Obama says Bush policies strengthened Iran, Hamas

Reuters ^ | Fri May 16, 2008 | David Morgan

[Cinnamon Girl]

WATERTOWN, South Dakota (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama said on Friday President George W. Bush's "failed policies" had strengthened U.S. enemies like Iran and Hamas.

Responding to Bush's comment on Thursday that those who want to talk to Iran were like Nazi appeasers before the Second World War, Obama accused Bush of "exactly the kind of appalling attack that's divided the country and that alienates us from the world."

Obama also challenged Bush and Republican presidential rival John McCain to a debate on foreign policy issues, a day after Bush caused outrage among Democrats with his remarks on appeasement before the Israeli parliament.

McCain, who has clinched his party's presidential nomination, did not repeat the word "appeasement" on Thursday. But he did criticize Obama's pledge to speak directly to U.S. foes, particularly Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said Obama needs to explain why he would talk to him.

"If George Bush and John McCain want to have a debate about protecting the United States of America, that is a debate that I'm happy to have any time, any place, and that is a debate that I will win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for," Obama said in a campaign speech in South Dakota.

"They've got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush's policies," he said.

"They're going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority."

"That's the Bush-McCain record on protecting this country," he added. "Those are the failed policies that John McCain wants to double down on."

(Reporting by David Morgan, editing by David Alexander)

[Cinnamon Girl]

Whereas, Obama's policies would come down on Iran and Hamas like a sledgehammer of U.S. military power.

[Slapshot68]

“Responding to Bush’s comment on Thursday that those who want to talk to Iran were like Nazi appeasers before the Second World War, Obama accused Bush of “exactly the kind of appalling attack that’s divided the country and that alienates us from the world.”

Yes, so alienated that coalitions of countries are currently helping us defeat these militant animals in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This guy is a loon.

[Jeff Head]

This guy is an absolute idiot, or an absolute quisling. My vote is on the latter.

There are 50 million people in Iraq and Afghanistan who differ with Obama...they are free to do so nowq because of Bush.

There has not been a major terror attack on our soil since 911, because of Bush and taking the fight to the enemy on their turf.

...and in the process, Iran, who is the chief sponsor of terror, is surrounded by our forces now, who are ready to attack should we need to.

Obama would have the world still living with Saddam Hussein, and an inabaility for us to respond to either him or Iran...and he calls that world safer.

I pray the American people will have the wisdom to see the difference.

BARACK HUSSEIN CHAMBERLAIN

[Red6]

It will be interesting how the man that wants to “talk with Iran” spins himself out of this?

So far they have managed to spin nearly every weakness into a strength and define sore or weak issues as off limits. For example: the fact that he’s inexperienced is spun into the idea that he isn’t part of the establishment and a new flavor in politics. His own wife’s words, his middle name, his attendance in a school that’s largely Muslim, all those themes are “taboo” and will label anyone mentioning them as mean spirited, racist, or xenophobic.

Obama is all form, no function. Like Global Warming, a theme he gladly beats on the campaign trail, his entire political platform and persona is itself a giant facade of Styrofoam and papier-mâché.

[tobyhill]

***”That's the Bush-McCain record on protecting this country,”***

Hey Obama, we haven't been attacked on our own soil since 9/11 so prove we're less safe.

[Convert from ECUSA]

I saw this picture on another thread - I think it fits:

[Retired Greyhound]

Whoa! Obama needs to seriously get laid or something.

What a little baby, freak-out tantrum this is.

Chill, dude!

[tobyhill]

***”They're going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority.”***

Hey Obama, isn't this what spreading Democracy is about, giving the voice to the people?

[roses of sharon]

So let's see, Obama is declining to unilaterally overturn the policy that's been officially agreed on not only by the Bush administration, but also by the Middle East “Quartet” (the EU, the UN, and Russia)?
Will the idiot press ask him that question? Did he support the this policy in the first place, so he now disagrees with the EU, UN, and Russia?

So will he now be called a “COWBOY” by the MSM and governments worldwide?

[the anti-liberal]

[Cinnamon Girl]

"They're going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority."

WE as in, 'me and the other palestinians?'

[tobyhill]

***”They've got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush's policies,”***

Hey Obama, wasn't Iraq a majority Shiite before we invaded and isn't Iran a majority Shiite? Won't there naturally be a strengthening religious ties between the two countries if a brutal dictator is removed?

[dandiegirl]

When are we going to hear from Republicans about the you tube video of Obama saying what he would do to the military? It’s a wealth of information about how he will defund practically all of it.

[McGruff]

"Those are the failed policies that John McCain wants to double down on."

Is Barack Obama a big time gambler also? I don't know anyone who uses those words.

[LYSandra]

This should be an entertaining campaign - Obama is unhinged. Talk about a spoiled little b—ch! He is soooo different with unprepared talk vs. his stupid change—future-—flowery crap! After hearing his stupid presser I wanted to contact his campaign and let them know Bush is not running! I will debate Bush? Does he know Bush isn’t running? Idiot!

[Dick Vomer]

Barak Hussein Muhammad Obamalamadingdong says that Bush kicking muzzie ass is helping Iran.

Yeah, got it.

and you're gonna do what? Talk them to death. sweet.... the Neville Chamberlain of the UFC.. what a little scrapper the young marxist from Chicago is.

[roses of sharon]

A grifter/confidence man, with friends like these:

Black Liberation Army
Brown Berets
Gay Liberation Front
Gray Panthers
I Wor Kuen
Former Black Panther Party
Nation of Islam
New Black Panthers
New Communist Movement
Red power
Symbionese Liberation Army
Weather Underground
Young Lords
Protesters of 1968
Hamas
PLO
FARC
Chavez
Kaddafhi
Farrakhan

[roses of sharon]

“It’s conceivable that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, ‘This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so he’s not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush,’” Obama said in an interview with The Atlantic.

[andy58-in-nh]

One is wise never to attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Having said that, Obama is clearly not a moron. He is well-educated and articulate, but painfully naive and embarrassingly shallow at the same time. Affirmative action will do that.

[roses of sharon]

Barack Obama sacks adviser over talks with Hamas
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=8&x_nameinnews=88&x_article=1437

Malley’s Arafat Connection

While Robert Malley’s past history might seem typical for a bright young man pursuing a senior Middle East policy position in a future Democratic administration, digging a little deeper reveals something quite untypical in his past. Robert Malley grew up in France, where his Egyptian-born father, Simon Malley, and New York raised mother, Barbara (Silverstein) Malley, were radical publishers of a controversial magazine about Africa and the so-called Third World. Malley’s parents were rabidly anti-Israel and counted Yasir Arafat as a personal friend. Indeed, Arafat was among those “leaders” (for want of a better word) who intervened with the French government to readmit the Malley family to France after they had been expelled for their radical activities.

That is, while in the Clinton administration Malley dealt directly with Palestinian matters, and with Yasir Arafat himself, despite having a huge and hidden conflict of interest: close ties between his family and Yasir Arafat.

Well, hidden from the public – when questioned about it in 2001, Dennis Ross, Clinton’s senior Middle East adviser, said that the Clinton administration knew all about Malley’s past.

While CAMERA did not publish all the facts at the time, we did mention the ties between Malley and Arafat in an article in 2005.

But now, with Malley possibly a Middle East advisor to a major presidential candidate, it seems the full story should be exposed. I will try to minimize repetition of what others have recently published on this subject, while still laying out the facts in a coherent way.