Yesterday's counter attack by Barack Obama was not as much of a climbdown as I originally thought. Barack is now again defending his willingness to meet our enemies "without preconditions." From the Hotline:
Barack Obama continued to frame his dispute with Hillary Clinton this a.m. as old thinking versus a new approach. He said Clinton's views mirror those of the Bush admin.-- to meet with enemy leaders only after they met a set of preconditions. Obama said he's willing to meet them w/o preconditions, but not w/o preparation (and again, not just for coffee).
Engaging our adversaries "allows us to send a message to the rest of the world," he said, which "increases our leverage" in trying to deal with other problems. Obama also challenged reporters to question Clinton's campaign about whether they "are walking back" her statements on the issue.
Whatever else it is, this is liberalism through and through, the idea that we can solve all these problems through talking. Sometimes it's true, but more often than not the old adage is more accurate: "Diplomacy is the art of saying, nice doggie, while reaching for a stick".
In this case Iran will be the one saying "nice doggie" to us until they get the bomb. Then they can say and do whatever they want. And what they want is not good for anyone.
What Obama's saying plays well with Democrats, but in the general election not so much. Too many Americans know that in negotiations, the one who goes first is the loser.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. I would just like to say that I am disgusted at the fact that half of these posters do not seem to understand basic English grammar structure. (Not to mention spelling and horrendous punctuation errors.)
I am not a person that claims to always pronounce themselves in the official vernacular or with perfect style and/or finesse.
However, some of you really need to brush up on your basic grammar before posting. How can you vote for the correct president if you cannot even form a coherent, smooth and relatively logical sentence?
I would not even be addressing this issue if it weren't so difficult to decipher your poor writing/word processing skills.
Please think HARD before posting.
Obama '08.
Jonathan at 4:56PM on Jul 29th 2007
17. where has this thing esker532 been for the last 6 years stupid we been the losers thanks to bush and people like you.if we are going to save this country the democrat better get in.obama come back in 8 years and dont forget like you have now that you have white and black blood in you or are you ashamed of your MOTHER.
williammccotter at 7:32PM on Jul 29th 2007
18. We need a change. Obama is the right person to improve this country and get us out of this stuff we are in today. We are tired of this same old same old. We need new ideas.
Mary
Arvell4 at 11:01PM on Jul 29th 2007
19. America needs a new direction, and that is
Bark Obama. All past leaders including Mr
Bush used Precondition,principles, etc
which did not work at all, I think meeting
enemies without condition is not bad Idea,
we are big and strong nothing to frear.
GTHAILE at 1:25AM on Jul 30th 2007
20. What a choice, we have Hilary who is a known liar and cheat (Whitewater sound familiar), then we have Obama who is really quick to play the race card! Homer anyone!!
Jess at 8:42AM on Jul 30th 2007
21. 1. Obama is not naive or a fool maybe a political genius! He a strong second behind Clinton and he a heart beat away from being the next president or vice president. He is the only one in a postion to stop Clinton and she dam well knows this. He is cleverly using this dispute to frame himself as something different from the past Clinton/Bush adminstration, skillfully trying to attach Clinton to the Bush/Cheney crowd. Advice to Clinton stay on your toes stop whining like a girl calling him naive, don't let him attach you to the current administration tell us how you are different.
eflowchart at 2:22PM on Jul 30th 2007
22. Well,I have read almost every comment and is unfortunate that people are trying to degrade the answer Obama gave.What are we afraid off,to sit and talk with these world leaders,Americans claim to be enemies.We are now in a world you cannot throw your weights about,every country believe in its rights of existence.We make it seem America, is the perfect model yet we have so many short falls and only ignorant people cannot feel the kind of air blowing around the world.We are suffering today because of our foreign policies towards these so called enemy nations.Iran is an enemy to United States,yet a friend to Russia, China and other European nations. Have we try to ask why are they friends to these super powers? We must not forget Iran use to be a friend till they had the revolution in that country.I believe it is time we change the path we using.Isolationism, a policy we have been using on countries like North Korea,Cuba and others has virtually caused the citzens of these countries to suffer with women and kids death rates high in these countries.We will let millions of citzens die becuase such nations are rogue and impose harsh sanctions on these countries that cripple their economy and cause many to suffer?Is that what you people see as justified for American presidents not to engage in common diplomacy with its enemy? Look at the amount of money we are spending on issues?Will these people stop their negative acts if we are able to sit down with them through a step by step process to see what they need and how best we can help them so that they can stop some of their negative acts against America?This country is losing billions of dollars each day.Obama was trying to let Americans understand is time we put that military show off aside and engage in Diplomacy.Look at the mess in Iraq now.We currently have our secretary of state and defense minister trying to solicit help from neighboring regional countries to help in Iraq because we did not have a plan in the first palce and now we do not no the exist out and our children are dying for a fruitless venture.Obama said he will meet these leaders and anybody in his/her right senses will know before an American leader meets these people will certainly have to use step by step process before the president meets these nations leaders.We expected Obama to give a long lecture on the topic that day to be able to agree with him?The fact that he said he is willing to meet them anytime without given a long explanation means he is wrong? I think the Clinton camp is trying to score a cheap political point on this matter.If you listen to Obama carefully some of you and stop being judgemental you will realize he is far knowledgeable than some of the so called senators who have 15 to 20 years experience with know plan to help America.I really admire the Clinton's but America is in a world now that we need somebody with wisdom to tackle the great problems facing this nation.I hope people are not voting for Clinton with the idea that his husband was a former president and probably she is going to be the first female president of America.We need somebody like Obama who is willing to change the old style of diplomacy which is not working for us.We need to change of foreign policy.All Obama was trying to put across was: he was willing to meet these people and even invite them to the White house for dialogue.Certainly,he will have conditions on the table for these people and they will also have conditions for us.America is like a father and these countries are sons and daughters.If your son or daughter offends you,you the parent totally isolate them.This a food for thought for some of you?
Maame at 12:02AM on Jul 31st 2007
23. obama your still wet bwhind the ears sorry try again in 4 years
CLEO at 1:33AM on Jul 31st 2007
24. Obama comes across as a arrogant Punk.
Bill at 9:33AM on Jul 31st 2007
25. There are a plethora of valid reasons to oppose barack hussein obama for prez and his ill-conceived comment is only one. Obama probably believes his own extensive muslim background equips him to negotiate w/the muslim killers but that will matter little to the iranians and less to chavez. Simply put, they,like most rulers,want $,power and influence. Unless obama can give them 1 or all of these, there's actually little to discuss that can have a positive result for the US. Just because an approach is "new" or "different" in no way makes it sensible or effective. It's regrettable people are falling for obama's catchy sound-bites and overlooking the reality of his blatant opportunism and non-stop dissembling.
des at 7:38PM on Jul 31st 2007
26. Personally I do not want someone with the middle name of HUSSEIN in our white house. Barak HUSSEIN Obama has a murky background. He was schooled in an ISLAMIC school and both his fathers are big ISLAMICS. To elect him would be a slap in the face of our troops
J.C. Wolf at 12:16AM on Aug 1st 2007
27. Your comments: Hillary Clinton is cleaner than any of the other candidates from
either party. She has paid her dues folks. I believe she will make
a fine first female president. I certainly like the idea of she and
her family plastered all around the world as our best and finest
instead of ANY of the other candidates. I also think it will give
new perspectives to young women and girls in the USA. who now only
aspire to be topless dancers etc.
JC Wolf at 12:26AM on Aug 1st 2007
28. Hillary Clinton is cleaner than any of the other
candidates fromeither party. She has paid her dues folks. I believe
she will makea fine first female president. I certainly like the idea
of she andher family plastered all around the world as our best and
finestinstead of ANY of the other candidates. I also think it will
givenew perspectives to young women and girls in the USA. who now
onlyaspire to be topless dancers etc.
JC Wolf at 12:28AM on Aug 1st 2007
29. Having read all the responses and having listened to both candidates,I am convinced that we are making assumptions without having allthe facts or information required to determine wheterr instant or delayed approach to dialogue with our enemies is the best approach.
Consequently, we have the actions of all who came before and the results of their actions to know that something else needs to be done or we will continue to get the same results. I have come to discover that assumption is the lowest form of knowledge and suggest some of you think clearly before you respond rather than use this blog to vent your frustrations and disagreements. Our country needs to reposition it self on the international scene and reduce the amount of enemies to be effective and respected as a peacemaker again. Don't you think,
hv at 8:39AM on Aug 1st 2007
30. Amazing, whether you meet with conditions or not has little to do with how you negotiate the issues and what the results will be. If you are flexible or not. If you are inflexible you will definetly not make progress. As to if one is experienced or not to become president I think that there is little in life that would give you the experience to become president. Look at Bush and his experience before becoming president, did this help? Don't think so. It's takes intelligence to become president and also flexibility to negotiate. Inflexibility leads us to wars etc. Now about the experience I think there is little difference between the experience levels of these two condidates, being the First Lady to President Clinton(one of the smartest president ever) does not give you the experience needed.
This is my opinion
Alan Mandal at 11:59AM on Aug 1st 2007