Vol. 72/No. 23      June 9, 2008

U.S. president George Bush, a Republican, used a speech marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel May 15 to suggest that those who negotiate with “terrorists and radicals” are guilty of appeasement.

In the past Obama has stated that he would negotiate “without preconditions” with governments targeted by Washington such as Cuba, Iran, Syria, north Korea, and Venezuela.

McCain, a former military officer who saw combat in Vietnam, echoed Bush’s remarks. “The American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment, and determination to keep us safe,” McCain said, speaking of Obama.

The Arizona senator continues to benefit from his record of sharp tactical differences with the Bush administration over the handling of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. An early proponent of the “surge” military escalation, McCain’s road toward the Republican nomination has rested in large part on the success of the stepped-up U.S. operations in Iraq over the past year.  
 
‘Greatest threat to America’
In answering McCain, Obama made it clear that Iran would be a special target of his administration. In a May 17 speech, he said that, due to the Bush administration’s policies, Iran now “poses the greatest threat to America and Israel in the Middle East in a generation.”

The Illinois senator said that if elected, he would issue an ultimatum to Tehran. “If it abandons its nuclear program, support for terror, and threats to Israel, then Iran can join the community of nations. If not, Iran will face deeper isolation and steeper sanctions,” Obama said.

Obama also vowed not to negotiate with Hamas, the ruling Palestinian party in the Gaza Strip. He repeated his call to escalate the U.S. war in Afghanistan, claiming that “Al-Qaeda’s leadership is stronger because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan.”

With broad bipartisan support, the Pentagon is building up its Afghan force to deepen the war there. With the recent arrival of 3,000 U.S. marines, Washington currently has an army of 34,000 in Afghanistan—the highest U.S. troop level there since the 2001 invasion.  
 
Overthrowing Cuban Revolution
McCain and Obama both gave speeches in late May outlining their commitment to continue Washington’s economic and political war aimed at undermining and overthrowing the socialist revolution in Cuba.

At a May 20 meeting in Miami, McCain said Obama’s pledge to meet with Cuban president Raúl Castro would “send the worst possible message to Cuba’s dictators.” McCain demanded that Cuba “schedule internationally monitored elections” before Washington take any steps to ease the U.S. trade embargo.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba was established in 1962, shortly after the triumph of the socialist revolution. Under the Clinton administration it was further tightened to include measures that penalize third countries for trading with Cuba and limit remittances from Cuban Americans to Cubans living on the island.

Obama answered McCain’s remarks three days later in a major foreign policy speech titled “Renewing U.S. Leadership in the Americas.” He spoke before the Cuban American National Foundation, which was founded by wealthy Cubans who left the island after the 1959 revolution.  
 
‘Free and fair’ elections
Obama demanded that Cuba submit to elections that Washington deems are “free and fair.” Until the Cuban government submits to Washington’s demands, Obama pledged that his administration will “maintain the embargo.”

Obama also said the United States is losing influence in Latin America to China, the European powers, and even the Iranian government.

“Demagogues like Hugo Chávez have stepped into the vacuum,” Obama said. He said the Venezuelan president uses “anti-American rhetoric, authoritarian government, and checkbook diplomacy,” and has been “coddling the repressive regime in Cuba.” He said Chávez’s “stale vision” has made inroads from Nicaragua to Bolivia.

It is illegal for most U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. During the Bush administration, Cuban Americans with family in Cuba were limited to one 14-day visit every three years. This measure is very unpopular among Cuban Americans.

In contrast, Obama said he would “immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island.” He said, “It’s time to let Cuban American money make their families less dependent upon the Castro regime.”  
 
 
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