McCain Is More Dangerous Than Bush

An interesting look at McCain from Bill Boyarsky at Truthdig. The contention is that McCain is a cold-war throwback, which seems likely. And as such, he is a bit scary.

McCain Is More Dangerous Than Bush

AP photo / Mary Altaffer

By Bill Boyarsky

The brief, bloody Georgia war provided another example of John McCain’s reckless views on foreign policy and what he’ll do if he becomes president.

He’s Bush but worse. Forget the moderate image, promoted by an admiring media. Forget the so-called straight talk and independence. With the Russian-Georgian war winding down, McCain has firmly established himself as an old-fashioned Cold Warrior and a supporter of the huge oil companies that have a big stake in Georgia and the rest of the Caucasus.

President Bush talks to the Russians. McCain seems to long for the Iron Curtain days of those long decades of conflict with plenty of brinkmanship, saber rattling and possibly a trip to the edge of war.

Bush chatted with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during the Olympics, even while Russian troops were invading Georgia. Engagement with the Russians is alien to McCain. For example, he urged Bush to boycott a meeting of the Group of Eight, composed of major industrial nations, in St. Petersburg in 2006. Bush ignored his advice.

And whereas Bush said that when he looked Putin “in the eye,” “I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy” and “I was able to get a sense of his soul,” McCain said, “I looked into his eyes and saw three letters, a K, a G and a B.”

McCain may have a clearer reading of the old KGB spy’s soul than Bush. But his hostile attitude is dangerous in a time when these two powers must get along. Only the most fanatic neocons want a resumption of the Cold War.

Read the whole article.

Tags: John McCain, More Dangerous Than Bush, Russia, cold war, Bill Boyarsky, Truthdig, Russian-Georgian war