ninme

The Telegraph - John McCain, Obama and America’s problem

‘Certainly America does need to restore its authority in the world.” If a politician had said this five years ago, we would have assumed that he was anti-American, or at least strongly hostile to the Republican Party. But the comment comes from William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, today.

Really? A Tory? No! I don’t believe it!

In his darkest moments, President Bush - who is not a stupid or unreflective man - must realise this. Supporters and opponents of the Iraq invasion agree that the post-war reconstruction of the country was botched by operational ineptitude and neo-con ideology.

Uh huh.

Interestingly, Mr Hague sees a McCain-Obama contest as an opportunity to “elevate American politics in the eyes of the world”.

Oh, what joy shall be mine.

He is surely right. John McCain and Barack Obama took (and take) very different positions on Iraq. But the heroic war record of one and the voting record of the other mean that both can command the respect of a disillusioned American public; the more slippery Hillary Clinton - whom Mr Hague significantly does not mention - will find it much harder to elevate the tone of the debate.

One caveat should be borne in mind. America’s reputation has been dented not only by its mistakes but also by a savage campaign of misrepresentation by its enemies. Whoever wins the presidential election must fight against a barrage of anti-American lies; Mr Hague should help them do so.

Hah!