A call for interventionism: McCain and Graham
Jul 06, 2011

Congressional Records statements in support of Libya military operations
July 5, 2011

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):

The fact is this conflict would have been over if we had taken a leadership role and declared a no-fly zone when the rebel forces were on their way to Benghazi. The fact is, if the United States had used the full weight of its air assets in this conflict, Qadhafi would be gone now.
. . .
When my colleagues ask what American national security interests are at stake, look at the man's past actions and look at what he has promised to do if he is able to stay in power; and that is, to pose a direct threat to the United States of America's vital national security interests.
. . .
The last time the Congress of the United States of America engaged in cutting off funding was at the end of the Vietnam war. Whether historians or people happen to acknowledge it, a lot of bad things happened after we cut off funding in Vietnam. Amongst them was millions of Vietnamese put in reeducation camps and thousands slaughtered. So I would caution my colleagues about actions of Congress which prohibit certain actions on the part of the administration.

When a Senator gets cranky
Jun 23, 2011

Congressional Record – June 21, 2011

Sen. Joe Manchin: I believe it is time for President Obama to begin a substantial and responsible reduction in our military presence in Afghanistan. I believe it is time for us to rebuild America, not Afghanistan.

  That is why I strongly agreed with Senators Merkley and Lee, and the words of 27 of my Republican and Democratic colleagues, who made it clear in a letter they sent to the President last Thursday that:

  ..... we must accelerate the transfer responsibility for Afghanistan's development to the Afghan people and their government. We should maintain our capacity to eliminate any new terrorist threats, continue to train the Afghan National Security Forces, and maintain our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. However, these objectives do not require the presence of over 100,000 American troops engaged in intensive combat operations.

McCain Hopes and Challenges: Stepping Up to New Start
Sep 07, 2010

Recently two astute political columnists have urged Senator John McCain to return to the John McCain of 2000 and his earlier Senate service. David Broder and Mark Shields rightfully respect politicians who lead by putting national and societal interests ahead of parochial ones.

I share their outloook, having worked with McCain on campaign finace reform and ending the efforts of the tobacco industry to have young people addicted to cigarettes. McCain then credibly said Theodore Roosevelt was his leader model. He fought for the FDA having strong and unambiguous regulatory power over the tobacco industry. That alone made him a different Republican.

Now McCain faces another challenge. With his primary over he has no excuses. The time for those who want to exhort him to meet his responsibilities (Broder) or cut him slack (Shields) is over. The Republican Party has a national security conflict of monumental proportions. Those Republicans who have had responsibility for governing-- James Baker, James Schlesinger, Brent Scowcroft all come to mind-- support New Start.
The Cheney wing of the party have placed ideology over solid national interest. Senators Imhofe (R-Okla) and DeMint (R-SC) are its spear carriers.  They oppose New Start.

Everyone knows McCain is no wimp on national security. McCain has the responsibility of standing with those who can analyze the complexities of a treaty (Baker, Schlesinger and Scowcroft) versus those who place doctrinal faith over credible analysis (Imhofe and DeMint)

McCain can provide the leadership, if he chooses to, by moving his Senate Republican colleagues in the direction of responsible Republican national security and diplomatic experience. The undecided Republican Senators need to advise and consent to the New Start treaty.

Short of acting to support New Start quickly, McCain will stay with the McCain of his primary campaign-- a political leader who no longer has analytic and independent judgment or courage to oppose the "shouters" in his party. To stand on the sidelines, or line up with Imhofe and DeMint, will forever mark McCain as a failed leader.

Sen. McCain and Support for CTBT
Jul 27, 2009

Just in from the Global Security Newswire:

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he no longer opposes the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, potentially putting the Obama administration one vote closer to ratifying the international pledge to cease all nuclear weapons tests, the Associated Press reported.

McCain said he would consider voting to approve the ban, which he voted against a decade ago although he said he had lingering doubts. "The devil is in the details," he said. "If we could get it done, if it is acceptable, then it is a step forward on the path to the president's goal and mine of a nuclear-free world."

If McCain supported the treaty, Obama would only need six additional Republican votes to be able to pass the ban, which he has made part of his nonproliferation agenda.

...Another potentially undecided vote is Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), who, despite his outspoken advocacy for nuclear nonproliferation, says he has not decided whether he would support a comprehensive ban on testing.