Why McCain's Foreign Policies Will Be a Gift for Terror and a Nightmare for America

We have all heard the fiery, radical rhetoric of Hamas and Al-Qaeda's Osama bin Laden on tapes that air every once in a while on our news channels. The calls for jihad and the sharp criticism of America and President Bush have become a common sighting. At the same time, as McCain claimed recently, Hamas may be watching the American democratic nomination contest very closely, even "endorsing" Obama.

But who does Hamas or Al-Qaeda really support? Barack Obama or John McCain?

For the past three decades, ever since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and heavy American involvement in the Middle East during the 1980s and 1990s into modern times, the leaders of terrorist organizations worldwide and elected leaders like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, alike have shared a common vein of support: the depiction of America as a stubborn, violent, destructive demon. The caricatures of American leaders like the senior George Bush as a bespectacled, horned Satan and the continuation of such propaganda into modern times may be the key to a subliminal key to power that terrorist leaders and Middle Eastern tyrants share: portray the US as the devil, get the support of your people around that cause, and the people will not question your inability to improve your own nation.

Can this really be? What does this mean for McCain, who is following the same role of other presidents?

The people supporting Ahmadinejad, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, or even insurgencies in Iraq are gathering their supporters under this platform of hatred toward an enemy that has not changed its foreign policies for decades. They need men like Bush to stay in power, because that guarantees them their continuing rule, power, and appeal to the people. John McCain, although he refers to himself as "Hamas' worst nightmare" and has called Barack Obama's Iran policies "too soft," the Republican does not realize that he is, in fact, a gift from heaven to terrorist organizations and unfriendly regimes all over the world. McCain, who has pledged to stay in Iraq "until victory is achieved" even if it takes "a hundred years" will be a continuation of the image of the US as Satan.

But how can being tough on Iran like McCain wishes make it better for our enemies?

The image of the United States as the Satan of the world allows for the distraction of Iranians, Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians, and Syrians from the problems in their own countries and the incompetence of their rulers. A president like John McCain will only reinforce the image of America as the world's enemy. Let us assume that Barack Obama takes office; with the United States suddenly willing to negotiate with tyrants and terrorists, the people who have criticized the US and the common people on the street who watch their countries fall apart will begin to question their leaders on why they are not negotiating. "With the image of America the Satan gone, why are you not doing anything?"

The image of America around the world has been damaged for decades. The continuing image of America as the demon attacking Islam and the Middle East cannot be if we want peace and progress in the world and Middle Eastern affairs. Although a candidate like John McCain may seem like a strong, tough, and "experienced" man on issues like Iran, Hamas, and Al-Qaeda, the image that he will continue to uphold for our country may only lead to destruction when our enemies get a boost for their rallying call. "Straw-Man Diplomacy," as Joe Klein put it in his article, must end, because the future of America and the Middle East is at stake.

Joe Klein, "Straw-Man Diplomacy." Time Magazine.