Posted on 02/08/2009 1:18:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge
MUNICH, Germany (AFP) – The US administration signalled a new spirit of international cooperation this weekend but called for its allies to do more and painted a bleak picture of the war in Afghanistan.
Vice President Joe Biden used the Munich Security Conference in the southern Germany city to say that Barack Obama's White House sought a "new tone" in foreign relations, particularly with regard to Russia and even Iran.
"I come to Europe on behalf of a new administration determined to set a new tone not only in Washington, but in America's relations around the world," he said on his first foreign trip since Obama took office on January 20.
"America will do more, but America will ask for more from our partners.
"As we seek a lasting framework for our common struggle against extremism, we will have to work cooperatively with nations around the world -- and we will need your help," Biden said.
Obama sent other big guns to Munich too: national security advisor General James Jones, special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and General David Petraeus, US commander over Afghanistan and Iraq.
All three painted a bleak picture of the prospects of beating the Taliban, with Holbrooke saying it would be even tougher than stabilising Iraq in the bloody years following the 2003 US-led toppling of Saddam Hussein.
"It is like no other problem we have confronted, and in my view it's going to be much tougher than Iraq," Holbrooke said. "It is going to be a long, difficult struggle.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
US Vice-President Joe Biden waves as he leaves at the Bayerischer Hof hotel, the venue of the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, southern Germany on February 7, 2009. The US administration signalled a new spirit of international cooperation this weekend but called for its allies to do more and painted a bleak picture of the war in Afghanistan. (AFP/DDP/File/Oliver Lang)
The problem with “reaching out” these days is that most of the time, you pull back just a stub.
another way we need to 'reach out'..
The US intercepts a short-range ballistic missile during a test in the Pacific Ocean. US Vice President Joe Biden said Washington will press ahead with its missile defence programme -- provided it works, is cost effective, and in consultation with Russia. (AFP/US NAVY/File)
“US Vice President Joe Biden said Washington will press ahead with its missile defence programme — provided it works, is cost effective, (((and in consultation with Russia.)))”
Mr. Table, prepare to meet my head repeatedly.
“new tone” indeed!, it’s one asinine , outrageous and inconceivable idea after the other from both of them, Obama and Biden.
Why do Obama and his backwards Democrat liberals suddenly think the Taliban are bad guys, but the numerous terror groups that formed in Saddam Hussein’s pre-war Iraq were not worth attacking??
Seriously. Under the Obama-Democrat mentality, the Taliban “did not attack” America on 9/11. (it was AlQaeda)
The Taliban are not global terrorists.
The Taliban are not dangerous enough to put one single US troop in harms way.
And the national peaceniks just stand there with their duplicitious thumbs up their collective butts, while this warped Obama thinking just more and more warped.
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