John McCain on David Cameron

30 September 2006

In this exclusive interview, the Republican presidential front-runner tells Matthew d’Ancona why he is speaking at the Conservative conference, and says that Cameron has the youth, exuberance and determination to be a Tory JFK

When I arrive, it is Sen. Graham who greets me first, breaking off from minute-by-minute tactical discussions with his mentor and friend. An aide whispers to me that ‘a deal is very close’ — as indeed proves to be the case later in the day, with White House and rebels naturally claiming that the ‘clarification’ is to their advantage.

On such issues, Sen. McCain — who holds the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and many other honours — speaks with huge moral authority, having been subjected to the most appalling torture himself while in captivity. In 1968 his Vietnamese captors offered him early release: his father was by then Commander-in-Chief of all US military forces in the Pacific, and ‘Mac Kane’ was nicknamed the ‘Crown Prince’ by his guards.

He knew, however, how bad it would be for American morale if he accepted the offer.

The Code of Conduct for American Prisoners of War imposed a ‘first in, first out’ rule upon prisoners. As McCain writes in his memoir, Faith of My Fathers, ‘its principles remained the most important allegiance of our lives’. He turned down the offer, with predictably horrific consequences. To this day, he cannot comb his hair unaided, so badly damaged were his arms by the continual beating, torture ropes and lack of proper medical attention.

Sen. McCain’s position on the war is that of an unwavering hawk who nonetheless believes that the methods of the present administration are unsustainable, and will make the battle for hearts and minds — at home and abroad — impossible to win. In the great US foreign policy debate, he is a Wilsonian idealist, who regards the plight of Darfur as no less pressing an issue than the threat of al-Qa’eda.