John McCain concludes his trip to the Middle East and Europe on Sunday. It was heralded as a great move--a huge opportunity for him, given that his opponents are still locked in a primary fight. By traveling the world, John McCain could do what he does best: demonstrate his foreign policy leadership skills to America and the world.
The trip clearly demonstrated what we could expect from a President McCain. It was supposed to be an international tour de force; instead it was an international tour de farce. At a time when America's credibility in the world is at historic lows, this is not what we need from a potential President.
The repeated "gaffe" confusing Shia and Sunni, labeling Purim as the Jewish "version of Halloween" and expected protests in France send a clear message about what America could expect from a McCain presidency.
He has demonstrated an inability to effectively serve as America's face to the world. John McCain has a history of less than desirable remarks in the foreign policy arena: Bomb, Bomb Iran, and generalizing Arabs as al Qaeda who just want to trade burkas for one way tickets, to name a few.
Clearly John McCain's failures in this trip were much more than an isolated set of mistakes. It spoke to the larger issue of John McCain's lack of foreign policy judgement.