Senator Obama this morning said that he wants a foreign policy that is “tough, smart, and principled.” This afternoon, I ask: was it tough when Senator Obama voted to order U.S. forces to retreat from Iraq on a fixed timeline—regardless of the recommendations of our military commanders, regardless of conditions on the ground? Was it smart when Senator Obama opposed the surge and predicted that it would fail to improve security? Was it principled when Senator Obama said that he would order U.S. troops to retreat from Iraq, regardless of the humanitarian consequences for millions of innocent Iraqis—even genocide? Was it tough and principled when Senator Obama said he would be open to changing his plan for Iraq after going there and talking to General Petraeus—only to change that position a few hours later after being heatedly criticized by organizations like Moveon.org? I say respectfully, the answer to all of those questions is no.
Senator Obama also said this morning that he wants a foreign policy that recognizes that we have interests “not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi and Tokyo and London.” But what Senator Obama does not seem to recognize is that—in an interdependent world—what happens in Baghdad affects our interests in Kandahar and Karachi and Tokyo and London. What Senator Obama does not seem to understand is that—had we taken the course he had counseled and retreated from Iraq—the United States would have suffered a catastrophic defeat that would have left America and our allies less safe not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi and Tokyo and London.
Comments
Fantastic, reasoned response to more empty rhetoric from an empty suit. Unfortunately, you have heard it here and, more than likely, you will not hear it in too many other venues.
Why in the world you still caucus with the Democrats is beyond me Senator Lieberman. You are better than that.
Posted by: JohnC | July 15, 2008 11:01 PM
Senator Lieberman deserves to be saluted. Obama wants to end a war, not win a war. He's a naive fool, but more than that, he is dangerous. Let's hope the electorate recognizes that.
Posted by: Robert Folsom | July 16, 2008 12:35 AM
Your, and Senator Lieberman's criticism of Senator Obama's Iraq Policies, are dead wrong Clarice!
You cannot criticize some one, who is clearly never wrong, and who is a new Prophet!
Barack HUSSEIN Obama (PBUH)(SWT)(SAW)!
Posted by: DaleinAtlanta | July 16, 2008 12:50 AM
Sadly, JohnC, because the Liebster is a Democrat. He is on the money regarding the war on terror, but not much else. I give him kudos for his war stance, but it ends there for me.
Posted by: Marshall Art | July 16, 2008 01:48 AM
Lieberman will go down in any honest history of this time as a true "profile in courage", to borrow the phrase made popular by JFK. Though I think he is dead wrong on economic issues, his refusal to compromise his principles on national defense and the price he has gracefully paid for holding true to what he knows is right is an inspiration for all of us when faced with the choice of doing what we know is right and doing what we know will advance our personal interests.
Posted by: Chris Andersen | July 16, 2008 03:15 AM
Marshall,
That's why Lieberman is the last "good" Democrat. He's still honest enough to vote issue-by-issue according to his principles. Party is second to him. That's the way all Democrats (and Republicans) should be.
And Lieberman loves his country, which can't be said for very many (elected) Democrats these days...
Posted by: Mojo | July 16, 2008 09:05 AM
Lieberman is not the last "good" Democrat. There haven't been any of those for decades. All you can say is that he's the least bad Democrat, which is faint praise at best.
His real opportunity to be a profile in courage was when he took to the Senate floor to "condemn" Clinton's shameful and ultimately illegal activities but he then failed to call to Clinton's resignation.
Lieberman's backing of the war in Iraq is merely the lone sensible act to have come from the party of nonsense during the entire Bush presidency
Posted by: Ted | July 16, 2008 10:20 AM
Too many flip-flops from BHO have resulted in complete loss of credibility.
Just two days ago he had his website scrubbed of references to Iraq surge not working and posted something that says the surge is working. Then there is yesterday's speech. He lost his message. And he lost his credibility.
Posted by: skmckinny | July 16, 2008 11:09 AM