20 March 2008 - John McCain's trip to Israel

John McCain hit all the right notes on his trip to Israel, as part of his “fact-finding” tour of the Middle East. He got a rock-star welcome in Jerusalem, said the right things about Hamas and Iran, and even gave Mahmoud Abbas the benefit of the doubt. What I like most, however, is that he told Arab leaders about his solid support for Israel in a way few American—much less Israeli—politicians would dare to do:

Ha’aretz reports:

Before his arrival in Israel on Tuesday, McCain said he supports Israel's claim to Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state. He told reporters in Jordan: "I support Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."

In terms of winning friends and respect for America abroad, I think McCain’s forthrightness achieves much more than the contrition of Pelosi and the Democrats.