Lindsey Graham tributes from Israel and Ukraine point to complicated, often bloody legacy

Tributes from figures like Israel's national security minister and Ukraine's president underscored the global reach of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died at 71. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Graham as a "great friend," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called him a "true defender of freedom."

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a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine

Graham, a key Republican voice on foreign policy, was known for advocating a strong U.S. global presence. He frequently visited troops abroad and played a role in shaping policy. However, his career, spanning from supporting the 2003 Iraq War to influencing policy regarding Iran, is described as having a "complicated and often bloody legacy."

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a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer

Brett Bruen, a former director of global engagement in the Obama White House, noted Graham's central role in Republican foreign policy. Bruen compared Graham to his late colleague John McCain, suggesting Graham inherited McCain's mantle but perhaps lacked McCain's consistent "moral clarity," particularly in the context of Donald Trump's influence on the Republican party.

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There’s no doubt Lindsey Graham was a central figure in Republican foreign policy circles and played a significant role in broader conversations about America’s place in the world.

Graham's political journey included a stint as an air force lawyer and service in the South Carolina air national guard. His early career saw him as a strong proponent of the Iraq War, a decision later criticized as a major foreign policy error. He also played a significant role in discussions surrounding potential conflict with Iran.

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He was certainly similar to his old pal John McCain and in many ways he inherited that mantle, albeit not with the same moral clarity that McCain seemed to hold on to despite the way that Trump had upended Republican politics.