Defense

John McCain today urged the Bush administration to beef up its pending arms deal with Taiwan by adding F-16s and submarines to the multi-billion-dollar package.

The Bush administration notified Congress last week that it may sell a package of defense systems to the island nation, a move that has been criticized by China. See McCain's statement below:

I welcome reports indicating that the sale of defensive arms to Taiwan -- a package that has been on hold for too long -- will now move forward. By notifying Congress of its intent to provide weapons aimed at bolstering Taiwan's self defense, the administration is taking a step in the right direction. I have long supported such sales in order to strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait and to help preserve the peace. American interests in Asia are well-served through faithful implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, and if I am fortunate enough to be elected President, I will continue the longstanding and close ties between our peoples.

In that spirit, however, I note that the administration has refrained from providing all of the elements requested by Taiwan for its legitimate security requirements. For example, the package will not include submarines or new F-16 aircraft. I urge the administration to reconsider this decision, in light of its previous commitment to provide submarines and America's previous sales of F-16s. These sales -- which could translate into tens of thousands of jobs here at home -- would help retain America's edge in the production of advanced weaponry and represent a positive sign in these difficult economic times.

We should seek cooperative and productive relations with China that proceed in a spirit of confidence, and we should promote the improvement of cross-strait relations. As we do, however, we should understand that the possibility of productive ties between Taiwan and China are enhanced, not diminished, when Taipei speaks from a position of strength. I believe that America should continue to sell defensive weapons to Taiwan in the future, in accordance with its security requirements, and stand by this remarkable free and democratic people.

The Bush administration is expected to notify Congress today that it wants approval to sell a major arms package to Taiwan, according to a congressional staffer. The package is expected to include seven weapons systems but not advanced F-16s.

The notification from the Pentagon and State Department would lift on on ban on the sale of the weapons imposed by the Bush administration before the summer Olympics in China.

The Bush Administration had initially approved arms sales to Taiwan in 2001, but had put off formally notifying Congress of the sale before August's politically sensitive Olympic games. The State Department announced a freeze in congressional notifications for arms sales in June, in hopes it would ease negotiations between Taiwan and Beijing on military maters.

Indications about whether or not a sale would be approved were unclear as late as July, when Admiral Timothy Keating, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command, said there is "no compelling need for at this moment arms sales to Taiwan of the systems that we're talking about," according to Reuters.

-Roxana Tiron, Michael O'Brien

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) took aim at John McCain over Iraq Monday, saying the Arizona senator and longtime military officer's Iraq policy fails to understand the reality of the situation.

Biden said McCain has a "total lack of understanding" and "no notion of what is going on" in Iraq.

"I don't understand anything about John's policy here," Biden said during a conference call with reporters. "I don't know what he is talking about except more of the same."

Biden said McCain's Iraq policy would "prevent" the US military from fighting resurgent al Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan and shows no "larger strategy" to fight terrorism beyond Iraq's border.

In an op-ed in Monday's New York Times, Obama called for a 16 month phased redeployment out of Iraq to free up troops to fight resurgent Taliban and al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan.

Biden called Obama's plan "profoundly right" and said it is "more in line with what our military needs are and what our military thinks."

Barack Obama outlined his views on Iraq in an op-ed published in today's New York Times, saying the United States should seize on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's call for a withdrawal timetable.

The prime minister's call "presents an enormous opportunity," Obama writes. "We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States."

Obama called attention to Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik's prediction that Iraq's army and police forces would be fully manned and operational by mid-2009. Dubik is the top U.S. military official charged with training Iraq's security forces.

The Illinois senator highlighted policy differences between himself and John McCain, and said the reasons he initially opposed the so-called "surge" still hold true: strain on the U.S. military, not enough resources dedicated to Afghanistan, and a failure by Iraqis to reach political accommodation.

Withdrawing combat brigades in 16 months--Obama's longtime schedule for removing troops--would not be a "precipitous withdrawal," Obama said, pointing out that residual forces would be able to carry out missions against al-Qaeda.

As John McCain and Barack Obama flesh out their stances on a wide range of issues this summer, their positions on Iraq separate them most drastically in voters' minds, Rasmussen found.

Americans overwhelmingly say Iraq is the top priority for both candidates, and their goals for Iraq policy are diametrically opposed.

According to Rasmussen, 76 percent of voters think McCain's top priority will be ensuring victory in Iraq; among Democrats, meanwhile, 78 percent think Obama's top priority will be withdrawal.

Barack Obama said Wednesday the threat posed by Iran is "real" and "grave" and promised that if he is elected president he will "do everything in my power to eliminate that threat". He also said the first steps must be diplomatic.

Obama, reacting to news that Iran had successfully test-fired a missile capable of hitting Israel, said the tests "demonstrate once again that we need to change our policy to deal aggressively with the threat posed by the Iranian regime."

"Through its nuclear program, missile capability, meddling in Iraq, support for terrorism, and threats against Israel, Iran now poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States in the region in a generation. Now is the time to work with our friends and allies, and to pursue direct and aggressive diplomacy with the Iranian regime backed by tougher unilateral and multilateral sanctions. It's time to offer the Iranians a clear choice between increased costs for continuing their troubling behavior, and concrete incentives that would come if they change course," Obama said

"As these tests have reaffirmed, the threat from Iran's nuclear program is real and it is grave. As President, I will do everything in my power to eliminate that threat, and that must begin with direct, aggressive, and sustained diplomacy."

Barack Obama says he is willing to "refine" his policies on withdrawing from Iraq after meeting with military commanders during his planned trip to Iraq later this month, The Caucus is reporting.

Obama has pledged to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office, the plan outlined on his website.

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John McCain beat Barack Obama by a margin of 25 percentage points when Gallup asked Americans whether each candidate could handle the responsibilities of commander in chief of the U.S. military.

Gallup reported today that 80 percent think McCain can handle the job, while 55 percent think Obama can.

Obama also faces a disadvantage in negative responses: 40 percent said Obama could not handle the responsibilities of commander in chief, while 17 percent said McCain could not.

Gallup polled 1,625 Americans aged 18 or older June 15-19 for the study.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) and his staff got involved in a physical altercation with a blogger asking the Congressman to clarify a statement made in August 2007 that Democrats during the 2006 midterm election "stretched the facts" in claiming they could end the war in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that from what he has seen, both John McCain and Barack Obama would take a "sensible approach" to Iraq once in office.

"Based on what I read in the newspapers, I think either person who is elected president is going to come in and take a close look at it," Gates said during an interview with CNN.

Despite the wide distance between Obama and McCain on Iraq, Gates said both will heavily weigh the options when approaching the "endgame" in Iraq.

"I've said repeatedly we can't get the endgame wrong. The next president would suffer the greatest consequences if we do get the endgame wrong, so I think whoever's elected is likely to take a fairly sensible approach to it," Gates said.