James Baker: Talking To An Enemy Is Not Appeasement

A clip of former Secretary of State James Baker has been making the rounds recently, as a result of the current 'appeasement' debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. Unfortunately for McCain, Baker agrees with Obama. And even though the interview is from this past October, Baker addresses head-on the issue of appeasement, saying:

"Diplomacy involves talking to your enemies. You don't reward your enemies necessarily by talking to them if you are tough and you know what you are doing. You don't appease them. Talking to an enemy is not in my view appeasement."

[WATCH]

Comments

[dbdzen]

Obama had a detailed strategy on this one. The man prepares and he's not backing down on this debate because once McCain's stances get analyzed, the bluster emerges.

[Forest]

What's troubling about McCain is that he doesn't seem to grasp the complexities of foreign relations and, when he does, he frequently forgets or changes his mind. It's hard to find the real core of this man who comes off more a panderer than a leader. US citizens have already been there. Done that.

[tomcat27834]

thanks forest....for hitting the nail on the head.

McCain is NOT a leader !

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Well said.

On his good days, McCain is at best a cranky pander bear.

[AMJordan]

Be careful, he might reach through the bars of his bus and try to pull you in.

[AMJordan]

Vid of John McCain talking to the media:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEK2X8ysGw0

[blueshield]

Repub Presidents expect to spend maximum time on vacation (W has the most vacation days of any US President, second only to Reagan) and a minimum time on serious matters like foreign policy, unless it involves looking tough, or photo ops with the troops. McCain wants to avoid any strategy that will cut down on nap time.

[CommonSensePlease]

Wow! Wow! McCain is again on the wrong side of the issue! James Baker, the icon of the Republican Party, gives a big slap in the face to McSenile! Oldness is not excuse! OLD MAN, McFlipFlop , you are too old to serve: YOU ARE AN EMBARASSMENT TO THIS COUNTRY! Cannot respect you when you said that 2 + 2 = 5 because you have experience in defense! Be logical, old man!
This issue is a LOSING issue for you! Stop digging! You lost your bearings, McLOSER!

[PKSSK]

Sadly, everything Baker achieved has been destroyed by his former bosses son over the last 7 years. I bet he would endorse Obama if he were not a republican. Interesting point: Baker was a democrat before he joined up with GHW Bush.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Well said, but my money is he'd support Hillary.

[MsLiz]

Baker was the kind of Texas Democrat which likes Big Business; he was not an LBJ Democrat. He also worked for Reagan.

[NightRider]

In their quest to disparage, smear and brand Obama as weak and inexperience, the GOP are tripping over themselves and are unable to have coherent talking points.

They are laughable and they cannot win.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Amazingly to us, Repukes don't seem to care.

Unfortunately, McCain leads Obama in state-by-state polling. And Hillary leads both of them.
http://www.electoral-vote.com

[omaro]

Interesting. The site you linked to is VoteFromAbroad. RealClearPolitics polling averages show some important differences, however. Michigan is a good example, shows Obama winning and Clinton losing to McCain.

[bxmask]

What are Mr. Bush and McCain going to say about this one? Who has more foreign policy experience between John McCain and James Baker???

[nibblybits]

James Baker is a consummate gentleman statesman. Knew how to get things done without hullabaloo or too much ego. It's unfortunate he's worked for the other side. His role in the Florida debacle in 2000 is a low point, but I think he did it our of loyalty to Bush Sr. If only he had known what W would sow...

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

He tried to make amends with history via the Iraq Commission report. Junior blew him off.

[gevan]

If you're trying to point out that Nixon's little pow-wow with Mao and Chou En Li didn't lead to our surrender in Viet Nam and the repatriation of the defector J.S.McCain or that Ronald Reagan's attemped treasonable action in Reykjavik giving away our nuclear deterrent to the Soviets might not be appeasement, then I think you don't understand what the GOP means when they say that Liberals are the problem.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Pithed them pithily!

[MsLiz]

I don't understand what your long sentence says, that's for sure!

[lisakaz2]

I guess Baker didn't like the underlying suggestion he was an appeaser.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Oopsy!

[mouselion]

McToast.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

I heard James Baker speak at Rice University in Houston.

During his speech he said that he had often been asked why the coalition in the first Gulf War had not marched on Baghdad.

He paused, looked up, smiled and said, "I am no longer asked that question."

[mooph]

Interesting. Can't decide what that exactly means, which is probably the point.

[lisakaz2]

I think he means that the reality of the last 5+ years has answered the question and Baker is no longer blamed for what has become seen as prudent.

[robXdion]

I heard him speak at Rice in April or May 2003 as part of an NROTC detachment. When did you hear him speak?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Would have been late 2004/early 2005

After the expected "quick, decisive" victory didn't materialize.

[olderdem]

Baker "You don't reward your enemies necessarily by talking to them if you are tough and you know what you are doing."


The problem with Bush and McCain talking to our enemies is that neither one knows what they are doing.

[BLinCincinnati]

Exactly. The no talk policy started with GWB because his advisors knew he was a bumbling idiot and couldn't be trusted to talk to anyone.

[lisakaz2]

Yep, Both know only appeasement or silence and nothing in between. That's why GWB never "graduated" to the 64 Crayola box.

[caywen]

On Fixed News no less! Bam! Right from the horse's mouth - McCain and Bush are DEAD WRONG on diplomacy. Obama is right.

[MsLiz]

OMG! When worlds collide!

[neocon666]

Looks like Baker's going to get a call from the white house telling what he really meant by that.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

If Chimpy calls, Baker will hang up.

[lisakaz2]

You know, Baker could be key (if he lives long enough) to the GOP recovering itself from the mess created by GWB. He's gotta erase a lot but if he stays on his message he could help. McSame is stoooopid for not seeing it.