Sen. John McCain, carefully distancing himself from President Bush and seeking to sound a moderate tone, called Wednesday for stronger ties with allies and cautioned that American power "does not mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want."
In his first major foreign policy speech since becoming the presumptive GOP nominee, McCain told the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles that to end terrorism and pacify Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States must lead by "attracting others to our cause" and "defending the rules of international civilized society."
The speech showed McCain in a political pivot as he emerges from a Republican primary battle and looks ahead to a general election campaign in which he must win over independents and moderates. In his primary addresses, McCain has frequently accused Democrats of waving "the white flag of surrender" on Iraq and of lacking the resolve necessary to forcefully confront Iran.
By contrast, his address Wednesday at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel omitted such strong language and instead tapped themes meant to appeal to moderates and potential Democratic crossover voters.
He said the government should close its prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and "work with our allies to forge a new international understanding" on how to treat detainees. He said Americans needed to be "good stewards of our planet," and urged steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Recalling his military experience -- and that of his father and grandfather, who were admirals -- McCain declared: "I detest war. . . . It is wretched beyond all description." When Americans believe military or diplomatic action is needed, he said, "we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we in return must be willing to be persuaded by them."
He said the struggle against terrorism was not primarily about military force, but instead about winning over moderate Muslims through development aid, diplomacy and trade.
Though McCain's speech did not contain his toughest language, there were unmistakable references to beliefs that long have made the Republican senator from Arizona an attractive figure to neoconservatives. He called the confrontation with Islamic militancy "the transcendent challenge of our time," and said the nation's security in the future could not be assured through "passive" defensive measures.
