McCain foreign policy speech highlights differences between Obama, Romney

By Lauren Appelbaum

Tampa, Fla., Aug. 29 – Sen. John McCain delivered a major foreign policy speech during the Republican National Convention, outlining differences he believes exist between a potential Mitt Romney administration and a Barack Obama administration.

“We can’t afford to cause our friends and allies – from Latin America to Asia, Europe to the Middle East, and especially in Israel, a nation under existential threat – to doubt America’s leadership,” the Arizona Republican said to applause.

McCain criticized President Obama for not interfering in Iran and Syria earlier. He said Obama should have assisted Iranian civilians in their uprising against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other leaders.

“The president missed a historic opportunity to throw America’s full moral support behind an Iranian revolution that shared one of our highest interests: ridding Iran of a brutal dictatorship that terrorizes the Middle East and threatens the world.”

Romney has called for “crippling sanctions” and said would consider military action to prevent a nuclear Iran, a policy not unlike what Obama has said.

Asked during an appearance on CNN following his speech to describe the difference between the two candidate’s positions, McCain said, “Israelis don’t trust us.”

McCain explained that while Romney received a nice reception during his trip in Israel, Obama has sent senior officials to Israel not to discuss how to handle Iran but to warn Israel not to act without the United States.

“It’s clear there is no trust between the U.S. and Israel,” McCain said. “The Israelis are faced with a difficult decision because they cannot depend on the U.S.”