Obama Talks About What He Learned During His World Trip

Even if he wins the election this fall, Barack Obama will have a hard time matching the rock-star reception he received in Europe last week. More than 200,000 fans came to hear him speak in Berlin, while heads of state who are more skeptical of the Democratic candidate were still eager to be photographed with him. Obama spoke to NEWSWEEK's Richard Wolffe as his plane neared Paris, one of the last stops on his trip. Excerpts:

Wolffe: Based on what you've seen and heard on this trip, is there anything that has led you to review any policy, tweak things, rethink anything?
Obama: Our success in Afghanistan is going to be deeply dependent not just on getting more troops there, which we need, but also some sustained high-level engagement with Pakistan--something that I discussed before but I think is significantly more urgent than even I had imagined. Basically there doesn't appear to be any pressure at all being placed on Al Qaeda, on these training camps, these safe havens, in the FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas].

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[macbabe]

Simply the Best!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0F9sZeESus

[yappnmutt]

the security canard in our ally's refusal to negotiate sincerely with their neighbors is circular logic. there will be no negotiations until there is security but there will be no security unless there are sincere negotiations.

there are billions of dollars worth of influence available to force peace on the two parties. not using that leverage is a lack of seriousness about a good outcome.

[pmag88]

The amount of scrutiny Obama's getting is proportionate to the amount of risk he's taken by putting himself out there. That's the way it works. And hey, how is it Obamas fault that people don't or can"t see John McCain as presidential, and thus they aren't discussing him in the same terms?

McCain makes it a point to hide from the press (for good reason) while prodding Obama to go for it, and then when Obama hits it out of the park with seemingly little effort, McCain blathers on about the surge like it"s the one and only component of success in dealing with the entire range of issues facing our nation and the world.

McCain put himself into a small box which is growing increasingly smaller.

[bentenrai]

I don't know why so many people believe in McCain and the GOP's BS. Basically, all the all dude can utter these days is "Obama is wrong", "Obama is naive", Obama this, Obama that, I guess he's turned into an Obamabot. I don't even know why he comes off owning "the surge" as if he invented it. And I understand even less why people forget so easily about the bigger point after hearing his pitch about the "surge working" and how if Obama's opposition to it passed, how things would have gone down the drain. The big picture is this: The GOP is responsible of taking us to Iraq, through deliberate disinformation mainly. They shouldn't even boast about the surge working because it's their fault that we had to have a surge and put more pressure on our military instead of focusing on the REAL foreign threats to America. Was Al Qaeda in Iraq before we came there? There's no evidence of that at all.
I recall it was first a talk about WMDs, then when WMDs were not found, it was all about taking down the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein, and freeing the Iraqi people so that they can have a democracy - Wait a sec... I thought we were capitalists, why do we have to pass up for a selective non-profit organization for imposition of democracy? The the BS continues by labeling Iraq as the center of the war on terror. Really? Who made it that way?

[gakabani]

The question that remains for all of us of Arab decent, will he make a difference in the palestinian-Israeli conflict?

[Alecki]

Will Media Report Concert Before Obama's Berlin Speech?
News busters.org
By Noel Sheppard

Remember back in May when media gushed and fawned over a huge crowd in Portland, Oregon -- supposedly gathered to hear the words of Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama -- but chose not to report the free concert given before his speech?
Well, it has been learned that before the presumptive Democrat nominee spoke to a crowd in Berlin Thursday, two popular German acts -- reggae artist Patrice and rock band Reamonn -- entertained the gathering audience.
Will media report this tonight, or just gush and fawn over the huge crowd again?
While you ponder, here's what was reported by Spiegel Online moments ago (h/t Hot Air and Gateway):

++ Pop Concert for Obama Fans ++
6:33 p.m.: The tens of thousands of Obama fans are being entertained as they await the senator. The reggae musician Patrice kicked things off, followed by the rock band Reamonn.
I'm sure this will be part of ALL media reports concerning this speech...not!

[Boboday555]

I smell something pretty republican and very desperate coming from your post Alecki but there's a quick cure for your unabashed GOP depseration!
GO ENLIST!!!
Your anceint candidate wants us there for another 100 years and will need all the koolaide drinkers he can get.
So, I say 'agin' Alecki, GO ENLIST...show your candidate that your support isn't just more GOP hot-air!
Or are you STILL driving the Romney camapign bus with that guy's yellow bellied sons?

[NoBo08]

What was the context of McC saying he wanted us in Iraq for 100 years. Talk about desperation. Deliberately using misquotes is a sure sign.

[Kally]

We all know that's why so many people showed up. It was all over the UK papers. And they hyped the crowd at the German speaking engagement. And then showed ten or so people talking to McCain in a supermarket. WHAT THEY FAILED TO MENTION ALSO IS those teen agers in Germany can't vote in America, but maybe oprah will find a way to bus them in, BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE SUPERMARKET TALKING TO MCCAIN CAN VOTE.

[danoj]

Didn't tell anyone they were giving out free beer either. Could prolly get another 50k knuckle heads at a rally in this country too if they gave out the free nectar of the gods.

[emmaspeaks]

And did these bands support Obama. Plenty of bands support a candidate and play for them, as fundraisers or on the trail, with or without the candidate. Its a tactic, but so what?

[FatherWolf]

A lot of Americans want the president to be just the First Regular Guy. They go for the images of a president or presidential candidate downing a beer or shooting a duck.

Sorta like our celebrity culture, where the utterly talentless like Paris Hilton or Brittney Spears become demi-gods. (Or entertainers with talent are worshiped for their glamor, not their abilities.)

A lot of Americans feel threatened by the thought of a president who is intelligent and thoughtful, who can see farther than they can. Bush's initial popularity and the current remnants of it may arise from the very lack of thoughtfulness and intelligence that have made him such a disastrous president.

These people think Obama is acting aloof because he is insisting on keeping his discourse intelligent and on a high level.

Obama's other problem is that his getting-down-with-the-people side is very urban and includes basketball. Sinking a 3-pointer was Obama's equivalent of going out hunting and shooting a duck. Unfortunately, a black man being good at basketball doesn't sit well with the older, white, non-urban voters.

[NoBo08]

A lot of Americans do not want someone that appears to be an elitist snob to be their president. Nor who speaks to them like they are errant children and he will show them the way.

A lot of Americans do not want a president that will take their hard earned money and spend it on more programs they do not support.

A lot of Americans do not want a president that does not care that they are hurting because of high energy cost and refuses to allow them access to offshore oil and oil shale on American soil.

A lot of Americans do not want a president who sat in a church for 20 years listening to hate filled speech about their country and any race. Then tells them he wasn't there for any of it and expects them to believe him.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Most Americans don't want the son and grandson of admirals to be the next warmonger in chief to try to prove he"s better than daddy. Nor one or who calls us his "friends," thereby eviscerating the meaning of that word, and don't have a problem with an "elitist" if they are champions of us regular folks' interests rather than those of the "haves and have mores."

Most Americans don't want a president who will take their hard earned money and spend it on current and future wars they do not support.

Most Americans don't want a president who claims to care that they are hurting because of high energy cost and proposes to address such costs through a gas tax holiday and more offshore drilling. We understand that the holiday will only lead to further deficit spending. We also understand that the oil industry already has tens of millions of acres under lease left unexplored and untapped. Further, we understand that oil from such drilling will not reach the market for at least a decade and will have virtually no impact on price when it does. Finally, we understand that the oil industry would prefer to drill where it cannot easily be monitored for environmental compliance.

Most Americans don't want a president who aggressively sought endorsement from *several* lunatic religious figures whose speeches and sermons are hate-filled and objectively offensive, then tells us he was totally unaware of any of it and expects us to believe him.

[Marlyn]

"utterly talentless like Paris Hilton or Brittney Spears become demi-gods." ???

Become demi-gods to whom? only to the media itself.
NOBODY actually cares about these creeps.

[Mondayboy]

O has got it. He was born with it. Even Clinton couldn't pull a crowd of 200K in Berlin....damn, you have to be born with it to draw such a crowd.

[LittleGirl]

Living in Germany, what amazes me about the show of support for Obama is that Germany is by far, one of the biggest hypocrites when it comes to racism. They claim that they welcome foreigners but in reality, they really don't. They are not color blind either. They treat the turks who came here decades ago like they are second class citizens. The germans are and will probably always be head strong and racist. Hopefully this young generation will teach the seniors how it's done and done right. Give respect and show support for others.

[bentenrai]

Who said "I love foreigners, as long as they remain in their own country".

[CologneCitizen]

Germany is not more racist than the USA. What about all these "hate crimes" in America after 9/11 ? Racism exists in every country in the world. To claim that Germany will probably always be racist is ridiculous.

[Marlyn]

Even China is racist. The majority are Han, and they look down on their "minorities", but to my western eye, I can't even tell them apart.

[mamacat]

Win or lose, he has reminded us that it is possible for an American running for President to be presidential. I haven't seen someone running for the job who I could be proud of since Kerry in 2004. It seems like an eternity ago.

[Keith52]

I totally agree. And this interview is something that everyone should read. He doesn't put sounds bites out there and he doesn't box himself in. You really get the feeling that he is looking at the larger picture on all issues and that whatever compromises he needs to make, they will be informed by rationality, realism and America's true interests in mind.

[LillianB]

Good interview, indeed. Lots of substancial questions, allowing for substancial answers. What he says about Afghanistan/Pakistan will be discussed.

One interesting thing the interviewer didn't highlight enough, though, that should be talked more about: Obama goes far in implying that an international delegation of troops - some peacekeeping/peacecreating mission consisting of Europeans, rather than Americans - will be needed in Israel, to create peace between Palestinians and Israeli settlers. This in connection with an agreement that the settlements won't spread any further and that the Palestinians will not attack settlers already there.
That is coherent with what he said in Berlin, about tomorrow's new alliances, the need for Europe to contribute more to world peace/the need for USA to step down from trying to act as "world police". (Paraphrasing.) I think it will be wise, but choosing which European countries must be carefully done. Palestinians see the US as a close ally to Israel (not sufficiantly objective in the Israel/Palestine conflict, and why it's wise for USA to stay out of there) whereas Israel considers some countries, like France, as too supportive of the Palestinian cause. And then there's the history between Israel and Germany... Still, delegations from countries like Spain, the Scandinavian countries (if the Mohammed drawings won't affect it?), Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, or the Eastern European countries now gaining new wealth (Poland in partiular) will probably be accepted by both parties.

[Mogamboguru]

For the records:

Europeans, and especially Germans, LIKE to be proud of America. In the end, YOU showed us how to finally get rid of N.a.z.i.s.m.and become a proud, respected nation again.

The USA ARE still great. All WE want from YOU is, to remember, that greatness comes with responsibility: "Noblesse oblige" - as the French love to put it. And I wholeheartedly agree:

a. For the USA, it's time to get noble again; and

b. this noblesse takes responsibility and reason from your side.

ANd there is ONE MAN who is definitely able to impersonate, as well as execute, BOTH points - B.a.r.a.c.k. O.b.a.m.a. (of course... 8-) )

If YOU are willing to lead unter these SELF-IMPOSED preconditions again, WE are willing to follow.

[eden4barack08]

Prost!

[Ecoutez]

What a beautiful and brilliant human being Obama is and how proud I am of him. Got a little teary and emotional seeing those American flags waving in the huge crowd. I didn't see one mean expression on any of the faces in the crowd.

[ggmome]

Somehow it radiates overseas, Obama's sincerity and confidence. I cannot understand why some here can't see what a monster we have created within our Government by being led by a regime that is arrogant , ignorant and divisive. Why can't some people realize how much this country has changed, and how mean it has become.

We have been fed what they want us to hear, speak, feel and do. This is not the country i grew up in and this is not the country that the world expects us to be or has known us to be. It's long since been time for us to reverse our stance that has hurt us tremendously.

[Expatslacker]

The country you & I grew up in disappeared on 9/11. This enemy we are now fighting is very different then the ones we have known. It is difficult to understand being raised in America an enemy that will strap a bomb on themselve & willingly die as long as they can take hundreds with them. An enemy that doesn't want to conquer you but wants instead to kill you. Trying to reason with someone with that mind set will be difficult if not impossible. Do you think Osama would come to the table & talk peace? It isw not only Americans this enemy hates, look at the destruction in Spain, Indonesia, etc.

[kelzk]

Smart is back!

And kudos to Richard Wolffe for asking actual relevant questions for the majority of the interview.

[emmaspeaks]

yes Thank you Richard Wolfee for showing some intelligence and not getting into the gossip.

[Trinidad707]

Yiou mean I wasted a trip on folks who can't even vote for me?

[emmaspeaks]

Its not a waste, its called diplomacy. First, he's showing the world he who he is. Second, he's meeting with foreign countries to get to know them, and show they can work together. It also shows the American peo