McCain Supports Obama?

Senator John McCain inadvertently supported two aspects of President Obama’s national security policy.

First, Senator McCain said, “Last week, I spoke to a leader of a Middle East country who said ‘we have to develop our own plans because we can't depend on the U.S.’"   Senator McCain is apparently unaware that President Obama actions in the Middle East has been designed to have Middle Eastern countries do exactly what this unnamed leader said he was going to do.  Namely, the President's strategy has been to encourage Middle East states to carry their own water or, at least, their own oil.

Nonetheless, Senator McCain persists in his belief, shared with Joe and other conservatives, that the U.S. can use verbal threats, unilateral trade sanctions, and troop deployments to impose the United States' will on other nations. Imposing our will on those nations, typically, will require invasion and occupation.  Based on recent history, the cost imposed on the U.S. by the nations being invaded and occupied will be terribly high. 

Based on recent history, the cost imposed on the U.S. by the nations being invaded and occupied will be terribly high. 

Second, McCain also expressed his belief that Putin is a megalomaniac.  Unfortunately, Senator McCain, unlike President Obama, does not seem able to connect Putin's delusional sense of his own omnipotence to possible behavioral consequences.  The Senator continues to insist that a show of force by the U.S., apparently with or without the support of our European partners, will shatter Putin's delusional and convince him to back down.  Mika and Joe did not ask the Senator what the U.S. should do if Putin's delusional state prompts him to raise the stakes if we send arms to the Ukraine.

Senator McCain also noted, as he argued for sending more arms to the Ukraine, that we should exercise caution with Putin because sometimes increased economic instability due to sanctions can lead to increased aggression.  Despite the illogic of Senator McCain's position, we should all take Senator McCain’s point and ask what will the effect of those who call for increased sanctions against Iran be, assuming the U.S. can convince the rest of our international partners to maintain or increase sanctions against Iran.  

Senator McCain also noted, as he argued for sending more arms to the Ukraine, that we should exercise caution with Putin because sometimes increased economic instability due to sanctions can lead to increased aggression. 

Joe, however, did say that because he and Senator McCain usually did not agree, their agreement in assessing President Obama's strategy as inadequate, was proof that the White House was in disarray!  Mika congratulated Senator McCain for being brave enough to come on Morning Joe.

President Obama's strategy shows our need for support from our international partners, and recognition that increasing sanctions can lead to greater aggression