Obama calls for talks with Iran over Iraq

[Army_of_One]

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday called for a "diplomatic surge" including talks with US foe Iran, to help stabilize the situation in Iraq.
The Illinois Senator battling Hillary Clinton for his party's nomination called for more pressure on the Iraqi government to embrace political reconciliation and a regional "diplomatic surge that includes Iran."

"We should be talking to them as well," Obama told the top US General in Iraq David Petraeus and US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker.

"I do not believe we are going to be able to stabilize the situation without that" said Obama, adding that a plan for US troop withdrawals was needed to force Iraqi factions to work together.

"I think that increased pressure in a measured way, in my mind, and this is where we disagree, includes a timetable for withdrawal. Nobody is asking for a precipitous withdrawal."

Obama has taken fire from his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and Republican presumptive nominee John McCain for his offer to talk, if elected president, with the leaders of several US foes including Iran.

He used his question period during the crucial Senate hearing to restate his initial opposition to the war in Iraq, which Clinton voted to authorize.

"We all have the greatest interest in seeing a successful resolution to Iraq," Obama told Petraeus and Crocker.

"I continue to believe that the original decision to go into Iraq was a massive strategic blunder, that the two problems you pointed out, Al-Qaeda in Iraq and increased Iranian influence in the region are a direct result of that original decision.

"That's not a decision you gentlemen made. I will not lay it at your feet. You are cleaning up the mess afterwards."



Obama calls for talks with Iran over Iraq

Here are a few of the quotes from the guy BO wants to sit down and discuss Iraq with. This SAME country is providing weapons and technology that has killed many of our troops. When the leader of the U.S. meets with a nation they give that nation legitimacy. Iran doesn't deserve that. They are killing our soliders. You don't sit and deal with someone that has American blood on their hands.

“Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury,”

“Iran is ready to transfer nuclear know-how to the
Islamic countries due to their need.”

“I said I'll do every thing in order to uphold our national interest,”


“There is no doubt that the new wave (of attacks) in Palestine will wipe off this stigma (Israel) from the face of the Islamic world, ... The World without Zionism.”

"Israel is a tyrannical regime that will one day will be destroyed."

[Army_of_One]

By the way...How would that conversation go?

BO: "Between supplying weapons and technology to terrorists in Iraq and working towards having nuclear weapons do you think you could help us attain peace in Iraq?"

WTF?

[Highwayman]

Obama is afraid to talk to Fox News. What makes anyone think he could stand up to Iran or North Korea?

[Bandit]

My thought regarding talks with Iran is why not? If you have a problem with somebody, what is the best way to solve it? Do you talk to the person you have a problem with or do you just stand back and call them names, which provokes them even worse? W is really good at just sitting in his ivory tower and calling people names and assigning them to his "axis of evil." But has he ever tried diplomacy? If talks with Iran don't work and they prove to be as crazy as we think they are, then at least we tried. Sometimes using our military is the only answer, but why put them in a dangerous situation if we don't have to?

[notyoubob]

Don't really understand the right-wing hate talk regarding talking to potential enemies. Do they really think those who advocate opening a dialogue take military response off the table? Get real.
Just another fear mongering move by those who seem to hate democracy here if it's not in their own party's interest.

[wordsmythe]

About time someone tried diplomacy instead of threats and violence.

[Outofdodge]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

By the way...How would that conversation go?

Hmm, why don't you attack James A. Baker, III, Lee H. Hamilton,
Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Edwin Meese III,
Sandra Day O’Connor, Leon E. Panetta, William J. Perry, Charles S. Robb,
and Alan K. Simpson?

"Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively. In seeking to influence the behavior of both countries, the United States has disincentives and incentives available. Iran should stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq, respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use its influence over Iraqi Shia groups to encourage national
reconciliation."

That little gem is from the Iraq Study Group final report almost two years ago.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bandit

My thought regarding talks with Iran is why not? If you have a problem with somebody, what is the best way to solve it?

"If you have a PROBLEM with someone"? Come on...Iran has the blood of American soliders on their hands. THey are supplying technology and weapons in Iraq that are killing our soldiers.

If someone killed someone in your family would you sit down with them and be diplomatic and bargain for them to stop killing your family or friends or would you brand them an enemy and hunt them down?

We DO talk to Iran behind the scenes...but do you think it's working?

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

If someone killed someone in your family would you sit down with them and be diplomatic and bargain for them to stop killing your family or friends or would you brand them an enemy and hunt them down?

Speaking of talking to terrorists…….

NEW YORK CITY — Former President Jimmy Carter is reportedly preparing an unprecedented meeting with the leader of Hamas, an organization that the U.S. government considers one of the leading terrorist threats in the world.

“It’s about par for the course from President Carter, demonstrating a lack of judgment typical of what he does," said John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. "To go to Syria to visit Hamas at this point is just an ill-timed, ill-advised decision on his part."

“I’m not surprised that Carter would do this, as he has been supporting Palestinian extremism for many years,” said Steve Emerson, director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, a watchdog group.

FOXNews.com - Report: Jimmy Carter to Meet With Hamas Leader in Syria

[Army_of_One]

That's his MO.