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

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Historical reminder: As I recall, James Baker is the father of "shuttle diplomacy,"* both as a coaltion-builder under Bush the Elder (and wiser by comparison), and often between Arab states or Palestinians, and Israel.

* One can make an argument for Kissinger, but I just can't stomach it.

http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=883997&ct=2837497

[ejay579]

Chimp and Chump really stepped into it this time. May they keep up the good work on behalf of Barak Obama.

[echeola]

I've always admired James Baker as a diplomat. I'm glad to see that he isn't spouting the party line.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Thank gawd for grown-ups.

Whatever did the Bush/Cheney administration do with the Baker Commission's bi-partisan recommendations on Iraq anyway?

[IslandGyal]

Only in bushie's and McSame world is talking appeasement.

[independentrepublicrat]

That Obamacans segment of support is looking larger and larger than imagined with each passing day.

[jkpcguru]

Glad to have you on the team!

[robXdion]

It's about time someone posted this video. It's been the rage on Youtube for the past few weeks.

[Gemma08]

p0wned!

[DennyCrane]

I hope the Obama team turns this into an ad. Use Republican heroes like Reagan and Baker to make Bush and McCain look bad. Don't let the McCain campaign make "talking to your enemies" something only "weak" Democrats do. Make it a quality of Republicans to show that McCain is no traditional Republican.