In October 2005, he caused outrage in the West when he said in a speech that Israel's "Zionist regime should be wiped off the map."

His supporters have argued Ahmadinejad's words were mistranslated and should have been better translated as "vanish from the pages of time" — implying Israel would vanish on its own rather be destroyed.)
So there you have it. He never said Israel should get destroyed, only that Zionism should be destroyed. There is big difference in the two.Obama is right, dont bomb Iran. But no one ever listens.

How about Iran JUST stating that we should all love each other and sing Kumbya with the EXCEPTION being the Israeli's who should NOT HAVE LIFE.

What do you people think he means by that?

Since Condi has done so well with North Korea, lets play the game with progressives and the UN and set up a sit down and discuss what his intentions are and request that he stop arming people to kill us and lets all try to get along. A common ground if you will.

I am ok with that, BUT what do you do IF he thumbs his nose at us and says my goal is to wipe out Israel and I will continue to arm the "freedom fighters" against the infidels?

What would you do?

First get someone who is a better negotiator than you are! Seriously. North Korea is much more dangerous than IRAN in a number of ways, but somehow, when we actually negotiated with them, we resolved the nuclear issue. But somehow Iran is different? I don't think so. Most people, even in Iran, do want to live. If you believe that all the people of Iran just want to kill Americans and Israelis and that is all they live for, you are insane.

As always, I appeal to everyone to go to at least your own favorite candidates web page and look at your own candidate's views on the issues. You might then actually compare candidates and be in a position to start to have an intelligent discussion.

President Yabba Dabba Doo of Iran just made a speech the other day in which he said Israel shouldn't "have life". He's essentially saying he's going to drop a bomb on Israel. If people out there think we don't need to remove Iran's nuclear threat, they are also smokin' somethin.

Invade your friends and not your enemies.

How interesting. Whenever I come to this place, I find the country's most uniformed people calling a former professor of constitutional law, a man who has been lauded by the best and brightest foreign policy experts, 'unintelligent'.

I always wondered how this country could have been stupid enough to elect this president for a second term. One only needs to see the majority of posters to the Political Ticker to understand how that could have happened.

When someone who was outspokenly against this war since before it was waged gives an intelligent,comprehensive and realistic solution to this administration's disastrous fiasco in Iraq, it apparently brings out the nutjob 30% who still buy the hype of the most corrupt and incompetent president in our history.

It is any wonder the rest of the world considers us illiterate morons!

I would also like to add that WE are the aggressors, we are the country that is feared by most of the world due to our impulsive, not thought out, manipulative administration that took us to war with Iraq. The world is less safe, specifically in the middle east. Another blogger made a very good point. What do you see the terrorists bombing...Great Britian, US, and our bases and ships wherever they are. Don't be so darn naive. We created this mess because of our continual interference in dictating the middle east to gain oil revenue and reserves. Why can't people see how others view us, even if you don't know every aspect our country has interfered in with the middle east, the war in Iraq should be explanable enough. WE have nuclear weapons. Don't you think that many are afraid of us as a result. Thank God other countries don't have the mentality of some of the bloggers on here running the show or our country would be toast already. Nuclear energy is a wonderful source of energy. Yes, it can also be used to create bombs. I don't know what's right in this aspect, I only wish that Einstein would have been listened to with the advice he gave when this type of energy was first discovered. He knew the potential ramifications. It will end up causing WWIII. But my fear is, it won't be because of Iran, but rather because Bush will create a reason to take the US to war in Iran. He is primping us already for that very real possibility. Bush scares me more than anyone else, even Bin Ladin. Bush has caused more death and destruction than what was dealt to us on 911. I wish we would have focused our energy on Afghanistan and gotten the real bad guys instead of being the aggressor in a war built on lies.

eeerie echoes to say the least.

The Iran President in my view has been planning on how he can make good on the Iraq war for the past six years. I want the Iraq War to end but not while there's another Master Mind close by plotting another one to take it's place.

Would't the Iran President be celebrating as American and Nato troops head home. We know he has nuclear possibilities he has not denied it. As American and Nato troops leave he'll be sending troops to take their place to pick up where they left off, but not as peace keepers and stabilizers but rather destoryers.

I really feel Barack should assess his statements again and elaborate on what his plan would be to keep Iran reigned in after the troops head home. Other wise the world may be facing more devastation after the Bush Iraq War than they have during. Let's not forget to include Syria and North Korea in our assessment.

We need to strengthen the borders while providing health care for our seniors to make this country a better place for all our children so that they don't have to fight and die on foreign soil....God Bless America.

Yawn.

I agree. You, fine Sir (or Ma'am, not sure), indeed have a point. Grown men do indeed talk out their differences. We "negotiate," if you will.

So, what exactly is our response when the terrorists' opening offer in this lovely negotiation is, "I want to kill you, infidel?"

How do we come back with a counter offer? How about, "Well OK. But how about kill me in five years?"

"No, no. I will kill you immediately."

Counter: "Well, how about just blow me up. Maybe take a leg or an arm."

"No. Kill you immmediately."

Counter: "Well, how about you just kill all the people? Would that suffice?"

"No. Kill you. Immediately."

How exactly do you negotiate, or "talk out" your differences with someone whose opening offer is to kill you?

Michael, I totally agree with you. We do not have the right to tell other nations how to govern themselves or who their leaders should be. I do not agree with every thing President Bush does. I truly feel that trying to spread democracy to all countries and enforce our form of government and culture on them is a bad thing. However, I also feel that we must do what is necessary to protect our own national interests. Our economy is totally dependent on foreign oil to run. If that flow is interrupted, it could lead to a recession or even worse. We all need to conserve and find alternate sources of renewable energy to end this dependence but until then it is what it is. No country or their people have the right to take over our embassy and you stating this should be construed as a patriotic act is incomprehensible. I guess what your saying is that every nation that disagrees with our foreign policy has the right to take our people hostage. Maybe you should move to Iran and see how you like it. I bet you will have a different attitude when you get back. I have no problem with the Iranian people. I think they have the right to elect their own government like everyone else. What I have a problem with is the extremists in these countries, like Bin Laden who want to force me and all others to follow Sharia law and practice Islam. That my friend is where I draw the line. I dont think the US government is telling the people in Arab countries to convert to Christianity or you will fall under our sword.

And to Jeremy in Chicago, IL.

I have served in the military but I am now pushing 50 so the military will not take me, but I can tell you this for sure, if my Commander in Chief, be he George w. Bush or Barack Obama called me today and said Rob we need you and we dont care how old you are, Id pack my bag and be there ready, willing and able. I love my country and would gladly stand and fight for it if asked. I am not a hypocrite. I would never ask our soldiers to go anywhere or do anything I wasnt prepared to do myself. If President Bush needs me, he can call me and I will be there.

He is the Neville Chamberlain of our day.

Actually it's funny that you should say that. He was a professor who TAUGHT Constitutional Law. I think he knows a think or two about constitutional law.
Go Obama! Hey look, a smart tempered well thought out plan! You mean from our President...gon FIG!

Obama 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. That is pretty stupid to make a comment like that and then make a fool of yourself. I am not an Obama supporter and there are a lot of reasons why but none of them have to do with my lack of intelligence (I have plenty) or grammar. Overreaching comments like yours are ridiculous and provide nothing. The ability to vote in an intelligent way requires wanting to be informed and taking the steps to be informed, not being able to write out your decision in prose!

The terrorists have the power right now. They control us by fear. By saying "fear us if you don't convert", it makes cynics (neocons) start yelping about more soldiers, which in turn, creates more terrorists in the middle east that dislike us more and more! This all started with the backing of Israel by England and America. My point was, terrorists started disliking us not only because of our backing of Israel, but also because we install leaders (not just in the middle east, but that is where the economic interests are), and then those leaders turn on us once they gain power, and then we invade to kill them. In those cases we are the problem and the solution. But if we weren't the problem in the first place, would we have been attacked?

What we needed to do was stay out of the middle eastern politics from the beginning but since that is using too much hindsight, a new solution must come to front. The solution of continual fighting is NOT the answer. Continual fighting has caused a breeding ground of terrorists, the same is going to happen anywhere else. We need diplomatic relations, not this kindergarten crap of you hit me so i'll hit you back. GROWN MEN TALK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES.

Six years ago, I'd wager that close to 100% of Americans, conservative or liberal, would have been in favor of getting Bin Laden wherever he is.

So I'm curious. Those of you who disagree with getting Bin Laden, who is still plotting to murder Americans, why did you change your minds about that?

Thank you very much for your insightful and inspirational posts and links.

Have a great Thursday!

The single largest country exporting oil to the United States, 18%, is indeed Canada. All the Middle Eastern countries combined make up roughly 19.2% of the oil imported into the United States. 80% of the oil imported into the United States comes from countries outside the Middle East.

As far as trading oil in euros versus dollars the economics really do not matter as much as you allude. It is more of an internet debate rather than a real economic concern.

Trading oil in a particular currency only puts a "value" on the commodity. This value will dictate the exchange rate when going to purchase the oil.

If I am from the country of Urungoogoo and I want to purchase oil I will save my currency, the goo, and purchase oil at the given exchange rate, whether it be the dollar or the euro. In other words I purchase dollars or euros, whichever is the driver, with my saved up goos then exchange those dollars or euros for oil.

Selling oil for euros will not collapse the United States economy. It would only mean dollars would have to be exchanged for euros prior to the purchase of oil, in effect making the oil cost more. That's the real effect on our economy. Oil will simply cost more than it does now. If people simply downsized their cars the economic effects are negated completely.

That kind of blows away the argument that the United States invaded Iraq because they were trading in euros.

Why are we building a military base on the border of Iraq and Iran? We have no intention to leave the region. That is why Mr. Bush refuses to bring home our troops. It has nothing to do with our national security- but rather-who is the top dog in the middle east.

Posted By Cary – Lowell, IN : September 12, 2007 11:41 pm

Genocide is happening everyday in Africa, mainly Darfur, and we sit back and do nothing. If you are so concerned about genocide, why are we so quiet on this topic? ( you dont have to answer that we all know why) What does Iran and Isreal bickering have to do with us. It would be sad to to see us jump to the aid of Isral, when we do nothing of the horrible autrocities that are being commited by the thousands everyday in Africa. And to all that believe Iran is the next threat to the US. I have a little bit of sad news for you. Like Iraq, Iran does not have anything close to the military capabilty needed to carry out an even close to successful attack on the US. If by chance they tried with the little fleet of naval vessels they have, they wouldn't make it out of there own waters. Iran and the US are very aware of that. And again there longest range missle that they tessted most recently barely makes hitting Isreal. I'm no mathmatician but that tells me that if they tried to send a nuclear missle over to the good ole US of A, it would fall terribly short of its target in the atlntic ocean somewhere, if it even makes it this far. It always amazes me how peolple beleive whatever they hear without forming there own decision and doing a little reserch on things of this much importance. I'm glad some of you aren't running this country.

2.IRAN is different with PAKISTAN because IRAN is the country with the natural resourses such as gas and oil that unfortunetly in hand of terrorist Ayatollah's and you magine in future how they are will too much dangerouse than now for whole the world .

Pakistan's Future: Building Democracy, or Fueling Extremism? – Statement Before the Senate Committee On Foreign Relations Washington, DC JULY 25TH 2007

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/danielleclarke/CpFC

IRAQ WAR Background who is fighting + why = how Barack Can bring Peace

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/danielleclarke/Cthg

"Somebody Had to Speak Out. If Not Me, Who?" – Maj. Gen. John Batiste Fired by CBS News for Anti-Iraq War 'Advocacy'

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/danielleclarke/CrJC

"When we change presidents, it is understood to mean that the voters are ordering a change in national policy. Since 1945, three different Republicans have occupied the White House for 16 years, and four democrats have held this most powerful post for 17yrs

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/danielleclarke/Crpz

There was a woman = Renee George Martin (special assistant for legislative affairs for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania) Who shared the following

. She spoke about The USA fighting Iraq due to Sadam Husein selling oil in euro's versus dollars. She also mentioned Iran was doing the same and this was the reason Bush wants to attack Iran. She also mentioned that Pemex was the Mexican petroleum company that was altering its sales to America

She said Mexico's petroleum corporation PEMEX would only sell America oil for 7 more years. She said they need it for their future use.

She said Mexico's "Pemex" is our number 2 supplier. She said Canada was our number 1 supplier. She said Brazil and two other countries also sold their oil in euro's. She said if all oil producing countries sold their oil in euro's that America would collapse. She said china owns almost a trillions US dollars in bonds as well as the middle east owns even more in American bonds. She said the middle east holds the most and china is number 2.

Renee mentioned Henry Kissinger who cut a deal in the 70's with all the oil producing countries to sell their oil in dollars.

I know Governor Ed Rendell is working hard to get windmills and solar and smart meters for Pennsylvania's citizens
I am wondering how open other states are with regards to what seems to be an incredible great opening of the truth by the democratic party to its people here in Pennsylvania.

When i googled PEMEX and 7 years i got many links about corruption of their petroleum company. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=TSHB,TSHB:2006-45,TSHB:en&q=pemex+sales+to+united+states+ends+in+7+years

and i found this link here talking about the end of oil from Pemex which is what she said would happen = http://survivalacres.com/wordpress/?p=813

And when i googled it in reference with china and euro's and dollars i got http://moralequivalentofwar.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/china-threatens-nuclear-option-of-dollar-sales/

Only one man is speaking the truth.

Barack Obama

If you want to drive a big car / suv then send "your" kid to war to fight for the fuel.

If you really care then stop wasting fuel.

When i got out i opened a recycling center in 76. I started building energy efficient homes and ever since i have driven only when needed. I hate people who go on senic tours while others are dying for them to waste and abuse fuel.

I dislike nascar. I dislike boat enthusiast. I dislike 4 wheelers. I dislike all those who waste fuel and don't think about where the fuel comes from.

Today i don't even own a car. I share a hybrid with an elder friend. We only use it to go shopping for food and even then we buy bulk.

Americans are abusers of energy. It would take 3 earths if the rest of the world used and abused fuel like we do.

Either support a draft for those who want to waste fuel (send their kids to war) or support a system that controls how much fuel everyone can use.

"They really don't care how we live "our" lives, they just don't want us interviening in their politics..."

Uh, are you kidding me? Did you miss the most recent AQ video this week? The message: ditch democracy and the notion of individual freedoms, and bow to Islam... in other words, you will have no peace with us until you all convert.

And I quote from another pivotal point in world history:
"This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is the paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine... We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again... This is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street, peace with honour. I believe it is peace in our time."

Arthur Neville Chamberlain
Speech at Heston Airport, 30 September 1938, in The Times 1 Oct. 1938. Source: Oxford Book of Modern Quotes(pdf)

And the furor's response to the notion of "peace in our time":
"If ever that silly old man comes interfering here again with his umbrella, I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his stomach in front of the photographers."
Adolf Hitler, after the Munich Agreement.
Quoted by Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick, The Inner Circle, Macmillan (1959), p. 135.

A nuclear Iran would never be a threat to the decadent Western World, right?

Posted By CppThis : September 13, 2007 7:25 am

You see this is why we are in this war now. If you go back and listen to his speech regarding Bin Laden and the Terrorist you idiots are so afraid of. He said if we have the intelligence to strike bin laden and the Pakistani president wont strike??? WE WILL! Idiots he's not going to bomb the Pakistani people only those who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11 that’s the fight we should be fighting!

By the way, if we pull out of Iraq, and tolerate the rest of these islamic idiots, we can be sure of IED's going off in our cities. Oh, no, wait! I'm wrong, that will never happen! I am willing to place my confidence in people that are willing to murder children to never, ever find a way to America and slaughter us! Yeah! They (islamic fundementalist idiots) would have absolutely no disire to do that. They were completely satisfied after the first twin tower attacks, the Cobar Tower attacks, and 9/11!

I think you all are completely ignorant of the current world situation. Wake up! These people want to kill you and your families. For all of you who have children, think of this: Your precious, sweet little girl or boy, still a toddler, being slaughtered in front of your very eyes. At this point, you are subdued, and unable to come to the aid of your screaming child. You, his or her father/mother, the only one's that child takes comfort and refuge in, can't do a thing to help them. All you can do is watch as the blood slowly leaves their bodies, there eyes filled with fear and disbelief at the complete loss of their parents unable to do anything for them. How does that sound? Must sound good. You're letting it happen. To hell with you. I have my weapon. Thank me later when your child graduates from college and makes a free life for him/herself. Cowards.

When the Iranians send a peace envoy to the US apologising to the american people for their unconscionable behavior then I will support direct negotioations.

When did we apologize to Iran for meddling with their domestic affairs? When did we apologize to Palestinians? When will we apologize to Iraqis? Our President won't even apologize to non-citizens we've tortured and held captive. We shouldn't refuse direct diplomacy, thus favoring war, until Iran apologizes. We're not in kindergarten.

Iran has a long history of anti-American sentiment. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, aligned the Iranian government with the United States during the late 1960's.

At the same time the United States was undergoing its own "revolution" of sorts, flower power and all that. The sexual freedoms and materialism the United States views as a normal modern society is seen by the Shia as decadence and an afront to religious doctrine.

When the Shah was overthrown the action was also viewed as an expellation of the United State's influence in the country. This mindset led to the U.S. Embassy invasion and the hostage taking. Relations between the United States and Iran has never recovered.

Obama is WAY wrong when he says diplomacy between the two nations has never been attempted. The statement may be true with the current administration but attempts at diplomacy date back to the late 1970's.

Iran is not going to be swayed by threats and saber rattling. They will do what they feel best for their country and their religious beliefs.

An invasion of Iran will not be an easy task either. "God's Warriors" have proven very resilient and willing to do anything required to protect their way of life. During the Iraq invasion young Iranian Shia men voluntarily ran across Iraqi mine fields killing themselves in order to clear a path for their advancing army. This is something completely unthinkable to the citizens of the United States.

You people that think of the United States as some invisible force that all should bow down to better think long and hard. War is ugly. Do you want your soldier sons watching Iranian children voluntarily throw themselves on mines because they believe so strongly in their cause? That's the difference between our cultures and both think the other is wrong. That will never change.

Only Obama has mentioned helping Katrina victims more, while Bush and Cheney's oil and natural gas buddies benefited the most from being located in the gulf region near N.O. and then abandoned it to move to Houston!!! From an environmental standpoint, most of N.O. should be a wetland again, but from a political and human standpoint, this administration's behavior is just increasingly shameful every day it remains in power. Rudy’s whole platform is actually to politicize his unremarkable behavior after 9/11. Hillary, Obama, and Edwards at least have a coherent strategy, not calling teenagers jerks and calling any intelligent policy changes cowardice. We are not noble nor brave attacking sovereign nations for our own insatiable desire for oil to satisfy our pampered lifestyles. Romney is the only interesting GOP candidate, so of course he is not a front-runner. Ron Paul is the most intelligent GOP candidate, so obviously he does not have a chance. Finally, if I were GOP, I wouldn't run either. It is too shameful....wake up, people….

How quickly people forget that President Truman was severely critized by the republicans for not following the advise of Gen. LeMay and Gen. MacCarthur to attack and invade China. We were lucky then to have a leader who did not wilt under pressure to appease the immature jingoistic sentiment of the right wing and take the long view as to what was in the best interests of America. I hope America is lucky again and elects another great leader with a similar long view. Mr. Obama appears to be such a leader.

This was my comment to the story.

Has the Democratic Party lost its mind, or just its soul? Just please remember what our real veterans have sacrificed over the years for this country.

Not Sen. Barack Obama; Not Sen. Hilary Clinton: and most definitely not Oprah Winfrey; where do you think guy (Barack Obama); will generate all the capital to fund all these battles he specks of?

Personally do not think he has the experience or mussels too handle what he is proposing and/or promising. Sounds just as all his colleges (cronies); likened too mercantile shop keepers in disguise from Iraq as well with all the rest of our senators today.

Most beguiling among the crowed seats in the house and the halls in congress of mendacity is none other than President George w. Bush and his counterfeit war polices reach all the back to his ill gotten presidency.

But this war on terrorism is something he helped to get started and must do his best finish. These Islamic conflicts have been going on since the Carter years and his administration. Just cannot believe some of the injustice that is circulating today and how gullible the American people seem to be.

Is Barack Obama just plain nutty? Or should he be getting information from Sparks Collage of Useless Knowledge! If he thinks we need to go after Afghanistan and Pakistan; stay out of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Developing a battle on that turf is death senescence’s not only for our troops in Iraq; we all will suffer their same fate.

I always wondered how this country could have been stupid enough to elect this president for a second term. One only needs to see the majority of posters to the Political Ticker to understand how that could have happened.

When someone who was outspokenly against this war since before it was waged gives an intelligent,comprehensive and realistic solution to this administration's disastrous fiasco in Iraq, it apparently brings out the nutjob 30% who still buy the hype of the most corrupt and incompetent president in our history.

It is any wonder the rest of the world considers us illiterate morons!

Hillary and the Republicans need to make up their minds...