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So What Did He Learn?
July 22, 2008 6:13 PM
In the shadow of the Temple of Hercules in Amman, Jordan, today, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, held a press conference after official trips to Afghanistan and Iraq.
I had a chance to ask him a couple questions. My second one bore little fruit, but the first elicited an interesting response, I think.
This was Obama's first trip to Afghanistan and his second to Iraq (his first since the surge.) So I asked if he learned anything that changed his mind about any part of his thinking on foreign affairs.
The answer was basically: No.
Here's his full answer:
"In terms of -- look, there are all kinds of things that I learned," Obama said. "I think one of the things that was most eye-opening was the extent to which the porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan makes it very difficult for our troops, as good as they are, to decisively defeat the Taliban and the terrorist operations in Afghanistan.
"If we don't get a handle on that border region, we are going to continue to have problems, and Al Qaida is going to -- and their networks are going to be able to continue to project beyond that region.
"And so, one of the things that was driven home is the importance of our diplomatic efforts in Pakistan, which, by the way, may include having a conversation with India and seeing if we can lessen some of the tensions between those two countries.
"A lot of what drives, it appears, motivations on the Pakistan side of the border, still has to do with their concerns and suspicions about India. And I think that's an example of aggressive, creative diplomacy.
"We haven't had a conversation between the Indians and the Pakistanis that has been sustained and meaningful about how they can arrive at a more sensible arrangement between the two countries. That could relieve some of the pressure and help us go after some of the -- some of these forces along the border regions."
So Obama learned a few things -- all of which reaffirmed his already established views. Nothing that changed his mind about anything.
- jpt
July 22, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (106)
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Omentum,
you are wise to not attempt to answer those questions posed truthfully,
for they would surely lead you to answers you do not wish to tell.
So, off you go, continue with the brush off's as if any questioning of Obama's credentials is out of bounds.
Posted by: biff | Jul 22, 2008 11:52:26 PM
biff
He is making you look like an idiot barking the gop talking points like a lame brain minion.
That's a small accomplishment. Your really didn't need much assistance in accomplishing that feat
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 22, 2008 11:49:09 PM
He speaks like a tenth grader trying to BS his way in a term paper.
Very poor stuff...
But Bush is an idiot, etc...
Posted by: Rev. Dr. E Buzz Miller | Jul 22, 2008 11:47:39 PM
No answers huh.
So he IS a completely empty superficial shell of a man, who knows nothing but advancing his own interests, through the use of smooth talk, platitudes,
and good ol fashioned Chicago politics.
Thought so.
Gee, could that have something to do with the polls trending away from him now that the spotlights on?
I've gotta go, discuss amongst yourselves.
Posted by: biff | Jul 22, 2008 11:41:17 PM
I'll make it even easier,
it can be a private one, of bravery or sacrifice, doing what's right notwithstanding that it may not advance his immediate personal interests?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Posted by: biff | Jul 22, 2008 11:37:10 PM
OK,
I'll make it easier,
can someone name a single major accomplishment of Obama's?
He's applying for the most important job in the world after all.
Again, not smiling nicely but, you know, a real accomplishment?
Posted by: biff | Jul 22, 2008 11:34:30 PM
biff
you must remember this guy was not reaching across the isle. He was getting ready to leave the gop. Remember back when he was auditioning to be kerry's vp.
McCain is soooo confused
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 22, 2008 11:34:06 PM
biff
Those are acts of senility
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 22, 2008 11:32:25 PM
In fact,
with all of Obama's talk of bridging the divide,
can someone point to a significant single act (legislative or otherwise) that can be said to cross party lines????
Remember, we're talking acts here, not mere words.
Words are easy. Cheap really. Dressed up nicely they may appear expensive, but in the end without real acts to back them up, they're cheap as borsht.
Posted by: biff | Jul 22, 2008 11:31:43 PM
biff biff biff
the bottom line is...
Obama is getting 95 % right
Mccain is getting it 9.5% right.
a slight exaggeration but McCain is a great guy would love to have a beer with him and my Dad... a hero.
but is he the better President. No.
we picked the guy we could have a beer with last time...not good.
Obama halps America right now much more than Mccain.
Mccain unfortunately is running tired I think...and I feel bad...like Ben Stein and Bill Bennett have said Obama is kicking his butt.
Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 11:30:45 PM
do you all understand that McCain made up another story of a conversation between a general and an insurgent tonight on CBS.
where he completely not only flipped the time frame and influences...but made up a conversation about it.
Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 11:25:22 PM
Hey,
I've got an idea,
let's compare courageous acts between the two. Of course this'll include legislative acts, such as going against one's own party or special interests to cross the isle to do the right (but not necessarily politically expedient thing), and of course physical acts of bravery such as enduring torture for ones own country.
Out of the sake of fairness, lets start with legislative acts of bravery.
Who want's to start?
....oh wait....that's not fair either, while McCain has spent a lifetime engaging in such acts, Obama goes down party line pretty much one hundred percent of the time, and even worse, has he ever even sponsored a major piece of legislation?
Hmmm, that not fair is it.
I know, I'll try again:
Who looks better in jeans?
There, that's about Obama's speed.
Posted by: biff | Jul 22, 2008 11:24:04 PM
Mccaingot press tonight/...oh and again he screwed up the influence of the shia militia and the surge...
yeah you all should be glad that his camera time is limited...
the idea of what Mccain use to be...is much better than what long camera time shows you what he is now...
a daily confusion ...not of a word...or something like calling 57 elections 57 states...
but legitimate switching of facts because he either has them confused or he got them wrong...and doesn't know.
which is better ...when he has 50 % of the time had to have it explained to him what his flip was or mistake was more than once...
Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 11:23:08 PM
The media fascination with Obama is totally nauseating and total hype. Unfounded or imaginary enthusiasm.
Republicans, wake up ... you dont have to be boisterious and wordy ... all you need is GO TO THE POlls come November.
And we, the 28% percent Hillary supporters who will NEVER vote Obama will vote with you for MCCAIN.
We, the 28% supporters will vote country above party.
But you, the Republicans, have to go out 100% strong to support MCCAIN for our votes to even count or make a difference.
The thought of Obama being in the White House should scare you all enough to go to the polls.
Come on ... Obama, sadly, sickens us ... In the Middle East like he cares, like he knows ... what a laugh ... !!!
Posted by: ComeOnRepublicans | Jul 22, 2008 11:20:31 PM
biff
Are you delirious. The campaign camp is the one crying and whining like newborns.
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 22, 2008 11:19:27 PM
biff biff biff biff
rasmussen is the "hannity Poll"
It's always going to lean right...
realize that every other pollster when asked about rasmussen wishes they would go out of business...lol
you notice Fox is the only station that ever notes rasmussen on it's own...
and stop with all the daily polls ...
look at the reputable pllster (almost every other one) and their multi-date state polls
Obama is kicking and taking names...but go with rasmussen if that works for ya...lol
Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 11:19:00 PM
of course he had nothing to learn--he is all seeing!
Posted by: pp | Jul 22, 2008 11:17:20 PM
James Danley: If we hadn't invaded Iraq, "We would not have proved that Iraq no longer had WMDs"
Well, OF COURSE!!! Let's invade Bolivia too - maybe they DON'T HAVE WMD'S EITHER!!!!
Maybe Canada DOESN'T HAVE WMD'S - let's invade them and find out FOR SURE!!!
The rest of your 'list of reasons' why it was worth 4,000+ American KIA is equally utterly ridiculous or JUST PLAIN BOGUS.
Posted by: Snarxon | Jul 22, 2008 11:17:18 PM
I have a good idea.
Why don't McCain go look for radical islamist extemist on the Iraq/Pakistani border. Yeah and when he is done he can go over and stop alqueda from training in Iran.
What a fine commander in chief he would make
Posted by: Omentum | Jul 22, 2008 11:16:29 PM
uh, yeah. and if we hadn't invaded iraq:
1) over 4,000 American soldiers would still be alive
2) the U.S. would not have squandered $700 billion
3) our standing in the world community would not have been compromised
4) our military would not be stretched to the breaking point
boy, that whole invading iraq thing sure was a stellar idea. oh, boy.
mccain: good man, bad judgement.
Posted by: virgil | Jul 22, 2008 11:12:18 PM
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