{"contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"samgogogo"}

NBC interview: Obama targets distrust between U.S., Europe

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:57 PM EDT

Article Source: msnbc.com

politics, obama, mccain, surge, berlin

Seeded by Sam Go

Sen. Barack Obama called on European leaders Thursday to rejoin Washington in a focused campaign against the threat of terrorism, telling NBC News that the next president would have his work cut out to resolve "conflict and tension" that had built up during the Bush presidency.

Obama acknowledged that his overseas trip was meant, in part, to show that he could be a tough-minded leader willing to make difficult decisions on foreign policy.

"What this trip has done is allowed me to talk about some of the critical issues that we face," he said. "It's also allowed me to send a message to the American people that the judgments I've made and the judgments I will make are ones that are going to result in them being safer."

In that vein, Obama rejected comments by his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who said in a speech Wednesday: "I had the courage and the judgment to say I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. It seems to me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign."

"I was disappointed by that language," said Obama, who added that even though they disagreed on the war in Iraq and the need to send more troops to Afghanistan, "I've never questioned that he wants to make America safer."

"For him to suggest that I don't — for him to suggest that somehow I'm less concerned about the safety of my wife and daughter than he is — I think was unfortunate," Obama said.

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{"commentId":2274362,"authorDomain":"PacificGatePost"}

PacificGatePost

ARE REPUBLICANS REALLY DETERMINED TO WIN THIS ELECTION?

… perhaps not.

------------------------

{"commentId":2274362,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"PacificGatePost"}

#1 - Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":2274451,"authorDomain":"rolon518-1"}

Jay-307515

It's creepy how McCain has that same "tough guy" image as Bush. Obama was right to say that the surge McCain favors should go to Iraq, where Osama Bin Laden is probably hiding.

{"commentId":2274451,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"rolon518-1"}

#2 - Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":2274647,"authorDomain":"bootht2001"}

thomas booth

WELL I AM A VERY CURIOUS PERSON AND I HAVE ATTENDED MANY CLOSED DOOR MEETING IN MY 20 YEARS OF SERVICE BEFORE I RETIRED FROM THE MARINE CORP IN 1991 AND MANY OF TIMES THINGS HAPPENED AFTER THOSE MEETINGS TO GET THINGS THAT SOME GROUPS WANTED AND THE ACTIONS WAS MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE OF ROOMERS. SO I ASK MYSELF WHY IF SOMEONE MAKES IT A POIN THAT MORE TROOPS ARE NEEDED IN AFGHANISTAN AND WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM IRAQ . THEN SOON AFTER CLOSED MEETINGS, NEW INTEL IS LEAKED THAT AL QUIDA IS PLANNING A BIG PUSH IN AFGHANISTAN WELL THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HITLER DURING WW II WHEN D DAY WAS PLANNED. MISINFORMATION IS A GREAT WEAPON SO WHO IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO SELL AN IDEA TO MAKE THINGS WORK ? WE NEED TO NOT TAKE THE INTEL TO QUICKLY TO ACT ON. AFTER ALL MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT IT WAS BAD INTEL THAT GOT THE US IN IRAQ IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT.

{"commentId":2274647,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"bootht2001"}

1 vote

#3 - Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":2325554,"authorDomain":"mrevels"}

m.revels

for some one who has attended"high level closed door meetings"you have very poor spelling and grammar so forgive me if dont take your comments too seriously.if i could understand just what it is your trying to say.as a suggestion you might be better understood and taken more seriously if you use the spell check feature.i do

{"commentId":2325554,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"mrevels"}

#3.1 - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":2274715,"authorDomain":"dcash5"}

Whala

I think way too much is being made of what we think others perception is of America. I don't believe that our reputation has been tarnished nearly so badly as many would have us believe. There are so many in our own country claiming that we have tarnished our image, that it gets accepted as fact, when the reality is that these perceptions have not changed for many years.

I was in Germany during the 1980 election, and most Germans hated the fact that America had elected Reagan as president. They felt that America had fallen from grace, and was headed on a course to destruction, and would eventually lead them down that road as well. This perception is still the same today. Europeans have always been at odds with the conservatives in our country. They will always favor a democratic candidate, because Europeans are very liberal.

Those who claim that European disapproval is all a result of Bush's cowboy politics are not looking at the whole picture. This trip of Obama's seems to be nothing more than playing to their liberal tendencies. I found it interesting that he is now suggesting GLOBAL socialism with this comment:

"The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand." Of course the Europeans would eat that up.

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#4 - Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:03 PM EDT

{"commentId":2275247,"authorDomain":"dreamlnd56"}

Dream-292235

This whole "PHOTO OP" by Pretty Boy "O" is laughable at best. ABC made sure to show a clip of one old German bastard as saying, "He's My New Messiah" that pretty much sums it up. Yeah? Then walk on water @!$%#er, or heal the sick and the blind. No? Then he's just the latest generation of "BULL@!$%# ARTIST" to come along. Let us all have hands across America and sing "KUMBIAH". Not... You want a "MESSIAH"? Go to church. You want a leader? Look to your mothers and fathers and their parents. You know, the ones who sacrificed for your sorry asses. Write their names on the "WRITE IN BALLOT". If everyone did then neither of the worthless bastards would ever step foot in our "WHITE HOUSE". But No!!! You will be obedient little worker bees. Ya know that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but constantly expecting a different result. Pretty much sums up the modern electorate.

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#5 - Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2276045,"authorDomain":"zoorevue2004"}

Jeff-387337

Is a party nominee really going around the world saying what all Americans think and stereotype the rest of the world? Obama was almost not even nominated but he knows best... I am surprised that even the biased Brian Williams did not puke when hearing these kind of statements during his interview.

{"commentId":2276045,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"zoorevue2004"}

#6 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":2276948,"authorDomain":"cx-300"}

USA43

Jay-307515It's creepy how McCain has that same "tough guy" image as Bush. Obama was right to say that the surge McCain favors should go to Iraq, where Osama Bin Laden is probably hiding.

DUUUUH???? Where you getting your info?? I guess ignorance is bliss!!

{"commentId":2276948,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"cx-300"}

#7 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":2277022,"authorDomain":"lucy-263358"}

lucy-263358

Someone get it right, please. The Europeans use the United States when it's in their best interests, yet condemn and ignore us or spread Anti-American propaganda when it's not. They speak with two faces in their Socialist Cocoons while trying to pretend that they are Democracies. Please do us a favor, you've roped us into two of your World Wars------next time you get in trouble-!-row your own boat

{"commentId":2277022,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"lucy-263358"}

#8 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:06 AM EDT

{"commentId":2277112,"authorDomain":"chi-chi"}

Jack Baum

Once again Obama shows his inexperience and puts America down in front of the world. This cowboy diplomacy he refers to is working in Iraq. Remember when his Democrats took control of congress and said they would end the war in Iraq!! well they did nothing but investigate baseball players so here we have a man running around telling the world we are the aggressor. EXCUSE ME!! we were attacked on 9/11/01 and he seems to have forgotten that. As for Europe......well we came to Europe's aid twice in the last century and we have allies today who are standing with us on terror. Poland, and the Ukraine are a few to name. France didn't back us because France was illegally conducting trade and what not with Iraq and was angry that we went to war against a man who committed crimes against humanity such as using nerve gas on thousands of his ethnic country men. Now here comes sound bite Obama putting Bush down for being tough. Where are the nay Sayer's now who said the troop surge was a waste of time? If we had listened to the Obama crowd on the left trying to get elected..Iraq would be a haven fro terrorists right now. Bush may not be perfect and he may be a cowboy!! but at least he sticks to his GUNS and doesn't minch words to get elected. Remember peace loving Jimmy Carter and 444 days of hostage holding destroyed Americas image as a powerful world leader. Obama is another Jimmy Carter and that won't be enough when terrorists come knocking again, and believe me the apathy and seemingly forgetfulness about 9/11 is going to be a rude awakening when, not if they strike again. I hope whoever is president has the COWBOY guts and not the mam by pamby chicken farmer attitude to handle it. McCain will handle those terrorists and keep America safe.

{"commentId":2277112,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"chi-chi"}

#9 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:19 AM EDT

{"commentId":2277135,"authorDomain":"chi-chi"}

Jack Baum

{"commentId":2277135,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"chi-chi"}

#10 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:23 AM EDT

{"commentId":2295483,"authorDomain":"martibriggs"}

Marti Briggs

Doesn't Mr BO's anti-american comments sound a little like Rev Wright?? Guess he really DID LISTEN!!!!!

{"commentId":2295483,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"martibriggs"}

#10.1 - Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":2325954,"authorDomain":"mrevels"}

m.revels

yes we are the aggressor in iraq.we were attacked on 9/11 by terrorists mostly from saudi arabia(bush and mcsames good Friends)but they trained in Afghanistan with the full knowledge of the ruling government.the Taliban.Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11even george bush finally had to admit it.where have you been?yes Poland and the Ukraine are with us.we pay them to be.we are paying the wages of their troops outfitting them,training them and paying their governments millions in aid and concessions that's bushes coalition of the paid.these people are not our friends there our employees and they don't serve combat roles.you people keep saying the surge worked if we had listened to obama Iraq would ?(1)if we had listened to obama we wouldn't have wasted five years in iraq.(2)mccain and bush said the surge was a temp measure to further stabilize iraq so our troops could come home.they say it worked but the troops cant come home because it worked..you say our apathy is going to be a rude awakening when terrorists strike.reports by all intelligence agencies say that the war in iraq has massively increased recruitment for al qiada and other related groups(do you ever watch the news?)also we have already suffered another terrorist attack.much smaller than the one from Ben laden.but deadly non the less.two people where killed and seven critically wounded when a fanatic religious gunman stormed a christian church and opened fire.so was he sunni?,was he shia?,was he muslim?no just another christian who thought that church was too liberal.terrorism is not a muslim problem its a fanatic problem.or do you think timothy mcvey or this clown is some how better than ben laden?last you and the bu@!$%#es like to use the sadam was a bad man argument.we do business with and prop up governments that are just as bad if not worse every day.the genocide in darfur has been going on longer than we have been in iraq.why haven't we saved them.women have their breasts cut off for offending their husbands or not having dinner ready on time.people are stoned to death or beheaded in the streets for minor offences yet we PROTECT the saudi royals from justice by their own people with our army.so you can all take that were saving the poor iraqis crap and shove it.

{"commentId":2325954,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"mrevels"}

#10.2 - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":2277152,"authorDomain":"g-ritter"}

Geo-392442

What a Jerk. I'm glad the big O does not speak for me. It's really great to hear of some half-a@@
candidate, but wait, he's just the assumed candidate at this point, speaking out against the very
folks that might just elect him. Besides, it's easy to fool all of the people some of the time, some
of the people all of the time, but he'll never fool all of us any of the time.

{"commentId":2277152,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"g-ritter"}

#11 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":2278258,"authorDomain":"radhikamsharma"}

rm1813

succes- he defines it differently.. and to me thats a very valid argument. if u create a problem and then send troops to quell it.. its not really 'success', esp while you leave the real problem in afghanistan brewing and getting worse- thats actually more of a faliure.

the surge helped ease a situation- thats fine- but not a success. and GOP should not be making such a big deal abt it. they should hide for creating such a problem in the first place. i think the democrats are letting them go off VERY easy- i hardly remember them pointing fingers at GOP at all in the recent times.. i think they should start now. Republicans are making headway only because they keep pointing at Dems... they have much worse of their own and noone is pointing fingers at them.

{"commentId":2278258,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"radhikamsharma"}

#12 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":2278467,"authorDomain":"radhikamsharma"}

rm1813

GOP has been riding the OBAMA wave themselves for the past one month. What have they come out with on their own? If Obama is in Paris, John McCAin's radio ads are in Paris, USA, if Obama goes to Berlin, John McCain goes to Berlin- that's the heights!! The rest of the time they spend criticizing Obama- focusing the media's attention on Obama's criticisms/ Surge- rather than what McCain has to offer. That's the only way McCains ratings improved; or rather, Obama;s ratings went down.

DEMOCRATS need to start pointing fingers at GOPs soon, or they will LOSE. Democrats, PLEASE START BEING AGGRESSIVE.

Also, the public is impatient to hear a more aggressive economic plan from Democrats- I am hoping that is your trump card to sway the public at the last minute.

{"commentId":2278467,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"radhikamsharma"}

#13 - Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":2325449,"authorDomain":"mrevels"}

m.revels

look guys you can say that Europe just uses us or their opinion doesn't matter if you want but the fact is we went against everything that we have held up before the world as making America great and the world noticed and feared.preemptive strike as a means of defense was taught to me in middle school as just one of the things that make other country's less than us.right along with trial less imprisonment and torture.maybe people in this country's concern about the opinions of others is that we know that this president has demeaned our nation before the world and are embarrassed at the crimes we have let him commit in our names.i read the comments above"cowboy diplomacy is working in iraq.dont you idiots get it. being right about one SMALL(only worked because of sunni awakening that happened six months BEFORE the surge not during as mccain lied on the news) success in an illegal war is like a serial killer saying hes a good person because he recycles his waste.your heroes george and john say we are in a global fight against terror.but when some one goes and tries to improve relations and get the help that your heroes say we need, then being liked becomes a bad thing.and as for b.o. anti american words.there is nothing more un american than suporting an illegal war or making excuses for those who do.and for all the angry ranting about obama losing the war not ONE person has been able to tell me what mcsame means by WIN.not how to recognize said victory or what it means for us troops.i am a us army vet who has written mccain and his supporters several times to respectfully request an answer to this question.all i get back is more assertions that obama will lose.never once an answer.also considering that a fanatic christian went and shot up a church this week.maybe we should all be conserned about the possability of a radical christian terrorist being more of a threat to america than barack hussain obama

{"commentId":2325449,"threadId":"319240","contentId":"1693049","authorDomain":"mrevels"}

#14 - Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:47 PM EDT

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