Sen. John McCain joined ranks with other opposition blowhards on the Sunday politishows in a unified attack of President Obama’s reaction to the events unfolding in Iran. McCain spoke out against Obama’s inaction and criticized the president’s measured words on Iran.

McCain suggests we should regress to a Cold War like stance in the Middle East. He says we should be students of history and cites the Founding Fathers, and a 19th-century congressman. McCain still apparently fails to grasp that this is the 21st century.

We should be students of more recent history. Our meddling in Iran in the 1950s resulted in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the U.S. being portrayed as the Great Satan. Is this what McCain and the Republicans truly seek? More destructive stalemates? McCain lauded Secretary of State Daniel Webster for speaking out in support of the Greek Revolution of 1823. Note that this was not President Daniel Webster. A president’s primary “weapon” especially in the 21st century is diplomacy. Unlike Bush, Obama’s style is not to overextend our nation in terms of foreign meddling. Eventually President Obama will have to engage and, yes, talk to whomever comes out on top in Iran.

He is carefully poised to do just that. He has demonstrated a respectful piece of maneuvering here, encouraging Congress to speak out in support, and ready to engage when the time is right. Measured accord over reckless brinkmanship is something we haven’t seen in the past eight years. It may take some getting used to, but it is the right path.

Peter J. Burns

Tucson