Foreign Policy Dementia

Steve Benen over at Political Animal/Washington Monthly notes that McCain's recent confusion, thinking Spain was located in Latin America and run by a dictator, is only the most recent of McCain's increasingly odd foreign policy gaffes:

Let's also not lose sight of the broader pattern. McCain thinks the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia was "the first probably serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War." He thinks Iraq and Pakistan share a border. He believes Czechoslovakia is still a country. He's been confused about the difference between Sudan and Somalia. He's been confused about whether he wants more U.S. troops in Afghanistan, more NATO troops in Afghanistan, or both. He's been confused about how many U.S. troops are in Iraq. He's been confused about whether the U.S. can maintain a long-term presence in Iraq. He's been confused about Iran's relationship with al Qaeda. He's been confused about the difference between Sunni and Shi'ia. McCain, following a recent trip to Germany, even referred to "President Putin of Germany." All of this incoherence on his signature issue.

I'm curious. What do you suppose the reaction would be from the political establishment if Barack Obama had made these mistakes over the course of the campaign? What would reporters, pundits, and Republicans have to say about Obama's ability to lead a complex world in a time of war and uncertainty?

I think an intellectually honest person would agree that if Obama had made these same mistakes he'd be labeled "clueless" on foreign policy. So, why the double-standard?

As an aside, a number of you have been writing in about how Zapatero is not the president of Spain, but rather, is the prime minister. Well, you're right and wrong. First, the Spanish reporter called him "president," so we were just quoting her. But more importantly, in Spain, Prime Minister Zapatero is called "president." You can see the proof in El Pais here ("El presidente José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero ") and here ("El presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero"), and here ("El presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero"), for example.