The GOP has their candidate ready to go:
Posted on 05/25/2011 11:20:55 AM PDT by Cardhu
Obama is the first US president to address the joint houses of parliament [Reuters]
Barack Obama, the US president, has addressed the British parliament, saying that Western influence remains strong in the world, despite emerging world powers such as China, India and Brazil.
In a speech to both houses of parliament on Wednesday, Obama said that Western powers still had a responsibility to uphold "universal rights", but stressed that this work must be done through multilateral forums like the G20.
"Even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership," Obama said, "our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just."
He also referred to the global economic crisis saying that it had "begun" on Wall Street, something generally accepted but which US officials have been unwilling to acknowledge.
Obama's speech is seen as historic as it marks the first time a US president has been afforded the opportunity to speak in the grand setting of Westminster Hall.
Support for democracy
Obama began with a joke and recounted a history between the US and Britain that began in a war for independence but grew into a global alliance.
But his address also touched on contemporary issues important to both nations, including the military action under way in Afghanistan and in Libya and he stressed the importance of Western support for recent pro-democracy uprisings in many countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
"We do this knowing the West must overcome mistrust and suspicion from many," he told the assembled British legislators.
"Ultimately freedom must be won by the people themselves, not imposed from without."
Countries across the Middle East and North Africa have been wracked by pro-democracy protests, buoyed in large part by the successful overthrow of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak, the respective former presidents of Tunisia and Egypt, earlier this year.
Libya has seen similar protests pushing for the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, but remains locked in a stalemate with NATO forces acting under a UN mandate carrying out air raids aimed at protecting civilians.
Friends and interests
Patty Culhane, Al Jazeera's correspondent, reporting from outside the houses of parliament, said: "I think it's the clearest he's described his views on the different protests that we see in the Middle East and North Africa.
"He flat-out said 'we aren't going to apologise for our interests - our interests in fighting global terrorism and ensuring the global oil supply'. That's about the first time we've really heard him spell that out."
Ahead of his parliamentary address, in a joint press conference with David Cameron, the UK prime minister, Obama said Gaddafi would ultimately step down under pressure from the NATO military operations.
Concerning Afghanistan, Obama said that the Western alliance there was ready to "turn a corner" with the transition to "an Afghan lead".
"During this transition, we will pursue a lasting peace with those [Taliban fighters] who break free from al-Qaeda and respect the Afghan constitution and lay down arms," Obama said.
Official sources from three countries have said that Washington has already begun talks with representatives of the Taliban, although these have been described as preliminary.
I totally agree. I’ve liked everything I’ve heard from him so far. He is a gentleman....with common sense and courage.
I guess that would be a true “officer and a gentleman.” ;-)))
Did he receive 30 standing ovations?
It means every country gets to decide it’s own fate, EXCEPT FOR ISRAEL.
Most decidedly not. The Brits have figured him out to a greater extent than many of our people here in the States.
;-/
Note from whence the article originated and who is in the pic cheering him on. They are trying to ascend him to Netanyahu status and it is obscene on its face.
G-d is watching.
There is an article in the british media. The audience was stubbornly unresponsive. they also bashed the dual press conference as exceedingly dull.
That all O will have from this trip are some glorious photos.
I’d be thoroughly ashamed of our president.
If we had one.
I completely agree.
Some days I believe that an empty coffee cup could beat him, then on others, I see him as unbeatable. When he gets his wind, and considering our GOP, he will still be very formidable.
The GOP has their candidate ready to go:
At least he’s photogenic. ;>)
And it’s his turn.
W.
T.
F.
This man is an utter embarrassment. Captain Obvious, please pick up the hot pink courtesy phone.
Blah.....blah......blah......*yawn*
The only thing historic about that speech was all the snoring it induced.
How much did that campaign speech cost the tax payer? Rhetorical but, why is he officially over there anyway? How much $$$ is he bringing back to the United States’ economy on this diplomatic adventure?
Colossal vanity; and it gave the parliamentarians an opportunity to learn something already well-known on these shores - Barack OIbama is an idiot, and no one listens to him who isn’t either brain dead or a member of his extended cabal of corrupt Marxists.
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