Incoming!
02 August 2007 8:01 pm by Taylor Marsh
Incoming! updated
Well, that
didn’t take long. Obama is hearing it from all quarters, though this is just silly. Via Dan
Baltz:
“As commander in chief, I would take the steps necessary to defend the
American people, beginning with hunting down Osama bin Laden and stopping
terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons. But I will not declare my intentions
for specific military action to the media in the context of a political campaign.”
– Chris Dodd
Biden weighed in, calling Obama “Johnny-come-lately.”
“The way to deal with it is not to announce it, but to do it,”
Sen. Joeph Biden said yesterday at the National Press Club. “The last
thing you want to do is telegraph to the folks in Pakistan that we are about
to violate their sovereignty.” – Joseph Biden
Edwards, who mocked the “global war on terror” first, didn’t exactly
walk away from Obama.
John Edwards’s team put out a statement from the candidate that emphasized
“maximum diplomatic and economic pressure” on Pakistan.
Sorry, but that’s just mush. From the guy who got all this “global war on terror” push back started, I hoped for more.
But about those Democrats, Obama’s communications director couldn’t care less:
“This isn’t something we thought about three days ago. It’s been in
the works for weeks. Lines weren’t added to make up for what we said on other
things. This is a policy he believes we should be implementing to fight terror.”
I’ve got a word into camp Clinton. If she responds in the specific I’ll let
you know.
But as for Obama talking about an incursion into Pakistan, nuclear or otherwise,
he’s clarified his statement ruling out the general, but not the specific, as
in terrorists, but then again, maybe not.
”I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in
any circumstance,” Obama said, with a pause, ”involving civilians.” Then
he quickly added, ”Let me scratch that. There’s been no discussion of nuclear
weapons. That’s not on the table.” – Barack Obama.
Excuse me, but this conversation seems a bit over the top without a specific
threat from Pakistan itself in the immediate. Color me cautious. Ben Smith discusses
more on the original question, which went like this:
“In Afghanistan or Pakistan, is there any circumstance where you would
be prepared or willing to use nuclear weapons to defeat terrorism and Osama
bin Laden?”
This isn’t a trick question. The answer is no. No hedging required. At some point Democrats, or should I say progressives, are going to have to stand up, lead and have the courage to point this world in a different direction. But for now, minus that, kiss hearts and minds buh-bye.
UPDATE: Clinton responds to Obama re: nukes and Pakistan.
“I think presidents should be very careful at all times in discussing the use, or non-use, of nuclear weapons. … Presidents since the Cold War have used nuclear deterrence to keep the peace. And I don’t believe that any president should make any blanket statements with respect to the use or non use of nuclear weapons.” – Hillary Clinton
