(NAME-MCE) McCain called for a multicultural education for American armed forces.

[Bill Howe]

 McCain seeks to revitalize American foreign policy
 By Amanda Shell <http://tnjn.com/staff/ashell5/>
published: March 11 2008 09:48 PM updated:: March 12 2008 10:23 AM

John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, can claim
considerable experience in international affairs.  He has spent the greater
part of 30 years in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

He dealt with international issues in the Senate Armed Services Committee
and the Senate Committee on Commerce.  A distinguished naval officer, McCain
served in international postings and was imprisoned in a Vietnamese
prisoner-of-war camp for five years.

"Being a great power does not mean that we can do whatever we want whenever
we want," McCain said in an article from Foreign Affairs magazine.  "Nor
should we assume that we have all the wisdom, knowledge, and resources
necessary to succeed."

Today, understanding foreign cultures is not a luxury but a strategic
necessity. John McCainMcCain emphasized the need to rebuild relationships
with international allies.  He expressed disappointment over the
deterioration of the Transatlantic Partnership.  America should embrace the
new confident European Union and partner with it to form international
policy.

McCain's plan also includes an increased presence in Asia.  He plans to
support Japan and increase ties with China.

China's sudden rise in power will be an issue for the next president, McCain
said.  China is not necessarily an enemy, but must be required to be
internationally responsible and follow sanctions.

The war on terror presents another issue for presidential hopefuls.  McCain
supports the war in Iraq, but acknowledges that it was mishandled.  He will
not withdraw troops until the country is stable.  He criticizes his
opponents' plan to pull out of Iraq saying it would inevitably fail and
cause greater problems in the Middle East.

"Iran presents a great threat to national security," said McCain.  Tougher
sanctions must be applied.  McCain states action must be taken with or
without United Nations support and military action cannot be taken off the
table.

"Today, understanding foreign cultures is not a luxury but a strategic
necessity," McCain said.

McCain called for a multicultural education for American armed forces.  He
claimed all service academies should require studying abroad. A new program
in civilian and military schools would teach key languages such as Arabic,
Chinese, Farsi and Pashto, McCain proposed.

He would also create an Army Advisory Corps of 20,000 soldiers to partner
with militaries abroad. America's military must become more global.

"Our organizations and partnerships must be as international as the
challenges we confront," McCain said.

Perhaps his most visionary new idea, McCain plans to create a League of
Democracies.  This organization would not take the place of the United
Nations, said McCain.  It would be a like-minded coalition of countries to
relieve human suffering in Darfur, help solve the AIDS epidemic in Africa,
globally organize environmental actions and protect struggling democracies.
The League of Democracies would act where the United Nations fails, McCain
said.

One of McCain's goals in the international realm would be to eradicate
malaria in Africa.  This disease, which has been eliminated in most parts of
the world, is the No. 1 killer of children under the age of five in Africa.
McCain also believes America is not taking sufficient action to stop the
atrocities in Darfur.

McCain said the international image of America must be improved.  Polls
indicate that the United States is more unpopular now than at any time in
history.  The country is viewed as only pursuing its own interests.  McCain
will implement his foreign policy programs in an attempt to increase the
standing and reputation of the United States around the world.
Editor: Amanda Wills <http://tnjn.com/staff/awills2/>



-- 
Bill Howe
Web - http://www.billhowe.org
Blog - Travel - http://billhowe.org/BillBlog/
Blog - Multicultural Education - http://billhowe.org/MCE/

**Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC) - http://apaact.com/
**New England Conference on Multicultural Education - http://www.necme.org