Once Upon A Time, Barack Obama Pledged To Meet Unconditionally With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama's Foreign Policy Platform — Comments (37) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Now . . . things are somehow different:
Barack Obama's original answer seemed crystal clear: last July, asked whether he would meet with the "leaders" of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea "without precondition," during his first year as president, he quickly answered yes.
"I would," Obama, D-Ill., said at the CNN/YouTube debate. "And the reason is this: that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous."
Obama has not renounced his commitment to meet directly with the leaders of rogue nations, including Iran. But in recent weeks, his top aides and advisers have sought to add caveats to his promise, as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has made Obama's debate answer a central campaign issue.
The Obama campaign is now offering a more nuanced approach that would not necessarily include a presidential meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- and that stresses diplomatic work that would take place before any such meetings take place.
Asked about Obama's original statement Tuesday morning on CNN, former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., a top Obama adviser and supporter, said top-level meetings would not be immediate -- and would not happen without preliminary extensive diplomatic work.
"I would not say that we would meet unconditionally," said Daschle. "Of course, there are conditions that we [would] involve in preparation in getting ready for the diplomacy. ... 'Without precondition' simply means we wouldn't put obstacles in the way of discussing the differences between us. That's really what they're saying, what Barack is saying."
Susan Rice, a top Obama foreign policy adviser, said Monday that Obama's meetings with Iranian leaders might not include Ahmadinejad.
"He said he'd meet with the appropriate Iranian leaders. He hasn't named who that leader will be," Rice said on CNN. "It would be the appropriate Iranian leadership at the appropriate time -- not necessarily Ahmadinejad."
Uh-huh. To be sure, this is a much more responsible approach than the one that Obama initially took. But it is not at all the same approach and it will be most amusing to watch and listen to Obamaphiles who praised Obama's initial unconditionality now claim that his newfound caution is what should really garner hosannas.
Someone should call Obama on all of this. Why is it that he backed away from unconditional talks? What is this business about talking to "the appropriate Iranian leadership at the appropriate time"? And if Obama really believes that strong nations are willing to talk to their adversaries, why is he suddenly less willing to do so?
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Once Upon A Time, Barack Obama Pledged To Meet Unconditionally With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 37 Comments (0 topical, 37 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Well, I was for it, before I was against it, but I might get behind it again, or maybe I never really supported it, but I might if I did , I really don't remember.
I think BArBar has John Kerry for a speech coach.
Regards
Looks like the spin and double speak is the same as the old -- so I guess is new must be limited to the age and inexperience issue.
M Penny
The chicken will go back into the egg, and the oak into the acorn, before you will see a true, hardcore Obama supporter admit that his candidate is not without blemish. :)
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
What Obama Really Meant. This is not the first, nor will it be the last.
similar to "moving the goal posts."
Some recent examples: as pointed out by Ed Driscoll in the video Instapundit is linking (sorry, too lazy right now to embed link), in 2004 basically the ONE thing qualifying Kerry for president was his few months of naval service and those medals. Now Dems are basically saying John McCain is over-qualified and (horror of horrors) comes from a family tradition of military service. Obviously fake military service is good and real military service is bad but this is bigtime moving the goalposts or flippy-flopping.
My hubby asked this morning why no one is talking about gravitas this year. Well maybe it's because Mr. Unbearable Lightness of Being HAS no gravitas so they dare not speak its name. W had military service, business expertise, a wide range of experience (executive and otherwise) when he ran in 2000 but hey, HE HAD NO GRAVITAS and needed Cheney for that. (Cheney whom they actually loathe more than they do W.)
There are countless other examples. I expect Mr. Ejecting Roses (I'm obeying posting rules here because that's not exactly what he's doing in the infamous poster we've seen online) to flippy-flop all the way to November and get away with all of it in the Drive-Bys. They are allowing him constantly to say the most mindblowingly stupid things and then revise them as they blow up in his face. The majority of this country is not that stupid and I'm optimistic that this will bite him bigtime in his messianiac backside.
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
I used the word "ejaculating" when I wrote about it.
True, I also cleared it first. :)
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I really don't think the election will turn on what we do about Iran. The public doesn't seem to care one way or the other. If anything, this Iran flap helped Obama, because it gave him a chance to criticize Bush one more time. Every time he gets a chance to say "Bush," he wins.
The polls suggest that the economy is the biggest issue by far. The Iraq War is a distant second. And terrorism? Down in the noise somewhere.
Among Republicans, terrorism is considered a much more important issue. But not for the rest of the electorate. That's why Obama's statements on foreign policy are raising alarm among Republicans, but are being largely ignored by others; they've tuned the terrorism issue out. (The only possible exception is Jewish voters, who should be targeted with mailings on Obama's statements.)
This year is unique in my experience, in that Democrats and Republicans don't even agree on what the main issues are, let alone on how to solve them. Republicans care about immigration and terrorism. Democrats and Independents care about the economy and health care. Catch Obama in flip-flops on domestic issues, and you'll have something (e.g., Reverend Wright). Catch Obama in a flip-flop on Iran, and it won't matter to very many people.
Rookie mistakes. The walkback is painful to watch.
McCain was smart to follow Noah Pollak's advice and start critiquing the substance of what we're getting from the Iranians. This shows the hollowness of the media cheerleading for Barack.
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill
So they don't hear the flip flops or the backtracks or the twisting and turning of the bucket of WORMs.
When Obama says Change there are no details -- when he starts to give details he gets in trouble.
Obama is just feeding into this not Bush strategy. Well the last not Bush candidate lost -- so I am hopeful.
I don't have an SUV, but I keep my house a lot cooler than 72 degrees (any woman in her 50s understands), and anyone who starts to tell me what I can eat had better (1) be paying for it (2) cooking it (3) cleaning up the dishes afterwards -- otherwise my diet decisions are my own thank you very much.
As each day goes buy I wonder -- what is so special about Barak Obama other than the color of his skin. His story is not all that special or unique, his experience is nothing. Community organizer -- can someone produce the job description and daily responsibilites? I'd like to see what he actually did. Can we look at his record in the state legislature in detail?
Rush hit on it yesterday - the super delegates want Obama because they believe they can control his naive novice and ram their policies and plans straight through.
Obama as President means Nancy Pelosi is the power in DC.
M Penny
Obama is just feeding into this not Bush strategy. Well the last not Bush candidate lost -- so I am hopeful.
The last "not Bush candidate" would have won, if only he had won Ohio. He had enough electoral votes elsewhere. And that's despite Bush's approval rating being around 48% at the time.
Since 2004, Ohio has become radioactive for Republicans, owing to the GOP scandals there; and Bush's approval rating has dropped over 15 points more. There's a big difference in public attitude between an approval rating of 48% (2004) and an approval rating of 30% (2008).
Anytime a Republican does something bad, he is pond scum.
Anytime a Demoncrat does something bad, its an endorsement.....
Consider the audience they are playing to and you can determine why.
Regards
"Character is not the main issue, its the only issue"
I suppose it depends on what the definition of "leaders" is...
I like the WORM also...
Pejman,
I really enjoyed your post of Lieberman's article. (I couldn't post a comment on that link so I'm doing it here)
For those who missed it:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121132806884008847.html
I really wouldn't mind Lieberman as VP. I think McCain could then move even more right (because of the political cover picking a Democrat would provide)
I have no problem with a president negotiating with enemy states provided it's from a position of strength. Negotiation and appeasement are two different things. As Churhill said, Jaw Jaw is better than War War and he was no appeaser. Reagan talked to the Soviets and Nixon went to China. This was not appeasement, but smart foreign policy. McCain could probably negotiate from a better position of strength than Obama given his experience and more muscular foreign policy.
I much prefer negotiating from strength by a future present, than our current president groveling to the Saudis' for lower oil prices. In my mind, begging the folks that provided the ideology for 911 is a lot weaker than anything Obama's saying. I just don't think Obama's the best man to do it.
"there’s more to conservatism than low taxes, Jesus, and waterboarding at Gitmo." P.J. O'rourke
"It's close, but I put Bush in Jimmy Carter territory. Slick Willy marginally better and LBJ in between."........dannyn
"there’s more to conservatism than low taxes, Jesus, and waterboarding at Gitmo." P.J. O'rourke
"there’s more to conservatism than low taxes, Jesus, and waterboarding at Gitmo." P.J. O'rourke
I think you've been there before.
"It's close, but I put Bush in Jimmy Carter territory. Slick Willy marginally better and LBJ in between."........dannyn
"there’s more to conservatism than low taxes, Jesus, and waterboarding at Gitmo." P.J. O'rourke
Ninny D The Wild Turkey darts back into the thicket...don't goad there, blooch!
"ma deuce says no truce"
You get an "F" on your bumper for this, blooch.
"There's no more to danny n than low IQ, gee look at me and waterheading at RedState" -Plenty O'Toole
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Never drink before sunset or on Sundays...twelve-pack lasts me two weeks, unless there are guests at the hacienda. Hey, it's Friday, the school year ends today and the pool's open(no, not that pool).
Just some natural irrational exuberance...and no plants were harmed in the production, either. I didn't mean to alarm you, thought I'd fire a little buckshot into the hedgerow...OK,*those* plants were harmed a little.
"ma deuce says no truce"
You know the guy that go to Parties and they always bring their own cooler?...Usually made out of Aluminum?...Well Blooch is that guy...Blooch is now the...
Paramount Ruler of the Big Silver Cooler
I deem it so....carry on
Man church Royal Court....
The Porcelain God...gamecock
Earl of Nacho...Joliphant
High King of Haiku...bigator5
Baron of Bandwidth...ME to you
Sultan of Spew...jdub19
Prince of the Patently Plain, Oligarch of the Obvious...john wayne
Emir of the Indignant...prismsinc
Archduke of the ATF...kyle12
Paramount Ruler of the Big Silver Cooler....Blooch
A huge Dr. Pepper cooler that's older than the Cuban Missile Crisis. I never go canoeing without it...one more exception to my beer protocols. I thought I was going to have to post the David Duke blog to fit your requirements for admittance to the Court. Don't worry, I'm not that irrationally exuberant. Probably would have been a Swan song, anyway.
Did I mention that I am deeply honored? I'm going to send you a picture of the cooler fully-stocked.
"ma deuce says let me have a shot at that hedgerow"
Sorry, got distracted. Ny three-year-old ran out the door naked before I double-checked where that comment was going. I'll put the shotgun away now.
"ma deuce says no truce"
by man toting shotgun and can of Tecate....
Be advised DCFS en route"
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
n/t
"If I missed something then of course I ow head scrtchins my humblist apologies as well as niel"...Aceintx
n/t
"As for being me being a shill...I had the best time last election posting on Kerry's blog. I made myself out to be a gay veteran and got away with posting some of the most outlandish stuff about Kerry on his official blog."......john wayne
Obama Ran on 'Bomb Iran'
Blogger Lance Adams unearths a 2004 Chicago Tribune article depicting Barack Obama--then a candidate for U.S. Senate--striking a much more hawkish tone toward Iran than he has done recently:
He flips and flops a lot - who knows what June will bring.