You "Twig" This?

A very interesting exchange happened between Secretary of State Kerry and Sen. John McCain today as they sparred over foreign policy from two different outlooks:

First, McCain blasted Kerry for taking what he considers tepid measures against Russia. 

“My hero Teddy Roosevelt used to say talk softly and carry a big stick,” McCain said. “What you’re doing is talking strongly and carrying a very small sick. In fact, a twig.” 

When it was his turn to speak, Kerry took issue with the Arizona senator's pessimistic outlook on negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. 

"We’re talking! The option is, you go to war," Kerry said. "A lot of people are ready to drop bombs all the time. We can do that. We have the ability.”

(Via Talking Points Memo)

I've long been of the opinion that foreign policy biases in part revolve around feelings of security or insecurity. Leaving aside the somewhat, um, Freudian? note regarding whether the US at present is carrying "a twig", I want to point out that it kind of sounds like Sen. McCain is saying that without the potential of military force, US foreign policy has no leverage. Sec. Kerry, on the other hand, is confident that we have the ability to use force, but have other kinds of leverage. The latter position strikes me as being more secure about what we can do--and more flexible about what we ought to do.

I don't think it makes sense to disparage a "twig" when one might be looking at an olive branch. Just saying.