Posted on 03/18/2008 5:51:34 PM PDT by SJackson
The success of Hamas and Hizbullah in the region is not only a danger for Israel, but also a threat to US national interests, US Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post.
"If Hamas/Hizbullah succeeds here, they are going to succeed everywhere, not only in the Middle East, but everywhere. Israel isn't the only enemy," Arizona Sen. McCain said, in the only interview he is giving to the Israeli media during his visit here.
"They are dedicated to the extinction of everything that the US, Israel and the West believe and stand for. So America does have an interest in what happens here, far above and beyond our alliance with the State of Israel."
McCain, who arrived on Tuesday for a one-day visit accompanied by senators Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said that while he would never tell Israel not to speak with Hamas, he was personally against it.
"Someone is going to have to answer me the question of how you are going to negotiate with an organization that is dedicated to your extinction," McCain said in a lounge in Jerusalem's David Citadel Hotel, as Lieberman and Graham listened.
McCain, who has been here on numerous occasions since his first visit in 1979, was careful about dispensing advice or coming across as dictating policy to the Israeli government.
U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), center, John McCain (R-AZ), left, and Joseph I. Lieberman (ID-CT), rekindle the Eternal Flame at the Hall of Remembrance during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Tuesday. Photo: AP "I really think that we should understand that the US and Israel are partners. Israel is not a client of the United States," he said. "If you are partners, then you don't dictate what you think the terms of the survival of a nation should be."
Asked whether Israel was using the right tactics in trying to quell the rocket fire on Sderot and the western Negev, McCain praised Defense Minister Ehud Barak - terming him "one of the great military people" he has met - and added, "I can't give you a good answer as to how you respond to these rocket attacks."
But, he then said dryly, "I can tell you that I believe that if rocket attacks came across the border of the United States of America, that the American people would probably demand pretty vigorous actions in response. I think I know my constituency in the state of Arizona, and they would be pretty exercised if rockets came across our southern border."
McCain's toughest talk, however, was reserved for Teheran, which he said unequivocally was pursuing nuclear weapons - remarks that were at odds with last year's controversial US National Intelligence Estimate.
"I think Iran is a threat to the region," McCain said, adding that not only were the Iranians "obviously pursuing nuclear weapons," they were also arming and training extremists to send into Iraq, supporting Hizbullah and influencing Syria.
"At the end of the day, we can still not afford to have Iran with nuclear weapons," he said. "We know they have ambitions that are not just aimed at the State of Israel."
These ambitions included "destabilization of the entire region upon which the United States' national security interests rest," he said.
McCain, meanwhile, made no promises regarding former secretary of state James Baker, a man who causes anxiety among many pro-Israel supporters in the US and who has been mentioned as a possible presidential envoy to the region under a McCain administration.
One thing he did promise was that whomever he picked for that role, "I would personally be engaged. I know enough about it to be personally engaged and give it my highest priority. Secondly, he said, any candidate for that position would be someone whom both sides would listen to and respect.
As to a future role for Lieberman, who has been touted as a secretary of state or defense secretary, McCain warmly thanked Lieberman for supporting him at a time when it was not the popular thing to do. "I know many ways that he can serve this country [the US], with or without me as president of the United States," McCain said.
McCain, who spoke by phone with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, just before meeting the Post, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Likud head Binyamin Netanyahu, as well as visit the Western Wall. He will also take a helicopter tour with Barak. He leaves on Wednesday evening for France and Britain.
Immediately after arriving on Tuesday afternoon from Iraq, McCain went to Yad Vashem, and then to a meeting with President Shimon Peres.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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"Someone is going to have to answer me the question of how you are going to negotiate with an organization that is dedicated to your extinction,"
That realization alone sets McCain apart from Hillary Clinton and Mohammed’s Pony.
Man, I HATE McCain, I really do, but GEESH he looks REALLY good to me about right now with the tough talk on terror. And specifically pro-Israel too! Oh, god. I’m starting to feel faint.
Please, can an anti-McCain FReeper help me out here and bring me back to earth before I do something I’ll regret in the morning.
Si!
This view of Islam is not new for McCain. He has had it for a while. It is about the only thing I agree with him on.
The very first politician I ever heard talk about the Islamic threat was Newt Gingrich, and that was years ago when the "religion of peace" , and the "religion was hijacked by extremists" nonsense was espoused by Bush and supported by Tony Blair. - tom
OK Jaun MaCain, Man up and admit that Mexico will also destroy all that the west holds dear and you MIGHT have my vote!
Let me help.
He talks to the Jewish leaders using an analogy about the Arizona border.
Yet, this is the man that could not bring himself to give us a border wall or fence, but rather, wanted to grant amnesty to upwards of twenty million illegals.
Without a fence or border, in Arizona or elsewhere along the Southern border, how can we defend our country against terrorists who can be sneaking in as we speak?
That McCain says the obvious, that a country certainly has the right to self defense, that Iran is a danger, that terrorist are bad and anti-West, does not give him super candidate status—it is merely common sense for anyone who is a true American.
Talk tough on terror? Sure, but then, why close Gitmo, give nonuninformed combatants captured on the battlefield Constitutional rights, and say that waterboarding is torture and can never be used, when the fate of an entire city could be in the balance?
Pro-Israel? That remains to be seen. He was lukewarm in his response about the rocket fire. A pro-Israeli response would have been, that rocket attacks on unarmed civilains is an act of barbarism, and an overwhelming military response is certainly called for.
So, if you are still manifesting symptoms, reread this post twice and call me in the morning.
Forgot to add, admit you screwed up on McCain/Kennedy and any other Democrat thinking thought you may have had !!!!!!
Thanks. I needed that.
(I only wish McCain wasn’t the only candidate left in the race able to stumble into a little common sense once in a while.)
Perfect question.
Only reason to vote for McCain. Didn't see that one comin' did you? :P:
stopped-clock-correct-twice-a-day bump
Another reason to NOT vote for McCain. He has no clue about the WOT, but he sure says what itching ears would like to hear.
This pandering, open-borders, campaign finance “reform,” neo-con is not getting my vote. I’m voting third party.
McCain didn’t make mistake : Iran is sponsoring Al-Qaeda
Iraq the Model | 03 19 2008 | drzz
Posted on 03/19/2008 3:04:48 PM EDT by drzz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988299/posts
Algeria: Al-Qaeda attacks moderates
ADN Kronos | 18 March 2008 | Staff
Posted on 03/19/2008 10:23:24 PM EDT by forkinsocket
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988553/posts
Fouad Ajami: No Surrender
Wall Street Journal | March 19, 2008 | Fouad Ajami
Posted on 03/19/2008 10:30:55 PM EDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988559/posts
Arabs Attack Jew in NYC
Arutz Sheva | March 20, ‘08 | Ezra HaLevi
Posted on 03/20/2008 9:01:39 AM EDT by RouxStir
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988700/posts
By defintion, the left is incapable of patriotism
Modern Conservative | Christopher Cook
Posted on 03/20/2008 9:56:43 AM EDT by connell
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988729/posts
Investigator: Antiquities fund Iraqi extremists
AP | 18 Mar 2008 | Elena Becatoros
Posted on 03/19/2008 5:37:03 PM EDT by BGHater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988392/posts
“Please, can an anti-McCain FReeper help me out here and bring me back to earth before I do something I’ll regret in the morning.”
McBoob - Kennedy
McBoob - Feingold
McBoob - Lieberman
Cap and trade
Would rather see an American city vaporized than allow waterboarding.
WILL NOT allow drilling in ANWAR, therefore is DEAD SET against energy independence.
I hope this helps.
stop giving them money would be a start...
The question for Johnny-boy, then, is, if there was an illegal alien in every rocket, would the rockets therefore be acceptable?
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