McCain is also making a broader point. “America must be a model citizen if we want others to look to us as a model. How we behave at home affects how we are perceived abroad. We must fight the terrorists and at the same time defend the rights that are the foundation of our society. We can’t torture or treat inhumanely suspected terrorists we have captured.”

McCain also emphasised his commitment to multilateralism, to separate himself from the widely perceived unilateralism of the Bush Administration. “Our great power”, McCain said, does not mean “we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed. We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies.”

Distancing himself from the Bush Administration’s prolonged neglect of global warming, McCain said, “We need to be good stewards of our planet and join with other nations to help preserve our common home. The risks of global warming have no borders.”

McCain also conceded that America’s policies have alienated much of the opinion in the Islamic world. Saying that military power alone cannot win the war against terror, McCain called for “major changes in how our government faces the challenge of radical Islamic extremism” and stressed the importance of winning the hearts and minds of the moderate Muslims around the world.

India and China

New Delhi never needed much prompting to see the advantages of a McCain presidency including his credentials as a free trader and his warm embrace of India’s democracy. While much of the world is looking for a change in America’s policies, India has good reasons to seek continuity with Bush in Washington’s political commitment to build a strong partnership with New Delhi.

... contd.