Obama says Iraq War weakens Israel

[sabra]

Source: ChicagoTrib Swamp Politics Blog

In his first speech foreign policy speech of the general election campaign, Barack Obama went before the most influential pro-Israel lobbying organization to declare the security of the Jewish state "sacrosanct" and make the case that his Republican opponent's policies would strengthen its enemies.

A day after clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, Obama, an early opponent of the Iraq War, argued that Republican rival John McCain's support for a sustained war effort in Iraq would only bolster neighboring Iran's ability to threaten Israel.

"Senator McCain offers a false choice: stay the course in Iraq, or cede the region to Iran," Obama said. "I reject this logic because there is a better way. Keeping all of our troops tied down indefinitely in Iraq is not the way to weaken Iran - it is precisely what has strengthened it."

Obama also defended his professed willingness to hold talks with pariah regimes including Iran in his speech before the annual policy conference of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.

"Our willingness to pursue diplomacy will make it easier to mobilize others to join our cause," Obama said. "If Iran fails to change course when presented with this choice by the United States, it will be clear - to the people of Iran, and to the world - that the Iranian regime is the author of its own isolation. That will strengthen our hand with Russia and China as we insist on stronger sanctions in the Security Council."

Read more: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06...

[Indenturedebtor]

1. Good speech and I couldn't agree more

Seems like Obama has a really solid understanding of the region and a solid path to peace in mind. I like how he makes demands of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. That is the way a peacemaker speaks!

GOBAMA

[LeftishBrit]

2. Too bloody right, it has!

(not to mention endangering the rest of the world).

Sounds like a very sensible speech.

[Jefferson23]

3. Thank you Obama for not backtracking here, it was and is a deep concern

of mine about how to go forward on this issue.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Good for him!!

Can't wait for the opportunity to vote for him as president.