I will say this, regardless of the world's perception of the two candidates and the two parties, McCain is more against war itself than any president or presidential candidate in recent history. I'm fairly confident he believes strongly in military strength as a deterence, but I really think he would be the last to put troops any where unless all other options have been exhausted (one of the things I really liked about Colin Powell). Not the popular opinion, I know, but I think that is the case. Yet, because of his views on the surge and providing security to Iraq until they are ready to take over encourages the world to see him as a war-mongering tyrant.

(Sheesh, just can't type today!) After reading this again I realize it is written very poorly.


>Very well stated, Mr. Hankey, sir. I think that sentiment should apply to either candidate.
>
>>Absolutely. No country ever suffered from having too many allies. But no country ever survived by not defending itself when under attack by its enemies while its many friends spoke well of it. <s> A difficult balance, especially when friends do not have exactly the same interests or problems.
>>
>>I hope our next President will be faced with fewer surprise challenges, be more personally aware of the word's complexities and more skilled in conducting policy in a way that elicits support of our culturally similar allies without seeking international stardom for its own sake.