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The best of all possible presidents
By Amir Oren
Tags: george bush, ehud barak 

When their helicopter takes off tomorrow for a tour of Israel from the sky, Senator John McCain and Defense Minister Ehud Barak will hope it is a rerun of the 1998 precedent: a flight over Israel by then-governor George W. Bush, who later went on to win the presidency. He was with his host, then-foreign minister Ariel Sharon, who became prime minister (with the help of Barak and his permit for Sharon to ascend the Temple Mount).

American voters (such selfish types) are also concerned with issues of economy and society, spirit and atmosphere, which may tip the balance in favor of whoever becomes the Democratic candidate, whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. But as far as Israel is concerned, and in view of the candidates' current positions - no one is better than McCain. The Republican candidate is clearly more qualified than his rivals to be commander in chief - in theory of the American armed forces only, but in practice also of the international alliance against radical states and terrorist organizations. McCain has a deep understanding of the region's strategic problems and publicly supports a nuclear deterrent for Israel.

McCain visited Israel many times as part of Congressional delegations. His first visit was in 1979, when he was not yet an elected official, but a Navy captain, the Navy's liaison officer to the Senate. At the time, he was accompanying Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson. Israelis, whether out of laziness or arrogance, do not often follow a well-known Washington rule: It is always worth investing even in the low-level members of a delegation accompanying a VIP - the executive assistant, the policy adviser or the escort officer - because at some point they will rise in the ranks of the armed forces, civil service or Congress, and they will remember the treatment they received when they were junior in rank.
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Jackson was considered the archetype of a friend of Israel, both for security reasons and because of his values. McCain is the first of the Jackson school of thought to come near the White House. When he was awarded the Henry "Scoop" Jackson Distinguished Service Award by JINSA (the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs) in fall 2006, McCain described himself as "pro-American and pro-Israeli," two terms he does not believe are contradictory. At the time, he described the Hamas government as a "terrorist syndicate," called for the disarmament of Hezbollah, and expressed his reservations about pro-American despots in the Middle East. About a month later, in Tel Aviv, during a discussion with a team of officials headed by Barak's predecessor, Amir Peretz, McCain declared that he was not in the Saudis' pocket.

With regard to the diplomatic process, the next president will follow the current path; if Obama is tempted to diverge sharply and imitate Jimmy Carter, he will encounter opposition. The differences among the candidates must be sought in the field of strategy. In that, McCain's advantage is clear and unequivocal. While Obama and Hillary kept silent, and years before they entered politics, McCain dared speak out - not only against an Iranian nuclear capability, but also in favor of an Israeli one. In essence, McCain seeks both to prevent nuclear proliferation and grant Israel an exemption from this regime; he calls it "a special status."

In a conference call with Major General (res.) Aharon Yariv and his colleagues at the Jaffee Center in 1990, McCain developed the following argument: He supports arms control, which depends on peace, which Israel is seeking. But Israel can only achieve a peace treaty if it feels that its existence is secure. This sense of security depends on a powerful deterrent, or on the knowledge that there is no danger of weapons of mass destruction being used against Israel, because regional threats have been reduced though an arms control regime that includes verification and inspection. McCain favors measures to limit nuclear proliferation, but on condition that they minimize the threat and cost of war.

"I do not wish to join those who speculate whether Israel has nuclear weapons or is designing long-range missiles," McCain said at the time, but "arms control measures must recognize Israel's strategic isolation and the fact that Israel exists in an area where it can fully join an arms control regime once it is clear that all other states in the Middle East will fully comply with such a regime and that Israel's survival will not be dependent on such a deterrent." The knowledge that his views would "irritate many Arab friends of the U.S." did not bother him.

McCain does not require an explanation of the linkage between progress on the diplomatic track, which involves withdrawal from the territories, and ensuring Israel's strategic strength. As president, he would certainly reaffirm Bill Clinton's commitment to Benjamin Netanyahu at the Wye Plantation conference (which was followed by Clinton's commitment to Barak and that of Bush to Sharon) on "enhancing Israel's defensive and deterrent capabilities" - a code for having become reconciled to Israel's alleged nuclear capabilities.

Should the Syrian track be revived during the next administration, the idea of a defense alliance between Israel and the U.S. may be raised again to sweeten the pill of evacuating the Golan Heights. Clinton wrote in his memoirs that he agreed to this when it was raised. Of course, such a contractual agreement would limit Israel's freedom of action, but not much more than is the case today, when the government does not move without American permission. In the difficult situations that lie ahead for Israel, it would be to its advantage for the White House to be occupied by a man like John McCain.
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  1.   There is a "little problem" with Amir Orens "security-theory".... 10:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 18/03/08
  2.   Bad translation to English. Seems somewhat inarticulate. 12:36  |  Pavel 18/03/08
  3.   McCain 12:47  |  Goldberg 18/03/08
  4.   McCain is indeed best for Israel 12:48  |  Deborah 18/03/08
  5.   Natural 12:54  |  Eric WIlson 18/03/08
  6.   WAS BUSH GOOD FOR ISRAEL?... LET`S THINK ABOUT THIS FIRST! 12:54  |  TripleJump 18/03/08
  7.   Whoever Israel favors, is the worst candidate for America 12:55  |  Danny 18/03/08
  8.   MCCAIN`S PSYCHE OF THE WAR 13:00  |  indrajaya 18/03/08
  9.   "GOLDBERG" Sure they do not hate the USA generically? 13:03  |  PETER SM 18/03/08
  10.   MOSHIACH NOW! MCAIN-WIN,BARACK LOSE,DON`T PLAY WITH EHUD BARAQ! 13:05  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 18/03/08
  11.   McCain is bad for the world community! 13:22  |  lakshmi 18/03/08
  12.   INDRAJAYA he knows the limits of war and has fought like a man 13:23  |  PETER SM 18/03/08
  13.   Senator McCain Has My Vote 13:47  |  Jeff Northridge 18/03/08
  14.   Are you sure Danny ? 13:52  |  Christian Nielsen 18/03/08
  15.   Correct as far as it goes 13:55  |  Shalom Freedman 18/03/08
  16.   Iakshmi # 11 McCain Is Not Running For Secretary General 14:47  |  Jeff Northridge 18/03/08
  17.   It really doesn`t matter 14:47  |  natan 18/03/08
  18.   "Best friends" 15:34  |  Rifky 18/03/08
  19.   But Hillary will do everything Israel wants! 15:37  |  Tosefta 18/03/08
  20.   "Best friends" 15:45  |  Rufky 18/03/08
  21.   indrajaya # 8 McCain`s Psyche 15:49  |  Jeff Northridge 18/03/08
  22.   Of course, the more reactionary best for israel 15:52  |  Babidu 18/03/08
  23.   # 3 Goldberg.....Islamists hate everybody 16:05  |  Lynn 18/03/08
  24.   McCain 16:05  |  Gary Schwartz 18/03/08
  25.   # 11 lakshmi.......you should really keep quiet 16:08  |  Lynn 18/03/08
  26.   # 8 INDY....Please keep up your rhetoric 16:23  |  Lynn 18/03/08
  27.   McCain & Oren Know Basic Fact 16:45  |  Paul 18/03/08
  28.   Unfortunately Mc Cain is homophobic and hates Palestinians 17:12  |  Yaakov SUllivan 18/03/08
  29.   No Doubt About it - But Just Watch, US Jews Will Vote for Obama 17:21  |  Tod Zuckerman 18/03/08
  30.   WITH MCCAIN THE WORLD IS SAFER 17:23  |  VOTE FOR MCCAIN 18/03/08
  31.   25 Lynn,I gather you are a Clinton supporter! 17:31  |  lakshmi 18/03/08
  32.   WITH MCCAIN THE WORLD IS SAFER 17:32  |  USA 18/03/08
  33.   The only way that McCain can win 17:41  |  Voice of Reason 18/03/08
  34.   Americans well aware who provides democracy!! 17:44  |  Susan 18/03/08
  35.   Americans stand for freedom as does Israel!! 17:57  |  Todd 18/03/08
  36.   Will the democrats side with Israel??? 18:02  |  Holly 18/03/08
  37.   McCain is a typical right wing war monger 18:21  |  Natallie Durson 18/03/08
  38.   PERSONALLY, I LIKE McCAIN TO WIN TO FINISH OFF JOB OF BUSH 18:22  |  TripleJump 18/03/08
  39.   # 26, LYNN 18:25  |  indrajaya 18/03/08
  40.   who the hell is lakshmi 18:26  |  Ramesh 18/03/08
  41.   Keeping Iraq safe for Iran 18:26  |  MichaelF 18/03/08
  42.   McCain groveling as an art 18:52  |  Fed up 18/03/08
  43.   US Jews take note 19:05  |  Petru 18/03/08
  44.   He will drag Israel into war Israel will be powerless to stop 19:06  |  Pablo B 18/03/08
  45.   America`s sole `friend` 19:23  |  Goldberg 18/03/08
  46.   McCain? Are you kidding? 19:24  |  Salonius 18/03/08
  47.   Supporting McCain 19:33  |  Steve 18/03/08
  48.   BUSH-SECRET AGENT FOR MOSHIACH TO RULE AND BETTER THE WORLD)))) 19:39  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 18/03/08
  49.   The anti-Semitic anti-Zionist left 19:50  |  Petru 18/03/08
  50.   McCain`s Record On War 20:14  |  Deanne 18/03/08
  51.   Isreal Security and Obama 20:17  |  Rob Littell 18/03/08
  52.   Why not Obama? 20:23  |  Joe 18/03/08
  53.   # 52, JOE 20:32  |  indrajaya 18/03/08
  54.   Take Rev. Wright`s Mid-East IQ Test 20:34  |  Daniel 18/03/08
  55.   53Indrajaya,Obama just gave a remarkable 21:19  |  lakshmi 18/03/08
  56.   Amir Oren on John Mc Cain 22:34  |  Elliott Miller 18/03/08
  57.   # 47 Steve of Brooklyn..... 22:42  |  Lynn 18/03/08
  58.   #14 McCain cares about Israel because 22:48  |  George 18/03/08
  59.   # 53 INDY....what a racist you are 22:52  |  Lynn 18/03/08
  60.   What a refreshing difference 22:56  |  Jonathan S 18/03/08
  61.   BUSH GOOD FOR ISRAEL BUT HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE GAZA MASSCRE 23:03  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 18/03/08
  62.   #57 Lynn---because Steve knows that Israel 23:13  |  George 18/03/08
  63.   Israel`s favorite US presidents 23:42  |  Galuteus Maximus 18/03/08
  64.   Voice of reason.McCain is a seasoned politician a big plus 23:47  |  PETER SM 18/03/08
  65.   the best news here that the usual suspects are all anti mcain 23:55  |  v hardman 18/03/08
  66.   LAKSHMI.IF you are hoping Mr Obama will give Islamists a free 00:08  |  PETER SM 19/03/08
  67.   INDRAJAYA.how many non Moslem Presidential candidates in Indonesi 00:19  |  PETER SM 19/03/08
  68.   too little, too late, danny 00:19  |  hollingsworth 19/03/08
  69.   McCain and Israel 01:12  |  Noel Hadjimichael 19/03/08
  70.   #55 Obama is a Poverty Pimp