In any case, Venezuela’s Vice President responded to McCain today:

“It looks like they have nothing else to do in the United States,” Rangel said. Americans have “so many problems, 40 million poor people, 30 million drug users, and an American senator is paying attention to us. He can go to hell.”

Point Venezuela. Let’s see if the Senator McCain will continue this immature playground name calling…

In a stunning show of bravado, Senator John McCain today discussed using the United States military to disarm Iran:

As the Bush administration and its European allies pursue a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear standoff, some top lawmakers from both parties pressed for a more vigorous approach today, including the option of military action.

“There’s only one thing worse than the United States exercising the military option,” Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said, “and that is Iran having nuclear weapons.”

Senator Pat Roberts, not exactly a pacifist, later said:

Reflecting the split among Republicans, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said today that talk of the military option was premature.

“I would never rule that out,” he said on CBS, “but at this particular time, I just do not think that is any kind of an alternative.”

Look at McCain trying to get out in front of the republican party and be the lead hawk on Iran.  He apparently thinks this will help his credentials with GOP primary voters.  Why do I think this?  Pat Roberts would not hesitate to talk up war if it was at all a possibility.  Anyone who goes to the right of Roberts on the issue of defense is just grandstanding.  Personally, I think talking about war to further a political gain is reprehensible.

Is this how a President McCain would conduct foreign policy?  From Bloomberg:

‘’We better understand the vulnerabilities that our economy and our very lives have that when we’re dependent on Iranian mullahs, and wackos in Venezuela,'’ McCain said. He didn’t refer to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez by name.

While I might agree with his sentiments, he should have a modicum of civility for those who have a stranglehold on our economy.  If the “Wacko” in Venezuela wanted to, he could cripple our infrastructure in a matter of days.  Perhaps a carrot more than a stick is warranted there.