Fox News organized a debate for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, former senator Fred Thompson (Tennessee), Senator John McCain (Arizona), and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Judging by the latest CBS News opinion poll, Giuliani is the favorite to become the Republican Party's candidate, with 29% support, followed by Thompson with 21%, McCain with 18%, and Romney with 12%.

One question focused on whether the United States and Russia are heading for another Cold War and if the Bush Administration might be "naive" about President Vladimir Putin and his regime. McCain was the first to answer, saying that when he looked into Putin's eyes he "saw three letters, a K, a G and a B." (A clear reference to Bush, who said after his first meeting with Putin that he managed to look right into Putin's soul.) As for a Cold War, McCain said it's impossible, since Russia lacks the territory and capacities of the late Soviet Union. "On the other hand, the Russians have been causing trouble for us," he said. McCain mentioned Russia's pro-Iranian stand in the UN Security Council, consolidation of power in Putin's hands, and his efforts "to restore the former Russian Empire." McCain called Putin "a dangerous person" who "has to understand that there's a cost to some of his actions."

McCain said that if elected, the first thing he would do is install missile defense elements in "Czechoslovakia and Poland" (McCain's own words). According to McCain, Putin would cause the United States "to set up a league of democracies to address issues from Darfur to Burma to Iran and others" because Moscow and Beijing block peace-related action in the UN Security Council.

Giuliani was less categorical - in form if not in content. "Now is the time to make clear to Putin that America can speak softly and carry a big stick," he said, adding that "we would like to cooperate with Russia."

Guiuliani maintains that America should make it plain to Russia and the rest of the world that the United States can trade with them all while being firm on its national security interests at the same time. That's why the United States needs "a very, very strong military that no other country on earth would ever consider challenging," Giuliani said. He seemed confident that higher military spending and increasing the size of the US military would be "a signal both to Russia and to China to not think about challenging us down the road." Guiliani said that China and Russia both have economic interests in Iran, and should be aware that America won't stand by and do nothing. He backed McCain's views on the need to go ahead with the missile defense elements "as soon as possible."

Guiliani said that this is the right time for NATO expansion, and mentioned Australia and Japan as prospective members. He promoted advancing relations with East European countries which have become democracies, making a special reference to Ukraine: the
United States should support the Ukrainians, according to Giuliani, since they will make a fine defense against Russia.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta