Yesterday, John McCain deviated from the Bush Administration, by favoring disarmament. He vowed to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty and expressed his desire to eliminate tactical weapons in Europe. McCain specifically mentioned talking more openly with Russia saying, “Russia and the United States are no longer mortal enemies.” He favors a dramatic reduction in both nations’ arms through a stronger treaty to replace the current Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty that expires next year. Although McCain advocates for closer relations with Russia, earlier this year he advocated for removing Russia from the G8. Two months ago, he spoke in Los Angeles adopting a harsh cold war rhetoric:
We should start by ensuring that the G-8, the group of eight highly industrialized states, becomes again a club of leading market democracies: it should include Brazil and India but exclude Russia. Rather than tolerate Russia’s nuclear blackmail or cyber attacks, Western nations should make clear that the solidarity of NATO, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, is indivisible and that the organization’s doors remain open to all democracies committed to the defense of freedom.
This tone is clearly rougher toward Russia back then compared with his new welcoming stance in yesterday’s speech. It seems that it is not only the Bush Administration that he has separated himself from, but also himself. I suppose two months is a long time in politics.
