McCain, by his own statement, despises war, and has said that diplomacy is a far superior tactic.

But his statement about long-duration basing in Iraq indicates that he subscribes to an imperial mindset. SO although the characteriZation is an unfair exagerration, similar to the ones levied against Kerry and Howard Dean so efficaciously by the more bitter proponents of the right, there may be a whiff of truth in it, under the surface.

He's a wealthy, white military man. He believed in the war on Iraq, despite his criticism of its praxis. I think there's plenty of room for doubt about his use of non-military (and more important, non-imperialist) strategies in foreiogn relations, and more room than a little regarding his sense of economic wisdom.


A