Sen. John McCain, who faced a long, bruising campaign against candidate Barack Obama, has taken on a new role during the administration of President Barack Obama: “Loyal opposition.”

Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” McCain defined his role as, “[To] help and work together where I can, and stand up for the principles and the party and the philosophy that I campaigned on and have stood for for many years.”

McCain, who has long championed bipartisanship in Washington, said while it’s important for Americans to come together, it doesn’t mean “that as the loyal opposition that I or my party will be a rubber stamp.”

But the former Republican presidential candidate said he can use his experience to help Obama with a long-standing problem besides the economy.

“I think I can help in devising a strategy for Afghanistan. The hard truth is that the Afghan war has deteriorated,” he said.

McCain’s comments come amid recent U.S. bombings targeting suspected al Qaeda operatives in the Waziristan area of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan.

The rocky terrain has long been seen as a haven for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda operatives.

(Source: CNN)