A decade after Sept. 11, 2001, one of Congress’ most respected voices on defense predicted that the United States will not engage in another full-scale war in the Middle East any time soon.
“I don’t think American public opinion would stand for it,” Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Mr. McCain said the nation has developed new ways to battle terrorism, such as increased use of special forces and targeted strikes from the air.
But Mr. McCain stressed that the U.S. may have to conduct limited operations in places such as Yemen and Somalia, which have become breeding grounds for al Qaeda and other extremist groups.
Despite the unlikelihood of another all-out war, he said, the nation must never “lead from behind” and should continue to be a force for good across the globe.
“The fact is, there is a perception in the world, rightly or wrongly, that the United States is in decline and that we are in many ways withdrawing to fortress America,” Mr. McCain said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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