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Fact Check: Kissinger Defends McCain's Iran Stance
September 26, 2008 11:54 PM
ABC News' Kirit Radia Reports: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger came to the defense of longtime friend Sen. John McCain following Friday's presidential debate saying he "would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level."
"Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality," Kissinger said in statement issued by the McCain campaign.
During the debate, Obama pointed to Kissinger to defend his position because the former secretary of state supports direct talks with high-level Iranians without preconditions. Kissinger does not, however, support the U.S. president personally engaging in those talks, a point which McCain sought to drive home during the debate.
While it appears Kissinger and Senator Barack Obama disagree on what level those talks should occur, they do agree talks should begin, in Kissinger's words, “at a very high level” and without preconditions.
During the debate, McCain said that Kissinger would not endorse Obama's position that he would meet on a presidential level with leaders of enemy countries. "I guarantee you he would not say that," McCain said of Kissinger.
Obama took issue with McCain's characterization of the former top diplomat's position, but just last week Kissinger said that, while he broadly agrees on the need to negotiate with Iran, he "preferred doing it at the secretary of state level."
When asked if high level talks with Iran should begin right out of the box, Kissinger replied "Initially, yes."
According to Obama's official website he supports "direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions."
On preconditions the two appear to agree. Last week Kissinger also said that "I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations."
September 26, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (428)
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HA HA HA,
poor kissingger. He was looking like he supported the Democrats there for a while, LOL!
Thank God someone pointed that one out to him, enabling him to flip-flop back to the Republican dogma.
Ahhh, those adorable signs of aging...
Posted by: Ooops | Sep 27, 2008 12:02:42 AM
Posted by: Lustin Jones | Sep 27, 2008 12:05:59 AM
Take a look at the debate again. Obama did not say that Kissinger supported engagement with Iran AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL. He said that Kissinger supported ENGAGING Iran. Get it right.
Posted by: ohsuzanna | Sep 27, 2008 12:09:24 AM
one by one, they fall. whatever is he going to do when Palin takes the stage.
I CANNOT WAIT!
unless of course we do what McCain wants and postpone the VP debate until after the elections.
Posted by: GIGI | Sep 27, 2008 12:09:28 AM
Of course Kissinger favors McCain's position on Iran.
And, of course, John McCain recognizes what a Presidential position relative to Iran (the ones who took our citizens hostage...remember Obamabots?) is, and Obama does not.
Once again, John McCain proves he is a capable and experienced leader.
And, once again, Obama proves he is not.
Pretty simple.
So, where is the story?
Anybody But Obama...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Sep 27, 2008 12:11:21 AM
Take a look at the debate again. Obama did not say that Kissinger supported engagement with Iran AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL. He said that Kissinger supported ENGAGING Iran. Get it right.
Posted by: ohsuzanna | Sep 27, 2008 12:09:24 AM
!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
oh that goes without saying, but we've heard the Republican party give up on their moral views, sanity, logic, ideas and dignity. It shouldn't be a surpise when this board gets flooded with hysterical flip-flopers.
pass the popcorn!
Posted by: GIGI | Sep 27, 2008 12:12:07 AM
"they do agree talks should begin without preconditions." lead with this and your fact check will be slightly more factual. spin it all you want, but obama was right on this one.
Posted by: bob | Sep 27, 2008 12:15:18 AM
An easy call McCain won , hands down!! ABC has a story about Obama lying during the debate about his tax plan.
Posted by: ynot | Sep 27, 2008 12:15:38 AM
Obama's naivete and lack of understanding on key foreign policy issues is truly frightening. For someone who prides themselves on "nuance", in the one area where "nuance" is key, he FAILS.
Obama also did not present himself as statesmanlike or composed. He was rude, interrupting Sen McCain several times, pointing his finger at the moderator, etc. I was disgusted with his behavior and demeanor.
And when he had to jump up and down like a child with his "ooh, ooh, I have a bracelet too..." and THEN COULDN'T REMEMBER THE SOLDIER'S NAME AND HAD TO LOOK....
that wasn't missed by ANYONE. His contempt for our military is very upsetting. Our beloved fallen are NOT a talking point and a way to try and score political points.
Obama does not deserve nor is qualified to lead our men and women as Commander in Chief.
Posted by: Laurel | Sep 27, 2008 12:16:37 AM
Obama is a serious, hideous serial liar, who not only use his own words to lie, but twisted other people's words to lie on his behalf.
Posted by: young_voter | Sep 27, 2008 12:18:28 AM
Obama has made it very clear before, and did again tonight that he didn't think such talks should begin at the presidential level. So, this statement that Kissinger disagrees with Obama starts with the incorrect assumption that McCain's misstatement of Obama's position is accurate.
Here is Obama's statement during the debate:
"There's a difference between preconditions and preparation. Of course we've got to do preparations, starting with low-level diplomatic talks..."
Posted by: Brian Delaney | Sep 27, 2008 12:18:28 AM
"one by one, they fall. whatever is he going to do when Palin takes the stage.
I CANNOT WAIT!"
Me neither, maybe Biden can tell us more about that TV address FDR gave after the crash.
Posted by: The Oorth Cloud | Sep 27, 2008 12:19:01 AM
Obama lied! AGAIN!
Posted by: ShawnHH | Sep 27, 2008 12:19:54 AM
Henry is so irrelevant. We see how well he handled the Vietnam war. Then there is his cancelled official trips to Brazil because the US govenment could not assure he would not be arrested for war crimes carried in South America.
I think we can find better advice elsewhere.
Posted by: pubguy | Sep 27, 2008 12:19:58 AM
"Once again, John McCain proves he is a capable and experienced leader."
---------------------------------------
His "insight" on Iraq:
I think the victory will be rapid, within about three weeks."
John McCain, January 28, 2003.
"It's clear that the end is very much in sight...It won't be long. It, it'll be a fairly short period of time."
John McCain, April 9, 2003.
"Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?"
John McCain, responding to assertion by Fox News' Neil Cavuto that "many argue the conflict isn't over," June 11, 2003.
"I'm confident we're on the right course."
John McCain, March 7, 2004.
"We're either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months."
John McCain, November 12, 2006.
Posted by: pubguy | Sep 27, 2008 12:23:53 AM
WHY DID KISSINGER SIT IN AND CONFERENCE WITH COLIN POWELL & MADAME ALBRIGHT. AND SAY THAT THE NEXT PRES NEED TO BE ABLE TO NEGOCIATE WITH THE ALLIES THAT WE HAVE LIKE IRAN & RUSSIA??????? OR WAS I WATCHING ANOTHER KISSINGER?????
BUT I GUESS CAUSE THE RECORDING ON THE TV DON'T REPLAY IT AS MUCH AS MCAINS LIES! OBAMA WON HANDS DOWN ON THIS DEBATE!
OBAMA/BIDEN
2008
Posted by: Theresa | Sep 27, 2008 12:24:01 AM
I saw Kissingger last week on CNN. It was as Sen. Obama said.
Kissingger is a lying for McCain.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/20/se.01.html
Why do republicans lie for each other?
Posted by: GLT21 | Sep 27, 2008 12:24:59 AM
Did anyone catch the fact that Obama had to look at the name of the soldier on his braclet, He did'nt even remember the dead spldiers name! That was sad.. He is such a phony guy!!!
Posted by: ynot | Sep 27, 2008 12:25:19 AM
Donna and George as your official spin doctors, get real, be fair or get off the air.
Posted by: DON THOMAS | Sep 27, 2008 12:25:58 AM
Obama is so phony. I er uh. I thought McCain took it too easy on him tonight.
Posted by: RJ | Sep 27, 2008 12:29:00 AM
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