Who will turn the tide of American foreign policy

According to ex President Jimmy Carter interviewed by Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian's Saturday magazine,the next President should take no longer than 10 minutes to change America's image in the world.

the time it would take to deliver an inaugural address that would promise that America "will never again torture a prisoner... never again attack another country unless our security is directly threatened", will honour its international agreements and do the right thing on climate change.

How do the two candidates compare and will they change America's image.

In some respects John McCain is more of a hawk in foriegn than George Bush ever was.The war in Iraq is going to be a major feature of the campaign and McCain has famously said that troops will stay in the country for as long as it takes.He voted in favour of the war,and has supported all of Bush's terror bills.In a recent speach he lookd forward to 4 years time where American troops are welcomed home as heroes,with Al Qaeda defeated in Iraq,the war won and Iraqi security forces maintaining control of the country.

By contrast Obama voted against the war,has had a consistent policy about the situation out there and has vowed to bring the troops back in a reasonable timeframe.Only last week he said that the war in Iraq has made Iran stronger and both Israel and the Uniited States more insecure.

However his willingness to talk to talk with leaders of hostile countries has unnerved an American public and his commitment to Israel has been questioned.This may well have a knock on effect in November when it comes to capturing the Jewish vote.Recently he has clarified his position

"We must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and abide by past agreements," There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations."

He has pledged to close Guantanamo bay and to restore the rule of Habeas corpus.He has also shown committment to the issues of the 21st century such as global warming and fighting poverty genocide and disease.

In many respects McCain is close to these issues when the spotlight is on him.said Stephen Hess, a scholar at the Washington-based Brookings Institution said that

McCain is a ``maverick'' who often bucks Republican principles,.His emphasis on issues may change as he tries to appeal more to his party's conservative base and separate himself from Obama,

So whilst the fight for the Independent vote continues,McCain will stress his commitment to closing the detention camp and new policies to combat global warming.