Katrina vanden Heuvel: Why Obama Got it Right

From The Nation:


BLOG | Posted 07/24/2007 @ 10:15pm
Why Obama Got it Right


In Monday's debate, and with the benefit of having time to think through her response, Hillary Clinton posed as the foreign policy sophisticate to Barack Obama the bold leader who did not hesitate to say that he would meet with the leaders of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela. My colleague David Corn argues that Obama has committed a major blunder reflecting his lack of foreign policy experience.

(My colleague Ari Berman posted his smart and sharp counter to David's argument on behalf of those like Hillary Clinton who are "steeped in the nuances, language and minefields of foreign policy." But I feel strongly enough to weigh in on this debate.)

Those "nuances and minefields" can also be traps. Witness how far Clinton's nuanced experience got her when confronted with the 2002 Iraq war resolution.

David may well be right that Obama's opponents will try to exploit his response. But from a foreign policy point of view was Obama's response so wrong and Clinton's so right? Her husband's administration generally followed Hillary's approach; during his two terms President Clinton did not meet with Fidel Castro or with Hugo Chavez or with the leaders of Iran, Syria, and North Korea --while generally pursuing a policy of trying to isolate these countries. But what did the Clinton approach actually accomplish? The respective regimes of Castro in Cuba and Chavez in Venezuela have only grown stronger, and more influential in Latin America. Although Syria was forced to withdraw its military forces from Lebanon last year, the regime of Bashar Assad is as firmly entrenched in power as was his father's. And in spite of the odious politics and qualities of Ahmadinejad, Iran carries more weight in the Middle East than it did doing the early 1990s while American power and standing has declined considerably. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=7&pid=217320

She was simply more polished in her response. All of the Hillary supporters in the media (or people who want her nominated because she'll be an easier target for Republicans) are jumping on this as if her answer was far and beyond different from Obama's and it wasn't. Or trying to create the impression that Obama wants to become drinking buddies with Chavez or Castro.

That's what was wrong with HRC's response. It wasn't that she outlined the conditions of a meeting, it was the almost scoffing way she sneered at Castro and Chavez. Just like Bush. We can't afford that anymore, we can't keep electing leaders who want to keep us wrapped in bubble about the outside world.

Obama is fearless. He's not afraid of a girl with big ambitions and a pile of money.

On edit: K&R x 5.

well, but his first reaction was Yes!