McCain Campaign Memo on Obama's Foreign Policy

All: Please see this memo highlighting three prevailing myths about Barack Obama's foreign policy. The myths work to Obama's benefit, are indeed propagated by his campaign at times, but have no real basis in fact.

To:       Interested Parties

From:   Randy Scheunemann, Senior Foreign Policy Adviser

Date:    July 25, 2008

Re:       The Barack Obama Foreign Policy Myths

In the past few days, Barack Obama has been trying to alter the reality of international developments to the benefit of his political campaign. Please find below the key Obama myths from this week.

MYTH: Barack Obama Claims People Have Adopted His Unconditional Timetable For Withdrawal From Iraq

FACT: John McCain, our military commanders and the Iraqi government agree that our troops should come home based upon conditions on the ground – not the unconditional timetable Barack Obama supports. Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain believes our troops should come home with honor and victory. Barack Obama's support for an unconditional timetable has led to an "open disagreement" with our military commanders. Even Iraqi leaders believe our troops should leave depending upon conditions on the ground. The only one advocating an arbitrary, unconditional timetable is Barack Obama. Everyone but Barack Obama agrees that a withdrawal dictated purely by politics invites chaos and the possibility that our troops would have to return.

MYTH: Barack Obama Claims The United States Has Adopted His Policy Of Unconditional, Presidential-Level Meetings With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

FACT: Barack Obama's policy of unconditional, presidential-level summits between himself and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad undermines the current multilateral efforts between the U.S., our European allies and Iran. As they have been for years, the U.S. and our European allies are engaged in diplomatic talks with Iran and John McCain supports these multilateral efforts. Barack Obama's stated policy of meeting unconditionally with leaders like Ahmadinejad undermines these efforts. As The Washington Post reported, our European allies "are uncomfortable" with Barack Obama's unconditional pledge believing that grants unilateral concessions to Iran and undermines multilateral diplomacy.  If Barack Obama is truly interested in listening to our allies, he will have to address these concerns.

MYTH: Barack Obama Claims Others Have Adopted His Strategy For Afghanistan

FACT: John McCain has long supported adding troops in Afghanistan and been in favor of the successful counterinsurgency strategy that Barack Obama continues to oppose. The situation in Afghanistan is about more than just about troops.  We need to adopt and adapt the tactics and strategy that were behind the surge's success in Iraq – opposed by Barack Obama.  Without employing the strategy, tactics and unity of command that turned Iraq around, increased troop levels in Afghanistan will not result in the same improvement we saw in Iraq.