Yes! Bring it on. I know that Joe Biden would also welcome a Foreign Policy Debate. Now more than ever, we need someone with Senator Biden's experience AND judgement.

Today Axelrod says "You know Barack Obama had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq and he warned at the time that it would divert us from Afghanistan and Al Qaeda and now we see the effect of that." Thatt sis not good judgment, that was a calculated move back then when he was running for the State Senate and was addressing a rally in the south Chicago, a very liberal district in the city and he is now lucky basking on it. Show us other moments of his good judgment? Like the times he skipped to vote on Iran? like the several times he has voted to fund the war he speaks so loud against it "from the beginning"? Axelrod talks about Obama's judgment, sure..where has he been on the big issues where he has always voted PRESENT or sneaked around at the last minute or avoid the vote so he can use his position to attack other candidates.
No matter how much Obama's strategist or big money supporters spent the millinions of dollars trying to portrait him like the leader of change, they know that the vast majority of people don't buy it. Axelrod is a dishonest man that has been the strategist for the Daley campaign and corrupt Chicago political machine but as much as he has succeeded in Chicago he will not succeeds bring a light weighted, inexperienced smiley candidate to win the Presidency of the United States.
Obama is a phony and should not be elected!

Obama needs to grow up and get rid of that swagger he has. Every time he takes the stage he has this swagger
that says to me that he thinks he is better than everyone else in the room.He is a phony and I cant believe that people are falling for it.

In his speech, 'The War We Need to Win', Obama laid out brilliantly the dangerous situation in Pakistan and the steps needed to correct it. He was criticized by the other candidates and called naive. Within no time at all, foreign policy experts were lauding his position and the candidates all started using his words as if they were their very own.

Senator Obama was right about Iraq, he was right about Pakistan, and he is right for this country and this world.

And for the record 100 or so 'present' votes out of 4000 is hardly notable, unless one wants to look entirely foolish in a comment page.

Facts are your friends, folks. The record is all there to see if you're actually interested in it.

Ha ha, Obama discussing foreign policy? That sounds like a joke...oh wait..he has how many advisers who will always be telling him what to do! For Obama to compare or even trying to debate foreign affairs with Biden, Richardson, and even Clinton, Edwards or Dodd is another joke. Obama needs to go back to school to learn Foreign Relations 101 so he can do a better work in the Foreign Relations Committee in Congress where he is belong!

He never ceases to amaze me. NO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE AT ALL!!!!!! Biden definetly has the most foreign policy experience. No doubt about it, but Senator Clinton is a close second. She sits on several committies in the Senate as well as having been VERY involved as 1st Lady for eight years. She wasn't a Barbara Bush, Lady Bird Johnson type of 1st lady. She was very hands on and a POLITICAL PARTNER with then President Bill Clinton.****Obama needs to grow up. He makes stupid statements about going into Pakistan (a friend in the war on terror) and now welcomes a debate. He's got a lot of charisma and obvious intelligence, but it's scary to think of him as president!

Oh...and Obama acquired all the foreign affairs knowledge where?...oh..Indonesia that was he said..when he was 10 years old. Brilliant!
Terri,-- I read his speech and I've seen him twice in person and I wasn't impressed. He can read a good speech; but in those topics he can't go deeper, his knowledge or experience is not there my friend. Lets be real.
Wasn't Obama mentioned to bomb Pakistan earlier this year? he backtracked afterwards? He still believes you can seat down to a table without preconditions or previous low level negotiations.
The fact is Obama is a talented guy; but for him to be the "ONE" like Oprah said, now thats really stretching it a little bit, LOL!
Show me the real facts, his real record...no scripted speeches. Thats the debate they are trying to avoid and Obama's campaign cries foul every time they are challenged. I would appreciate more Obamas's honesty to show us who he really is instead of pretending he knows it all!

Knowing Obama as OLD Establishment politics as usual (study his track record and speeches) - he would have voted for the Iraq resolution as well. It was when the IRAQ War became unpopular when Barrack Hussein Obama 130 times present Obama started opposing the war. Politics as Usual.

Matthew, you are also wrong. He spoke out against the war the same as I did, but his opinion meant no more than mine. He wasn't privey to the intelligence that the others had and was not in the position to vote for the war. If he had been, he too may have been wrongly misslead. You do know that he recently wanted to go into Pakistan without their consent and later retracted his statement. NO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE.

Obama has not experience in foreign affairs, how many times Obama has voted funding the war? Kucinich has been the only one opposing not only the war but the funding and he has been in the US Congress when you need to take stands for political issues. for those who bring back over and over again Obama position when he was campaigning for the Illinois State Senate are just using the only tool they have on his lucky calculated position. Has he taken any other strong position in the Senate floor or done a real debate before casting any of his votes in the Senate? NOPE. Thats Obama, trying to avoid conflicts when you need strengths to use his positions for whatever his political calculations are. Thats to be clever; but dishonest. I don't trust Obama, I don't trust Axelrod, I don't trust his oiled political machine and I don't want them in D.C. They can stay in Chicago and Illinois, we don't need more lobbyst, more money buying power. Obama is a risk!

Mark and Benj:
I was an Obama supporter as I do believe he is the Real thing, not a phony, But, I believe that Joe Biden has the judgement and strength as well as both domestic and foreign policy experience that neither Obama or Hilary have. The question is, can Biden win the nomination? If not, Obama is the one that can unite us and restore respect for the United States around the world.

As a member of the minority party of the Senate for six of his eight years, Obama accomplished the following:
•He expanded healthcare to include 154,000 people in Illinois (including 70,000 children which was an additional 20000 over the previous plan)
•Legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations
•A law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped
•A welfare reform law
•An earned-income-tax-credit law for working-poor families
•Death penalty reform that passed unanimously
•Worked with both Democrats and Republicans in drafting successful legislation on ethics and health care reform
•Promoted increased subsidies for child care
•During his last two years in the majority, he sponsored 780 bills, 280 of which became law
----
While in the US Senate Obama has worked on the following legislation:
•Lugar-Obama, a bill that expands the Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines
•"Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for a web site, managed by the Office of Management and Budget, listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract
•"Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," which had his name on it as the first sponsor
•“Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007” with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in strengthening restrictions on travel in corporate jets to Senators.
•An amendment to the “2008 Defense Authorization Act” with Kit Bond (R-MO) adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accounting Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs
•"Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,
•Legislation to prevent nuclear terrorism with Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
•Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries
•Reintroduced the “Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act” helping veterans transition from the DOD health system to the VA system by extending the window in which new veterans can get mental health care from two years to five years.
•Authored “Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act (SAVE Act)” to strengthen and expand federal homeless veteran programs that serve over 100,000 homeless veterans annually
•Led the fight on "Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act", which has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee, will enable investigations into deceptive and fraudulent practices

Hey Louis!
How a Biden/Obama '08? Experience, judgement, hope and change!

Great resume for Obama (Eyzwidopn) but can you imagine the resume for Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, or Bill Richardson? We would all be sitting here for 2 days reading it.-----Can you give me his resume for his 1 1/2 years in the UNITED STATES SENATE?????? I doubt it. He's been campaigning for President of the U.S. for all but the 1st couple of months of his so far short term.

Eyzwidonpn,-- if that's all you have on Obama's accomplishments to show his experience in Foreign Affairs or to be President of th US, you failed. Not wonder alot people said he is inexperience. Surprising in the list is that the number or accomplishments is to slim even tho he was there for 10 years.
Let's compare his career legislature accomplishments with those of the other Democrat candidates and he will have not chance. Way to inexperience. He will not get my vote, thats for sure.

As a woman, I'm embarrassed to see the delusional 'arguments' other women are making against Obama to show their support for Hillary.

Ladies, just because you say it and believe it in your own minds doesn't make it true.

Eyzwidopn:

Thank you for that information....

and if folks like Kat would do some research too, then she would be in a better position to make comments......Do you actually think that's all he has done, Kat? You must be kidding.......Are you able to list all you've done in the last 5 years in a paragraph or two? Perhaps Eyzwidopn was providing a quick snapshot.....why don't you provide more than critical comments.....

can someone explain how exactly Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror? aside from generously accepting the billions of dollars we offer them.

What you people fail to see is that judgment and vision trumps "experience"! Senator Obama had the vision months and years ago to point out that the Iraq war was based on wrong information and would divert our attention away from Afghanistan and Pakistan! Yet Hillary's "experience" led her to vote for a war based on intelligence that she didn't even study (her admission).

She "knew" Mrs. Bhutto personally? That's her foreign policy experience?

Senator Obama was very visionary and prescient about these links when others called him naive. Everything he warned out has come to pass.

Of course he walks on stage with confidence...he knows what he's talking about; and he doesn't have to depend on his spouse's coattails! What kind of feminist leadership is that, Hillary?

Bill was the President...it's HIS "experience", not hers!

We will keep reminding you that Senator Obama was right all along.

you lost my vote playing on the death of this woman for your ambition

Senator Obama was never asked to vote on the deployment in Iraq because he wasn't in the senate at the time. He may or may not have commented from the cheap seats depending on who he was talking to. He would not have been presented with any classified material or security briefings as senators at the time would have been. He has voted to continue the war in Iraq several times since becoming a senator and so his comments now can only be seen as politically motivated and very close to down right fabrications. His acusation against senator Clinton and every other Us senator at the time should be retracted ans his media spokesperson who made them should resign. The Obama campaign needs to hang their heads in shame over this one. Reprehensible doesn't even begin to describe it.

Shame on Obama and his campaign for trying to capitalize on the assasination events of today. I cant beleive they blame Clinton for Bhutto's death. They give ignorance and crudeness a bad name. Instead of throwing mud at Clinton for an assasination which has nothing to do with her, why not formulate some foreign policy of their own. Oh, thats right, you have no experience in that field so its easier to deflect your lack of experience by placeing blame on Hillary Clinton. While your comeing up with some foreign policy experience, how about comeing up with an appology to Hillary Clinton and the world for exploiting a horrible situation for political gain. Shame on you Obama, shame, shame!

It seems to me that Biden, Richardson, Dodd, and Clinton are more experienced at at talking about their experience but when it comes to telling the American people what those experiences are. They seem to draw blank. I am frankly tired of hearing it. Experience gives you good judgment, otherwise what good is experience in the first place? It get the sense that they said it so much that other people started to believe it. The Iraq War vote, just a mistake, experience has nothing to do with it. Right? The China Trade deal, NAFTA, illegal immigration,social security? Where was their experience to recognize these problems before it was in our conscientiousness? Was it after deciding to run for president after 10 to 30 years of experience?

Obama is sooooooooooooooooooo full of himself .... get real ... who in the heck is supporting this guy other than a bunch of confused republicans and celebrites??

What's the debate? Really? Rhetoric is one thing and yes, Senator Obama voted against the original Iraq invasion. He reminds us of this every day. It's funny in a sick and sad way, he is often touted as a visonary because he did this, but Dennis Kucinich did this and most people don't know who he is. More, unlike Obama, Kucincih has voted against ongoing funding of the Iraq occupation, justly and wants to bring trroops out in 90 days and put a peacekeeping mission in right away. Kucinich also encouraged all other Senators and Rep's to vote with him against the Iraq invasion and then gave ALL of them copies of summarized counter research that demonstrated that there was NO basis to invade Iraq. Hence, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Biden and Richardson cannot say that they were completely mislead. Sadly, they knew alot more than they put off, even tho this administration certainly did every thing it could do to stifle debate. Unfortunately, thje first Iraq vote to me is where it largely ended for Obama as he has continued to vote for ongoing funding of Iraq like all of the candidates again, except Kucinich.

Furthermore, I wish to add, I wish some of you people would do some research before posting comments. Barack has not been in the U.S.Senate 10 years (Kat), nor was he there when the bill to authorize military force in Iraq was presented for vote.(Dogface). As to his campaign playing on the death of Bhutto, nothing could be farther from the truth. Axelrod merely pointed out in answer to a question about Hillary's foreign policy experience, that had she and other's possibly considered Barack's proposal of going after Al Quaeda and Bin Ladin in Pakistan, this tragedy may possibly not have happened. However this death pales in comparison to the tragedy that has been carried out since the invasion of Iraq. Perhaps it will now cause the administration to do as Barack suggested and root out these evil people and hopefully with the aid of our supposed ally Pervez Musharraf. You people are selling yourselves short about what this man knows of foreign policy and his wisdom. He has had one of the best mentor's in political history, Republican Dick Lugar, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and has even co-authored legislation with Lugar.

I can see Barack Hussein Obama losing the nomination and thats inevitable! That will be good for him tho, he can go back to the Senate and continue learning from his mentor the Republican Senator Lugar and really try to work hard as senator and get some experience. He needs to prove to all he is really a good US Senator, debate, pass laws and build his credentials, tho that will be to boring for him...well he can always go back to Illinois or ask Oprah to launch his talk show to compete with Dr. Phil and make millions of dollars. Ha ha

You're right gc, Obama didn't vote on the Iraq invasion. I misspoke. However, I guess I thought he had voted on the Iraq invasion as he insinuates that he has always been so opposed to the invasion. Of course, meanwhile he has continued to vote to fund the illegal occupation of Iraq. In many ways, I find Obama to be a very positive addition to the Democratic party. However, I also find him non-commital and he is not specific about how he will change the American government. In the same breath, he also can't wait to slam Cheney for being the corrupt war monger that he is and Obama reminds us again and again that his expertise is in constitutional law. However, he doesn't recognize that he vowed to protect the constitution when he was swore in and given the strong evidence it is not his place, or others like Nancy Pelosi to avoid discussing impeachment of Cheney as I have heard him do a few times now. What's refreshing about another go with the flow politician? I was quite unimpressed by his lack of virtue on this issue. More, as far as foreign policy and the NAFTA and WTO treaties, Obama says he will "look at" these things, while Kucinich has already went on the record that he will "repeal" these agreements that hurt America. Don't you think we need some one courageous and with vision and conviction, instead of someone who looks good and sounds good and hits all of the right buzzwords. Personally, although I would gamble that Obama would do a pretty good at President, I don't think we can risk yet another 4 to 8 years of less than significant change. I know where Dennis Kucincih stands. He votes the same way he talks.

Obama should go back to Illinois, I am getting tired of how much press a real inexperienced, untested leader with not records in anything really trying to be the President. We already elected a "nice," "Washington outsider," "Uniter not a divider," etc.etc man and look what he got us into. We should not make the same mistake with another inexperienced person like we did with Bush. I have to give credit to Obama oratorical skills but those along are not enough quality to be a President. Enough of Obama and the big press should stop giving him all that unbalanced free coverage. He doesn't deserves it.

Stop whinning about the so called "executive" experience Hillary Clinton doesn't have in foreign affairs. If her experience was so vast, then she should release the white house papers to validate her experience. Futhermore, she's an established politican who has upheld the business as usual policy and will continue to spoon feed the American people just enought to appear she's doing a good job. And lets not forget the special interests will continue to run the country and the White House. Go figure, why people want to support Hillary Clinton? She voted for the Iraq war because it was politically correct? And now blames Bush for her vote! Go figure...As a senator, what bill has she authored since fighting for the American people for 35 years? Wake up people, we need change, someone who will think out of the box, and someone who welcomes accountability to the American people. If you vote for Hillary Clinton, then you continue the INSANTITY and madness to do business as usual!

Obama has a much superior understanding of Middle East issues to the other candidates. He was right on Iraq in calling it a dumb war from the start. He was right on Iran in criticizing the Kyl/Lieberman bill that could lead to World War III. He was right about letting Pakistan know that they cannot shield Bin Laden - since Bin Laden is the real issue. And, he was right in pointing out that his early upbringing in Indonesia contributes to his foreign policy acumen. Obama's multiculturalism is exactly what America desperately needs. His brain power was also shown in his graduating first in his class at Harvard. Hillary's record is the exact opposite of Obama's, as she gets everything important wrong, while he gets them all right. Failure might as well be her middle name. She might be a bit senile. It's a shame that we have to wait until 2009 to get Obama as president.

Hello! Don't make this election about foreign policy alone. Yes - it's bad that Bhutto got assassinated but we've got problems in our own country and its about time we started focusing on us while China projects a much larger shadow across the world. Where is China? Are they helping the world stabilize? No. They are favoring their currency and their exports to their own enrichment. Their policies are committing economic crimes upon the US and Europe. This country has allowed China and the Arab Emirates to own more and more of the US. This is already a dangerous precendent making us economic hostages. It doesn't matter that we have the best military when our economy is battered by trade inequity. Wake up America!

When Obama said in the democratic debate that he would meet with U.S. enemies and talk with them, Hillary and the other candidates said Obama was naive and inexperienced. George Bush has always referred to North Korea as an exis of evil. There was a notion that the U.S. will strike North Korea militarilly. Just last month, Bush sent a letter to the leader of North Korea; today, both the U.S. and North Korea are working together to dismantle North Korea nuclear programs. Did Bush talking to the enemy North Korea not paid off? Was Obama not right and Hillary and the other candidates not wrong? Here, we are talking of judgment. There is no one that has experience in government as Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. What did their experience do with Iraq? None. Obama is an intellect that recognizes what is best for the United States.

How did he vote against the Iraq war if he was not in office yet?