War on Terrorism:
McCain primarily identifies terrorism with "violent Islamist extremism," especially as manifested in Al Qaeda. McCain believes Al Qaeda continues to represent a significant threat to U.S. security. His solution includes ensuring quality intelligence, being protected against attack and being able to respond to an attack quickly:
America faces a dedicated, focused, and intelligent foe in the war on terrorism. This enemy will probe tto find America's weaknesses and strike against them. The United States cannot afford to be complacent about the threat, naive about terrorist intentions, unrealistic about their capabilities, or ignorant to our national vulnerabilities.
McCain advocates high tech solutions to increase military capabilities, such as missile defense and other advanced weapons systems, an increase in the size of the U.S. armed forces, and doctrinal change to confront 21st century warfare. Many of his ideas for reform echo those of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and others in the defense establishment who advocate (as McCain does, on his website), "a new mix of military forces, including civil affairs, special operations, and highly mobile forces …"
Also of interest: McCain and Obama on Relations with Iran
War in Iraq
Sen. McCain has been an unyielding supporter of the U.S. war in Iraq and of the continued presence of U.S. troops there. In keeping with the Bush Administration, McCain uses the language of "success" and "failure" to frame his view. He also makes it clear that he sees the war in Iraq as a front in the war on terrorism. His views in the months before the election are consistent with those he held when he first began his campaign in 2007, when he announced at a Des Moines Town Hall that:I know how tough it is for the American people, I know how frustrated Americans are, I understand your frustration … But I also want to tell you that I believe if we fail, the consequences of failure are catastrophic. If we leave Iraq, they are going to follow us home.McCain does not believe that a precise timeline for the removal of troops from Iraq should be supplied. Rather, he supports achieving benchmarks that include defeating Al Qaeda in Iraq, and ensuring that Iraq has a functioning government and economy. McCain also says that the United States should put more pressure on Syria and Iran, claiming they are being far too lax in permitting arms and insurgents to cross Iraqi borders. Regardless of whether troops stay or leave in Iraq, McCain is of the general view that the United States should maintain a visible military presence in the Middle East: "The United States must also bolster its regional military posture to make clear to Iran our determination to protect our forces and deter Iranian intervention."
Homeland Security
McCain issues relatively few statements phrased in terms of the domestic side of homeland security. Rather, he addresses defense issues, the war in Iraq, and the need for using foreign policy and military action globally to maintain national security.
The Arizona senator has played a vocal role in illegal immigration reform, and participated in the "Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future." It recommendations, issued in September 2006, suggested new processes and technologies to monitor U.S. national borders, and the people passing through them.
For more on McCain's views, See:
- Sen. McCain's Civil Liberties Positions (Civil Liberties, Tom Head)
- Sen. McCain's Foreign Policy Positions (U.S. Foreign Policy, Keith Porter)