Obama on Iran
In a post on Andrew Sullivan’s blog, a reader provided the text from a speech Barack Obama delivered at AIPAC concerning Iran:
President Ahmadinejad has denied the Holocaust. He held a conference in his country, claiming it was a myth. But we know the Holocaust was as real as the 6 million who died in mass graves at Buchenwald, or the cattle cars to Dachau or whose ashes clouded the sky at Auschwitz. We have seen the pictures. We have walked the halls of the Holocaust museum in Washington and Yad Vashem. We have touched the tattoos on loved-ones arms. After 60 years, it is time to deny the deniers.
In the 21st century, it is unacceptable that a member state of the United Nations would openly call for the elimination of another member state. But that is exactly what he has done. Neither Israel nor the United States has the luxury of dismissing these outrages as mere rhetoric.
The world must work to stop Iran’s uranium enrichment program and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It is far too dangerous to have nuclear weapons in the hands of a radical theocracy. And while we should take no option, including military action, off the table, sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions should be our primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.
In the past, Obama, who favors direct talks with Iran, has been criticized of being too soft. It’s similar to the criticism that Jack Kennedy faced when he engaged in talks with Krushchev, the leader of the USSR. While these times were rocky, it should be noted that they were also peaceful. Kennedy showed a resolve that not only helped keep peace, but also kept the U.S. form being bullied out of West Berlin. Richard Nixon also received criticism from engaging in talks with China’s Communist leader, Mao Zedong. This move opened up trade with the U.S. and China and is considered one of Nixon’s greatest achievements.
This is in comparison with the Bush administration, who until recently would not engage in any talks with Iran. In their defense, the administration has shifted its position and is now willing to talk with Iran on the issue of security in Iraq.
In my opinion, this is one of Obama’s strengths. He seems to understand the importance of talking with our enemies while at the same time being open about his disdain for what they are doing. He understands that diplomacy works and if it doesn’t, then military force is a second option. Barack Obama is not soft when it comes to foreign policy, but he is smart.
Barack Obama, Iran, foreign policy, diplomacy, middle east, 2008 election
March 5th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
The scary part is the “nothing’s off the table” bit. Not because I think that we should remove an option. But because Obama is parroting an old Bushism.