Posted on 07/24/2008 10:25:32 AM PDT by mojito
Senator Barack Obama, the visiting Democratic presidential candidate who is leading the race for the White House, told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday evening that, if elected president, he would do "everything in my power" to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Asked about concerns that the Iranians would abuse his stated readiness for "tough diplomacy" to play for time and keep moving ahead toward the bomb, Obama said that his "willingness to negotiate" had "very clear and direct goals" and "a sense of urgency." So "if the Iranians fail to respond, we've stripped away whatever excuses they may have, [and] whatever rationales may exist in the international community for not ratcheting up sanctions and taking serious action."
Speaking to the Post in his room at the King David Hotel, Obama said that one of the failures of the US approach on this issue in the past "has been to use a lot of strong rhetoric but not follow through with the kinds of both carrots and sticks that might change the calculus of the Iranian regime. But I have also said that I would not take any options off the table, including military."
Asked, therefore, whether having backed Israel's air strike on a Syrian nuclear facility last September, he would support an Israeli strike on Iranian facilities in the coming months if Israel felt it had no choice but to act, Obama replied, "My goal is to avoid being confronted with that hypothetical."
He stressed that "Israelis, and Israelis alone, have to make decisions about their own security." But, he went on, "the grave consequences of either doing nothing or initiating a potential war with Iran are such that we want to do everything we can, to exhaust every avenue, to avoid that option."
The interview came toward the end of a grueling day that had taken the 46-year-old Obama to Yad Vashem, Sderot and Ramallah, featured meetings with President Shimon Peres and other Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and continued late into the night with dinner with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and a visit to the Western Wall.
Nonetheless, Obama seemed fresh and answered questions articulately on a range of issues crucial to Israel.
He spelled out a succinct position on Jerusalem that followed from the correction of what he had called the "poor phrasing" of his address to AIPAC last month, telling the Post simply: "I believe that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. But I think that how Israel and the Palestinians resolve this issue is a final-status issue. It needs to be left up to the two parties."
Asked whether he felt Israel had a right to try and maintain a presence in the West Bank - for security, religious, historic or other reasons - he answered firmly that Israel "should abide by previous agreements and commitments that have been made, and aggressive settlement construction would seem to violate the spirit at least, if not the letter, of agreements that have been made previously.
"Israel's security concerns," Obama went on, "have to be taken into account, via negotiation. I think the parties in previous discussions have stated that settlement construction doesn't necessarily contribute to that enhanced security. I think there are those who would argue that the more settlements there are, the more Israel has to invest in protecting those settlements, and the more tensions arise that may undermine Israel's long-term security. Ultimately, though, these are part of the discussions that have to take place between the parties."
“Speak softly, and holster your big stick” -Motto of Democrats everywhere
Don’t bother, Barry. I hear that tiny Iran is no threat to us. I got that from someone very high up who should know.
...which is nothing.
“everything in my power”...
As far as I am concerned, he has just promised, if elecetd president, to “nuke” Iran. Because that is the only way to make absolutely sure they do not have a nuclear program of their own.
The use of nuclear weapons is CERTAINLY within the power of a U.S. president.
I hope I won’t have the opportunity to, but I intend to hold him to it!
The Commander In Chief should be prepared for every hypothetical situation imaginable.
Obama is clearly a lightweight.
Hopefully, he will have a teleprompter when he does all he can. We can’t afford a hussein obama gaff while dealing with a state sponsor of terrorism that is developing nukes.
I’m going to ask them nicely not to build bombs or kill us.
Any questions?
Barack Obama July 2008: I'll do what I can to stop Iran
blatant overtones of bitterness in tag-line.
unsportspersonlike conduct, 15 yard penalty, loss of down, cut to commercial
The Israelis are not gonna take any chances.
Expect them to strike Iranian nuclear facilities before the end of the year.
Major General Eliezer Shkedy, the commander of Israel Air Force
“We can not lose a single war. The first war we lose, Israel will cease to exist”
Just pray that Olmerde is kicked out, forced to resign, or is out of office by any other means. I don’t trust Olmerde (or Peres for that matter) to stand up for Israel.
Who am I?
* Speeches in stadiums filled with mesmerized, adoring audiences - Check
* An uninspiring background before meteoric rise - Check
* Creates his own new symbols of power - Check
* Associates with racists, hatemongers and violent radicals - Check
* A propaganda machine willing to show him only in the best possible light - Check
* Uses, “glorious leader” style Agitprop posters common in totalitarian nations - Check (see German
campaign poster for example)
* Wants Secret Police force - Check
* Somebody powerful people think they can control - Check
* Often dismissed as a light-weight by his opponents - Check
* Seeks to replace God with the State - Check
* People adopting his name as their own - Check
* Inspires adoration art - Check
* Appropriates symbols of past German glory - Check
* Never plans on giving up power - Check (Obama to be president for the next “eight to 10 years”)
* A narcissistic megalomaniac - Check
* Brazenly Takes credit for other people’s accomplishments - Check
* Wants to builds “youth” movement through State service - Check
* Acts as if in power before he is - Check
Frightened yet?
“I’ll do what I can....”
THAT’S the Grand Plan from Lord Obama?
Cripes, and they think Bush is stupid?????
He’s convinced me with his genius. I must now go vote for him. /sarc
Does that include a nuclear war? That will stop them, and if you are president, that would be in your power.
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