ST PAUL (AFP)---Here are the positions of Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama and his Republican rival John McCain on some of the main foreign policy issues in the US presidential campaign:
MIDDLE EAST AND ISRAEL
Obama: The US commitment to Israel is "non-negotiable." He envisages
isolating Hamas and Hezbollah, as long as the Islamic groups refuse
to renounce terrorism or recognize the right of Israel to exist. He has
criticized Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories as unhelpful to
the peace process, and is in favor of policies which can boost the influence
of moderate Palestinians.
McCain: Supports US military aid to Israel and says he is Hamas' "worst
enemy." He has repeatedly said Hamas would welcome an Obama victory. He
encourages talks between Israel and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, and
has called for Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria to be politically isolated. He
believes the Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006 was justified.
IRAN
Obama: Is in favor of launching a dialogue with Iran, which he says
presents a serious threat to the Middle East region and the United States. He
has said he would be prepared to hold talks without pre-conditions with
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But more recently he indicated talks
would begin at a lower level first. He is in favor of using international
sanctions to push Iran to be more transparent over its suspect nuclear program.
McCain: Says "there is only one thing worse than military action and that
is a nuclear-armed Iran." He is against any presidential-level talks, which he
believes would only lend legitimacy to the regime's hardliners. He would like
to tighten sanctions, mostly economic, outside the UN sphere if necessary.
IRAQ
Obama: Said he was against the war in 2002 and has vowed to end the
conflict and begin to withdraw the troops immediately. He is opposed to
establishing permanent bases in Iraq, but says he would be prepared to send
troops back in in case of a catastrophe or genocide.
McCain: Is a fervent supporter of the US surge launched in 2007. He has
vowed "no surrender" and has said he is convinced that Washington is winning
the war against the insurgency. He has come under fire from Democrats for
suggesting that US troops could be stationed in Iraq for 100 years, modelled
on the US involvement in Germany and South Korea.
RUSSIA:
Obama: Has denounced "Russian aggression" in Georgia and says pressure has
to be kept up on Moscow to be more transparent and democratic. "Let me be
clear: we seek a future of cooperative engagement with the Russian government,
and friendship with the Russian people," Obama said, stressing that Moscow had
to act responsibly.
McCain: Has called for Russia to be excluded from the Group of Eight most
industrialized nations and criticized former president and Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin as "a dangerous man."
