Obama's Foreign Policy Focus

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who is busy with formulating a new blueprint for future U.S. foreign policy, promised on Monday that he will move the focus of the United States from Iraq to Pakistan’s tribal regions where Al Qaeda’s hiding places are. However, his Republican opponent John McCain scoffed at this point by saying, “I know how to win this war in Iraq.” As Obama prepares to visit the Middle East and Europe next week, his ability to serve as the U.S. Military’s Commander in Chief will be tested. And the robust debate between him and McCain will rise to a new height.

Obama reiterated his determination to evacuate most U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months after he takes office. He also made another promise that if Pakistan does not want to crack down the Al Qaeda strength on its territory, the United States is willing to “give a hand” to ensure the safety of Pakistani nuclear weapons and change the battle situation.

McCain rejected this argument. He said that Obama’s opposition against deploying additional American troops in Iraq was “wrong,” and that, “Evacuation would destroy all our accomplishments.” He also criticized Obama’s Pakistan strategy as “boasting.”

In New Mexico, McCain said, “Today we know that Senator Obama is wrong. Sending more troops to Iraq proved to be successful. And because of the success, when the new president takes over, the situation in Iraq will be the enemy scattering.”

In addition, all three national polls announced on the 15th showed that Obama maintained his leading edge on the “White House battle.” But voters are still more confident in McCain’s leadership ability over Obama when facing major crises as the U.S. president.

There are less than four months left from the November 4 presidential election. Obama is leading 6-8 percentage points in the survey from three pairs of registered sources─ “Washington Post” / ABC survey results 50% over McCain’s 42%, Quinnipiac 44% over 37%, CBS / “New York Times” survey found it 45% over 39%.

However, the survey results also show that white voters like McCain more than African-American Obama, while the rising number of undecided voters joining the presidential election also increases the variables. Poll research center director of Quinnipiac University Carroll said, “Senator Obama has the lead, but this advantage is not solid as rock.”