Obama Says New Approach Needed

[illinoisprogressive]

Obama argued that U.S. policy is still focused on the defunct Soviet Union instead of combatting the nuclear threat from rogue nations and terrorists. The United States shouldn't unilaterally disarm, he said, but it must work with other nations to phase out weapons and control atomic material.

"Here's what I'll say as president: 'America seeks a world in which there are no nuclear weapons,'" Obama said.

"The best way to keep America safe is not to threaten terrorists with nuclear weapons -- it's to keep nuclear weapons and nuclear materials away from terrorists," the Illinois senator said. Aides said the process Obama envisions would take many years, not just a a single presidency.

The Republican National Committee criticized the proposal as unsafe and an example of Obama "playing to the fringe elements of his party." But the concept has the backing of at least two former Republican secretaries of state, Henry Kissinger and George Shultz.

Obama's address marked the fifth anniversary of an anti-war rally where he announced his opposition to invading Iraq. He predicted then that the United States would get bogged down in an unending war that would inflame world anger.

Obama was an Illinois legislator contemplating a run for the U.S. Senate when Congress voted in October 2002 to give President Bush the authority to use military force to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

In his speech today, Obama criticized Bush, the media and especially Congress, arguing that they failed the nation in the rush to war.

"Let's be clear: Without that vote, there would be no war," Obama said, taking a swipe at his Democratic rivals who were in the Senate and voted for the war -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden -- but never mentioning them by name.

"Some seek to rewrite history. They argue that they weren't really voting for war, they were voting for inspectors, or for diplomacy. But the Congress, the administration, the media and the American people all understood what we were debating in the fall of 2002," Obama said. "And we need to ask those who voted for the war: How can you give the president a blank check and then act surprised when he cashes it?"

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-ex-obama3oct03,0,3013555.story?coll=la-home-center

[mark414]

1. "how can you give the president a blank check,

and then act surprised when he cashes it?"



great quote....:thumbsup:

[Lerkfish]

2. agreed, although I'll ameliorate it somewhat by saying

that Bush ACTED as if it were a blank check, but that congress should have known better than to give him anything at all.

[Cha]

3. A new approach is most definetly

needed and that's why Obama intrigues me.

I saw just that quote from Obama on the first post and that pretty much sums up the IWR vote and the Iranian Guard Terrorist vote.

I heard Obama was out sick that day?

[illinoisprogressive]

4. Apparently he had the flu, and the vote was called without any time

[Cha]

5. I believe it..that's what

a friend said who came into the co-op(where I work), with an Obama tee shirt on, the next day after the debates.

He recommended Obama's book, The Audacity Of Hope", and was super enthusiastic..so I asked if he knew why Obama didn't vote and that's what happened. I'm guessing he would have voted "NAY".

[killbotfactory]

7. Here's his campaign response to Kyl-Lieberman

"Senator Obama clearly recognizes the serious threat posed by Iran. However, he does not agree with the President that the best way to counter that threat is to keep large numbers of troops in Iraq, and he does not think that now is the time for saber-rattling towards Iran. In fact, he thinks that our large troop presence in Iraq has served to strengthen Iran - not weaken it. He believes that diplomacy and economic pressure, such as the divestment bill that he has proposed, is the right way to pressure the Iranian regime. Accordingly, he would have opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment had he been able to vote today."

http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/obama-statement-on-the-kyl-lieberman-iran-amendment

[Cha]

8. Oh, killbot! Thank you..you ol'

Dean buddy! Is Obama your candidate or are you still studying it?

I just sent that in an email to myself so I can remember to show it to my friend who comes into the co-op who's an avid fan of Obama.

[Trisket-Bisket]

6. "Control atomic material"?????

Not mine B.O.No thank you!

[Colobo]

9. Viva Obama!

[AtomicKitten]

10. that's gotta hurt

"And we need to ask those who voted for the war: How can you give the president a blank check and then act surprised when he cashes it?"

Gobama.

[rinsd]

11. The candidate on the attack has the smell of desperation.

That had to be jarring to be blindsided by Hillary's fundraising coup.