Who Is He?:
John McCain was born August 29, 1936, on American territory in the Panama Canal Zone. His father and grandfather both served as admirals in the U.S. Navy. McCain graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 and entered active military service where he eventually became a combat pilot in Vietnam. He was shot down in 1967 and served five and half years as a prisoner of war. In 1982 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district of Arizona, and in 1986 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.
International Experience:
McCain served in the U.S Navy from 1958 to 1981 with a variety of international postings, most notably combat duty in Vietnam. In his Senate career he has dealt with international issues while serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (where he also serves on the global climate change subcommittee).
Foreign Policy Positions:
McCain voted in favor of the Iraq war, and he says the U.S. may need to increase the number of troops there. He has supported almost all of President Bush's "War on Terror" bills. McCain would maintain the embargo on Cuba. He has called for strong action(including a NATO-enforced "no fly" zone) to end genocide in Darfur. Global climate change is seen by some as McCain's "signature issue". Citizens for Global Solutions gave McCain a F rating on foreign policy positions.
John McCain's Foreign Policy Statements:
- An Enduring Peace Built on Freedom, McCain's article from Foreign Affairs magazine, November/December 2007
- Foreign affairs statements cataloged on McCain's official U.S. Senate Web site
- Major foreign policy address to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in March 2008 (and my thoughts on the speech)
- Major foreign policy address delivered May 2008 in Columbus, OH
Other Links:
- Explore McCain
- Straight Talk America
- Students for McCain
- Candidate Profile, from the About Guide to Middle East Issues
- Candidate Profile, from the About Guide to U.S. Politics
- Candidate Profile, from the About Guide to Civil Liberties
- Candidate Profile, from the About Guide to Terrorism Issues
- Views on Iran, from the About Guide to Terrorism Issues
The Competition:
More:
Read more about John McCain's foreign policy positions.