Obama Expresses Sympathy for Musharraf
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who was criticized for declaring in a foreign policy speech last week "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will," yesterday defended the Pakistani leader and said it was important that America maintain strong relations with him.
"President Musharraf has a very difficult job, and it is important that we are a constructive ally with them in dealing with al-Qaida," the Illinois senator said to reporters in Oakland, California. At the same time, he said "we can't send millions and millions of dollars to Pakistan for military aid, and be a constant ally to them, and yet not see more aggressive action in dealing with al-Qaida."
His shift in rhetoric came after Obama's statement about Pakistan last week, which were defended by many foreign policy experts but questioned by the several of his rivals, who said he should not have made the remark publicly. The Pakistani government also slammed the remarks, saying they upset Pakistani citizens.
--Perry Bacon Jr.
Posted at 6:09 PM ET on Aug 8, 2007
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Posted by: dd1780 | August 9, 2007 3:07 PM
Sending U.S. troops into Pakistan would lead to a civil war in Pakistan, with the United States allied with one side, and with many other individuals and nations allied with the other side. With all of his lying and foolish belligerence, at least Bush the younger, has gotten us into a war that does less harm than this war would do. When Bush started his war in Iraq in 2003, this was the war that I said Al Gore would have gotten us into, had he been elected president in 2000, and this is how I said Gore would have started this war. Now Obama is saying he will do what I believe Gore would have done. If we're not smart enough to know the danger of wars, then maybe we're better off being lied to.
Jesus of Nazareth says, "You have heard it said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you: Do not resist not evil. If a man strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him your left. If a man judges you and takes away your coat, offer him your cloak also. If a man compels you to go a mile, go with him two. (Mt 5:38-45). Jesus tells us not to resist evil because He knows that fighting and wars will always do more harm to everyone involved in them, than they will do to help any of those people.
Posted by: gpelly.bosela | August 9, 2007 9:38 AM
Just wanted to make it clear, Obama did not back down from his speech. He just noted, as he did in his speech, that he wants to first work with Musharraf.
Posted by: SeanFoots | August 9, 2007 01:57 AM
Sending U.S. troops into Pakistan would lead to a civil war in Pakistan, with the United States allied with one side, and with many other individuals and nations allied with the other side. With all of his lying and foolish belligerence, at least Bush the younger, has gotten us into a war that does less harm than this war would do. When Bush started his war in Iraq in 2003, this was the war that I said Al Gore would have gotten us into, had he been elected president in 2000, and this is how I said Gore would have started this war. Now Obama is saying he will do what I believe Gore would have done. If we're not smart enough to know the danger of wars, then maybe we're better off being lied to.
Jesus of Nazareth says, "You have heard it said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you: Do not resist not evil. If a man strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him your left. If a man judges you and takes away your coat, offer him your cloak also. If a man compels you to go a mile, go with him two. (Mt 5:38-45). Jesus tells us not to resist evil because He knows that fighting and wars will always do more harm to everyone involved in them, than they will do to help any of those people.
Posted by: gpelly.bosela | August 9, 2007 9:15 AM
just wanted to make it clear
OBAMA DID NOT BACK DOWN FROM HIS SPEECH
he just noted, as he did in his speech, that he wants to FIRST WORK WITH MUSHARAF, and IF musharaf can do anything, then the US should
Posted by: SeanFoots | August 9, 2007 1:57 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Read a similar and expanded argument which contends that Obama made an astute political calculation with regards to Pakistan...a calculation that anticipates how voters might react to a terrorist attack on U.S. soil...planned by al Qaeda in Pakistan...here:
http://www.thoughttheater.com/2007/08/political_strategy_the_pakistanmusharraf_calculati.php