Helen Thomas: Obama has it Right

[illinoisprogressive]

During the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower often said that he would go anywhere, any time, any place in pursuit of peace.

Ike promoted co-existence with the former Soviet Union and invited Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to visit the United States.

Conservative Republicans were unhappy when President Richard M. Nixon made his surprise journey to hard-line communist China in 1972. But the move was mostly applauded as a diplomatic breakthrough, leading to better relations between the two nations.

The American people rejoiced at those peacemaking gestures and didn't think that Eisenhower — a World War II hero— was naive to talk to the Soviets with the goal of easing tensions between the two super powers, particularly since each had doomsday nuclear arsenals.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5019784.html

[Xipe Totec]

1. This part of his message I agree with

It's the rant that followed, about going into Pakistan with or without the consent of the Pakistanis, that I disagree with.

I'm sure even Hellen Thomas would reject that position.

So, has Obama decided it's better to talk, or still wants to beat the crap out of anybody that gets in the way?

[Ethelk2044]

3. He did not say invade. Can you show me that in his speech where he said that. Link please.

[Xipe Totec]

7. Here ya go...

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama said Wednesday that the United States should reserve the right to invade the territory of its Pakistani allies and withdraw U.S. financial aid if it believed Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was failing to do enough to stop terrorists.

"If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will," Obama said in an address at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars here. "I will not hesitate to use military force to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to America."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama2aug02,0,5229421.story?coll=la-home-nation

[Xipe Totec]

8. And another link:

"Let me make this clear," Obama said. "There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaida leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11982022

[earthlover]

11. Read your own post! Obama did NOT say invade!

Obama said he would take actions to take out Been Forgotten. A lot different from invading a country.

Let's sit back and see the past week or so. Obama said he would talk with our enemies. Hillary called him naive and irresponsible for that. Which brought into focus her previous naivity at beeing duped by Bush when many other Senators were able to see what was at stake with the IWR.

Now Obama says, in a speech that had a LOT of substance about foreign policy, a lot of things. What gets focussed on was his saying he would be willing, if Pakistan wouldn't do so, to take out Been Forgotten. Can any of us imagine being able to be elected if not willling to take out Been Forgotten? Get Real! Hillary and Edwards immediately, same day, agreed with Obama. But Hillary's echo chamber continues to attack Obama for stating the obvious, that Been Forgotten needs to be tracked down and dealt with.

Now, to top things off in an interesting week, Hillary said that the first use of nuclear weapons in an option she is willing to use, it should be seriously considered as an option.

So we have in Hillary a candidate who attacks negotiating with our enemies as naive and irresponsible but doesn't want to take nuking Iran or other countries off the table.

Sad, because at the debate I was getting used to the idea that she might not be so bad, and she certainly looked like she might win.

Now she has me troubled, worried and not a small amount SCARED.

I am not an Obama supporter (yet) but he certainly looks better on foreign policy as a result of this exchange than Hillary.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. I guess you never bothered to listen to the speech. just talking about nothing you know.

[Skip Intro]

4. psst - you're replying to yourself.

[rinsd]

5. That's because as an Obamaton it cares not what it is responding to.

[Skip Intro]

6. too funny

ip is accusing him/herself of talking about nothing he/she knows

[motocicleta]

10. Maybe IP is Gollum

"You can't trust Obama, you didn't even reads the link. Obama is false and tricksy." "No, Obama is good, Obama is good. We reads the links, we likes Obama." "No! We hates Obama, doesn't we, precious? Yes, my preecioussss ..."

[EST]

9. During Eisenhower's time, the US had a full load of atomic bombs,

Albeit, mostly hauled around in airplanes, rather than rockets, while the soviets had exactly one.
They may have had a few bits and pieces lying around, but they were virtually weaponless until long after Eisenhower's reign ended.

"The American people rejoiced at those peacemaking gestures and didn't think that Eisenhower — a World War II hero— was naive to talk to the Soviets with the goal of easing tensions between the two super powers, particularly since each had doomsday nuclear arsenals."
Don't get too enmired in the current Eisenhower worship because of the one speech he made that really meant something.

Eisenhower, although a great general, was a small minded prick who did everything he could to destroy Truman and force a republican victory in 1952. His contempt for democrats was palpable.
Although no great political enthusiast, I listened to political speeches and a portion of the election returns in both 52 and 56. I remember little of 56 and almost none of 52 except the anger and the funny way they talked.

[sendero]

12. I'm not really an Obama supporter...

.. but IMHO he was correct in spirit on both the "foreign leaders" and "we'll attack OBL whereever he is" statements.

And I applaud him for having the GUTS to actually SAY SOMETHING rather than mealy-mouth around everything like some candidates do.

So maybe, as of now, I AM an Obama supporter.