John McCain
What should be the role of human rights in U.S foreign policy? What should the United States do about human rights violations in places such as Burma, China, Pakistan, and Russia?
McCain believes that concern for human rights must be a significant element of foreign policy and that promoting human rights abroad can serve national interests and is critical to our soft power.
He introduced Senate Joint Resolution 3 with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), which expressed that human rights should be an integral component in relations with the Central Asian countries. This resolution would help insure greater respect for human rights specifically regarding levels of assistance for each government and to ensure that U.S. assistance does not benefit security forces in Central Asia that are implicated in human rights violations.
What should the United States do to stop the genocide in Darfur?
McCain supports a NATO-enforced no-fly zone and has said that the United States should pressure the EU and UN Security Council to impose sanctions on the Sudanese government. He has also said that the United States should publicly remind Sudan that the International Criminal Court can prosecute war crimes and hold individuals accountable.
When, if ever, should the United States engage in military action to stop genocide or ethnic cleansing?
McCain argues that it is a last resort, but that he “can never say that a nation driven by Judeo-Christian principles will only intervene where our interests are threatened because we also have values.”
Should the United States close the prison camp in Guantanamo? If so, what should be done with the prisoners there?
McCain supports closing the prison and holding tribunals for detainees because he doesn’t support indefinite detentions. He has also argued for relocating prisoners to maximum security military prison Fort Leavenworth.
Are there any circumstances for when torture or extreme techniques of interrogation is appropriate?
McCain believes that “enhanced interrogation techniques” constitute “torture” and has passed legislation restricting them—the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005. If a scenario presented itself where “enhanced interrogation” was necessary, McCain has said he would take responsibility for deciding at the time.
Should provisions about labor rights be included in future trade agreements?
In 2000, McCain supported President Clinton’s trade deal with China that would supposedly help China enter the World Trade Organization despite some arguments that doing so would mean China could use its influence to block efforts to include labor protections in future trade agreements. The trade agreement did not require China to improve its performance on human rights or workers rights.
McCain also supported the North America Free Trade Agreement, the Genergal Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the World Trade Organization, and in 2000 believed that a nation’s human rights record should not affect its most-favored-nation status. There is no evidence on his current position regarding MFN status or labor in trade agreements.
How can the United States best promote democracy around the world?
McCain has argued that a “League of Democracies” should be created to tackle issues like Darfur, the AIDS epidemic, and environment by putting pressure on countries with tyrants such as Burma and Zimbabwe. This group could impose sanctions on some countries such as Iran for their nuclear policies, and could support those with struggling democracies such as Serbia. The League of Democracies would not supplant UN, but would complement and provide a forum for discussion. McCain has said that he would “continue to advocate for freedom and democracy and rights for all human beings.”
Position on ICC ratification.
McCain co-authored an article with Bob Dole in The Washington Post regarding Darfur in which he wrote: “We should publicly remind Khartoum that the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes in Darfur and that Sudanese leaders will be held personally accountable for attacks on civilians.” This implies that he does and would support the ICC.
In 2002, was quoted as saying that “the ICC was not set up for countries such as the U.S., but rather to try acts such as those perpetrated by the former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, or the atrocities that happened in Rwanda or elsewhere in the world.” Then in 2005 he was quoted as saying “I want us in the ICC” although he is “not satisfied that there are enough safeguards.”