by Ann Nurse

Created on: August 17, 2008   Last Updated: September 16, 2008

What would be the most dramatic difference, in terms of U.S. foreign policy, between a President John McCain and a President Barack Obama?

Foreign policy is a major issue for us in this election. We woke up to a real "3:00 a.m." scenario being played out with Russia invading Georgia after President Bush said he was able to look into eyes of Putin and determine him to be someone he could trust.

This situation produced a stark contrast in the way the two candidates would deal with a crisis. McCain was more aggressive. Here is what Senator McCain had to say.

"The news reports that Russian military forces crossed an internationally recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory"The government of Georgia has called for a ceasefire and for a resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators."

This statement is confrontational, if nothing else. If they were afraid of what America thought about them invading Georgia, it's obvious they would not have been there in the first instance.

Obama's response was more in line with other world leader wanting to find some point of resolution diplomatically. The point seems to indicate one candidate; John McCain a military hero with combat experience believes the solution to aggression is to fight it out.
Obama, who has no military experience but believes in the power of persuasion, is more prone to seeking resolution to aggression with diplomacy first. Obama was on vacation but here is what he had to say.

" I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict. Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restrain, and to avoid an escalation to full-scale war. Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected. All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia, and the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis."

Since candidate McCain has Sarah Palin as the other half of his ticket more enthusiasm has been generated but less information as to exactly what they plan to do if/when they get into the White House. The economy has become fearful, the stock market is not good and job losses are increasing. Americans want answers. Republicans say Obama is nothing but rhetoric but they are not offering anything

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