Pres Obama exercises diplomacy, averts ANOTHER mess

[Phx_Dem]

And don't faint, but this was actually blogged by Jake Tapper.

President Obama Exercises Diplomacy, Helps Avert Mess (Again)
April 04, 2009 1:28 PM

On the heels of his negotiations at the G-20 economic summit - where he negotiated a way out of a potential logjam spurred by a heated debate between France and China over tax havens - President Obama exercised his negotiating skills once again on this overseas trip, this time at the NATO Summit.

This time the debate was over whether Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen should become the next secretary general of NATO.

Rasmussen enjoyed widespread support among leaders of 27 member states, with one notable exception: Turkey. The Muslim nation objected to Rasmussen's outspoken support of free speech during the 2006 controversy over cartoons of the prophet Mohammed that appeared in Danish newspapers.

<SNIP>

Friday night at a three-hour working dinner in Baden Baden, Germany, President Obama played an “the lead role” in opening up the discussion about Rasmussen's candidacy, a source who was there -- and is not a member of the Obama administration -- tells ABC News.

Obama told his fellow NATO leaders that he believed Rasmussen was the right man for the job, but that everyone needs to be convinced. Mr. Obama told the leaders that all countries need to be able voice their concerns.

With that, Turkish President Abdullah Gul voiced his concerns. This enabled Gul to avoid “feeling like a decision was already precooked," the source says. “This was critical because like other countries, if you’re put in a corner then you recede. If you feel like people are forcing you into a decision that has already been made you’ll rebel.”

Adds the source: “It’s important for small counties to feel that they have a voice. Obama gave this to Turkey.”

<SNIP>


And Obama, Rasmussen and Gul had another conversation, for about an hour, according to Obama's national security adviser, Gen. Jim Jones (Ret.), and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

<SNIP>

When the three men returned to the main session, Jones told reporters, they had smiles on their faces, indicating that a deal of some sort had been clinched.

“This was a different style than what the leader are used to from a U.S. President," the non-Obama administration source said. "Obama was instrumental in making this happen. Obama eventually clenched the decision with his leadership – and because he listened to what people said.”

Said Jones: "I think it was a very helpful moment. I think that our President really was instrumental in bringing about this common ground and finding this common ground -- and as a result the Alliance has a new Secretary General elected unanimously."


-MORE-

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/04/president-oba-3.html

Suck on that, Republicans.

[elleng]

1. If anyone wonders how decisions are made in this admin:

'Obama eventually clenched the decision with his leadership – and because he listened to what people said.”'

[FrenchieCat]

2. All I can say is that we had the insight and the foresight to elect the right person

for this job.

Amen that we did!

[goclark]

4. The right man for the right time . I am so proud to be an American

:patriot:

[Barack_America]

3. K&R. nt

[Bobbieo]

5. How can anyone deny that Obama is the best thing that has ever happened

to our country.

[Connie_Corleone]

6. K&R

[opihimoimoi]

7. He is DESTINED to SAVE HUMANITY from ITSELF by using DIPLOMACY

[opihimoimoi]

8. dupe srry