Flip-flop rivals in a show of one upmanship

With just under four months to go before the US presidential elections, the Democratic and Republican contenders are facing off, via the media, and trying to out-do each other in attracting voters. Unfortunately for Americans, it is difficult for the electorate to determine exactly what each stands for. Having established their right-wing (Republican) or left-wing (Democrat) credentials, both candidates are now moving to the centre ground in the hope the waiverers or the liberals will be enamoured by them. However, in doing so, both are fudging the issues and, as Senator John McCain claims of Senator Barack Obama, "flip-flopping" from one line of policy to another.

McCain's accusation is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. He has hopped, skipped and jumped from one opinion to another, leaving his supporters, leave alone his opponents, exhausted in determining what it is exactly he stands for. But Obama cannot be let off the hook so easily either. Similarly, as he tries to out manoeuvre McCain in appeal, he changes his views on important issues, seemingly according to the weather. Or, if not, then according to who he is speaking to.

If it was not so important to those who live abroad, especially in the Middle East and Asia, it would be laughable. It would be easy enough to comment on and deride remarks made yesterday by both candidates in reference to Iraq and Afghanistan (and now they are both including Pakistan), but by today, their views may have changed, leaving us open to ridicule.

Aside from the appalling navet shown by both contenders in regard to anything that takes place off the shores of the US, it is very worrying to know that one of these people will eventually become the 44th president and the most powerful person in the world.