President Bush, Barack Obama, John McCain: The same foreign policy?

Some say that U.S. foreign policy under President Bush in his second term has evolved to the point that it looks much like the foreign policy put forward by Barack Obama.

Others argue that Obama has moved closer to John McCain.

Whichever it is, there may be evolving a convergence on the subject of ... convergence.

News media outlets as diverse as the Washington Post, the Weekly Standard and the U.S.-German website Across the Pond are all taking note.

To one degree or another, they found at least a smidgen of commonality in various elements of the Obama-McCain-Bush foreign policies, whether involving their response to the Georgian-Russian war, deadlines (or the "time horizon" in the Bush administration's parlance) for troop withdrawals from Iraq, high-level diplomatic negotiations with Iran and North Korea, or the need, as the Washington Post wrote, "to shift troops and other resources from Iraq to Afghanistan."

Here, in summary, is what they found:

The Washington Post noted "an Obama presidency might look a bit like Bush's second."

On a range of major foreign policy issues over the past year, Bush has pursued strategies and actions very much along the lines of what Sen. Obama has advocated during his presidential race, according to the Illinois Democrat's campaign and many diplomatic and security experts.

The conservative Weekly Standard observed that in the days after the Russian-Georgian clash last month, Obama "began to sound more like ... McCain."

Every so often he would emerge from his vacation digs in Hawaii and ratchet up the rhetoric.

And Across the Pond found that it was Bush who was coming to sound something like Obama:

On Iraq, on meeting with controversial foreign leaders, and most recently, on conducting operations inside Pakistan without its permission to go after Al Qaeda.

--James Gerstenzang

Photo of President Bush and President John Kufuor of Ghana, today at the White House: Carol T. Powers / Bloomberg News

Comments

[Matthew Dickinson]

Smart article!

[windycityatty]

You know who else has been noticing the same thing? Every RON PAUL supporter who sees right through this two party charade.

Listen to me californians - -i know barack obama from his days in the IL government. He is just another politician, only he lies better. Mark my words. HE IS THE SAME.

If you want change, vote all the incumbents in washington out. Vote 3rd party. Vote for anyone other than McCain or Obama. 5 tours in Iraq and Obama says... do three more in afghanistan!! END ALL WARS NOW. Bring all troops home NOW.

[Chris]

That's it? Offer a little more depth as to why they sound similar. For instance, the reason Bush sounded like Obama is due to Obama's remarks several months ago that he would favor US intervention in Pakistan without permission if evidence of Al Qaeda was found. Its nice that you've shown us the What, but I want the How of it too.

[C Loudermilk]

"Some Say" that the Foreign Policy Stances of Bush, McCain and Obama are beginning to converge. Some Say.

I say that there is a very real and important difference. Yes, it is about time that the Bush Administration begins to recognize that their "shoot first and ask questions later approach" has gotten us into an awful, ongoing mess. Yes, it is about time that both Bush and McCain, our biggest war addicts, begin to recognize that the American People are weary of their costly power games.

The big difference between Bush, McCain and Obama is one of world perception. Bush has wasted every bit of honor and decency that the American People have long stood for. Millions around the world see us as bullies and self-centered, not to mention just plain mean. McCain will be nothing but a continuation of this horrible train wreck of a war and aggressive foreign policy. Anyone who watched the Republican "we can't wait to fight em" convention knows that McCain's only claim to fame is his unfortunate war experience in a war that had nothing to do with protecting our freedom (Iraq Occupation?). Knowing this, why should we expect America to return to a peaceful coexistence with the rest of the world under the war hawk McCain?

Obama is our only chance at a new beginning. His election will be a signal to the rest of the world that our country, you and I, have returned to our senses and wish to live in peace rather than in war.

If you want more war, vote for John McCain and his rabid running mate. If you want to move forward toward peace, Obama and Biden are our best and possibly last chance.

Judgment may triumph over experience after all.. not to say Mr. Obama is right on everything, but at least he manages to come away sounding priescient almost every time.

Iraq War = diversion of troops away from Afghanistan and the real war on terror.
What does Bush do? Announce a timetable of withdrawal, so does the Iraqi president. Takes out almost 8000 troops and redeploys several to Afghanistan

[Ernie]

If Obama's foreign Policy is close to the President's Policy... Where is the change Obama is touting??

[Tom]

What a useless post. Talking about what other people are talkking about. Grand. Nice contribution. There is no substance in this "piece" at all. Must be nice to get paid to copy and paste other peoples' ideas. Weak.

[John afradi]

Unless, Obama speaks out against Israel and her oppressed policies, he is not recommending any changes in the Bush-McCain foreign policy which has made little Bin Laden to Monster Bin Laden inviting Ariel Sharon 3-times to the White House and allowing him to carry out genocide of Palestinians without any fear or shame at the cost of the USA, totally ignoring Arafat. Because of this policy, Bin Laden has acted hurridly to carry out the 9/11 AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM BORN. Bush -cheney and McCain did not use the solidiraity of the world to use that war on terrorism on Bin Laden but to get Iraqi oil, mis-used against Iraq and Iraqi people. To make Muslim world to stop hating America, Obama must look in his own eyes and be a rational, just, fair and humane President rather than a puppet of Jewish lobbies here and abraod like Bush and McCain.

[Ira]

Excellent post, but you might want to caption the photo. As is, it looks a bit peculiar simply under that headline.

[Observer]

Except we know that McCain way [lies] is just plain dirty; straightforwardly DIRTY!

[Douglas McDouglas]

Their policies are bound to be the same because they are controlled by the same groups and advisors: neocons, neoliberals, the Council on Foreign Relations, and AIPAC/the Israel Lobby. Obama belongs to them, just as much as McCain. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Yes, Ron Paul was right. Vote Third Party, and deny them their "mandate". Both the Republican and Democratic Parties are ripe for disintegration.

[Smily]

What it doesn't say is that Bush only recently flip-flopped on his positions on Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan after Obama had put forward these alternatives. They weren't his own ideas. Bush is concerned about his legacy and will try anything to be more popular. Obama hasn't diverged from his positions - which were derided as naive not that long ago. Maybe the Republicans are hoping that if they copy Obama's ideas enough people won't be able to distinguish between them any more and will then get back to worrying about which animal looks better in lipstick.
Pitbulls or pigs. Hmm.

[Archie haase]

US policy towards the world has to change. If it does not there is going to a war and the US will not win this one. The biggest war the US will fight is the war it is fighting now with itself. That is the war the media created. between the right and the left. We have big or huge very huge problems inside the United States, and as long as this war is a media generated war about sex and guns and god we will lose the even larger war of being able to compete on all plains (economic and military) with the rest of the world..

[Matt]

Is this actually a surprise to people? That these candidates all promote perpetual war? Stop being a lemming and vote third party or the country will continue to sink. What do you got to lose when the 2 major candidates are saying the same thing?

[tlhwraith]

This seems just a devious way to make no dileanation between McCain/Bush/GOP and Obama. This fits in nicely with McCains post convention attempt at transforming himself into a "change" candidate and seems right out of Karl Roves playbook, turn an enemies strength (Obamas criticism of foreign policy) into a weakness (Obama is no different than the others).

The key to this entire he-said-she-said trivial piece is the understanding that Bushs about-face in policy is very recent and he did it fighting every step of the way. McCain, well we all know at this point he will say whatever he thinks will get him elected.

Wow, what a piece of propoganda this "article" is.

[When Elephants Fly]

Comments welcome: http://whenelephantsfly.blogspot.com

Except Bush created a mess where there is more anti-American sentiment abroad than ever before. If you want to keep America safe, creating enemies is not a smart way to do it. Overall, the economy has been spiraling out of control because of the Republican administration, and not only does McCain offer more of the same, but he will squeeze every last penny out of the middle class so that his wife can buy some more $300,000 earings. McCain puts a bigger tax burden on the middle class while ensuring that his cronies get huge cuts. And McCain also has a hidden tax on the benefits from employer health care plans. So, if you are at any risk of needing medical care or if you have a special needs child, you can watch your bank account empty out.

Any working class person who votes McCain in will be living in poverty in a few years. And McCain will do squat for those interested in banning abortion, gay marriage, etc., just like his predecessor George Bush did squat.

Comments welcome: http://whenelephantsfly.blogspot.com

[J Cline]

Of course Obama and Bush sound the same -- that's because they are both aware of the reality that you don't pull out of an active theater of war without safeguards in place. Iraq is getting better, but that just means we'll have to switch emphasis to Afghanistan.

Jeez, it's mindboggling how naive these Obamabots are. As if changing the face in the Oval Office would make any difference to the necessity to carry on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama obviously knows it, but he'll tell the surrender monkey crowd whatever they want to hear. Democarps just want to see the world as they wish it to be, not AS IT IS.

[Christian]

Lets quit this two-party business. Libertarian Party. Look at it! It needs attention. All Americans can find what they need in it. Look at their website and find true hope and change. America needs it.

[STILTON]

Keep dreaming

[pk17]

How utterly useless. It reminds me of when FOX News presents so-called stories after the statements, "Some people claim..." Thanks, iGoogle - I hardly call this a top story, much less news.

[O]

They may sound the same to some but any business owner can tell you that their business is affected differently depending on who is the current president. For instance, at the moment our business is doing well but everytime that a democrat comes in profits go down so much it's not even worth working. My vote is McCain but if Obama is president, I plan to retire. What's the point in working if you won't be making anything from it?

[spinnikerca]

It isn't just Bush and McCain coming towards Obama, it is Obama showing that his words were just rhetoric.

Don't blame me, I voted for Ron Paul.

Now, in Callifornia, unless RP files to have write in votes counted, you will have to vote for a principled third party that actually plans a noninterventionist foreign policy.

It will be my first time ever voting third party this year. We need to take advantage of our choices, or we don't really have choices at all.

simply go back and look at what bush and mcsame were espousing eighteen months ago. then look at what obama said a year ago. to suggest the obama is following bush's foreign policy is absurd. at least i feel comfortable that obama would exercise diplomacy and try to heal the wounds that the republicans have so badly opened over the last years. i still struggle with the notion that a person with a military background is better at foreign relations or can push the button any better than a person who does not have the background. i think it comes down to who you surround yourself with. dubya flunked that one big time. roger

[Tim W.]

I think that, regardless of who you vote for or who wins, the vast majority of America (including some of the rich) will probably become impoverished in the next four years. (Some of) the rest of the world has leaders who are much more evil in nature than in our country and will go out of their way to take America down a peg or two.

I personally believe that Obama would further enable foreign powers to fleece normal Americans, though the foreign countries may reward us temporarily for being traitors to our own best interests.

Conversely, McCain would work for the interests of the average American, but foreign powers and the liberal elite would seeth with so much anger at his election that one or the other would find a way to sabotage our economy/security.

So I guess you can either vote with principles and get slammed economically, or you can vote traitorously and get slammed economically - your choice.

Re: McCain not being able to implement change - this may actually be true, McCain may not be able to implement the broad change needed, but Palin just might be fresh enough and have enough perseverance to do so.

[I can't believe I just waste my time reading this garbage]

Unbelievable.