Obama Talks About What He Learned During His World Trip

Newsweek:

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: Newsweek

Comments

[macbabe]

05:13 PM on 07/27/2008

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

[yappnmutt]

02:26 PM on 07/27/2008

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]

12:02 PM on 07/27/2008

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.

[gakabani]

11:41 AM on 07/27/2008

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

[bentenrai]

11:41 AM on 07/27/2008

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?

[Alecki]

08:38 AM on 07/27/2008

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!

[emmaspeaks]

09:12 AM on 07/27/2008

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?

[Kally]

09:38 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

10:06 AM on 07/27/2008

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.

[Mondayboy]

08:21 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

06:32 AM on 07/27/2008

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.

[CologneCitizen]

09:30 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

10:29 AM on 07/27/2008

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.

[bentenrai]

10:22 AM on 07/27/2008

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

[mamacat]

06:14 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

06:36 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

05:45 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

05:41 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

05:56 AM on 07/27/2008

Prost!

[Ecoutez]

03:49 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

07:10 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

11:36 AM on 07/27/2008

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]

03:41 AM on 07/27/2008

Smart is back!

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

[emmaspeaks]

09:13 AM on 07/27/2008

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

[Trinidad707]

03:22 AM on 07/27/2008

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

[scouserinlondon]

05:22 AM on 07/27/2008

It's criminal that some of your voters have the vote.People have fought and died ,and still do to obtain the vote...... it is too precious and bloodstaind to be in the hands of morons and haters.
We cannot vote , but we are willing him in and we have let him know strong and unwavering our support is.
He now knows what high esteem the World holds him in.and he has something else that McCain will never have and Bush never did......he has our love.
Shame on the USA if you let your people and the peoples of the World down,especially when the World is on the edge, by being so pig ignorant and full of hate that you let this man go.

[emmaspeaks]

09:14 AM on 07/27/2008

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 people that he is interested in working with our allies.

[k6007]

01:51 AM on 07/27/2008

OK, he has auditioned for the job, passed the interviews with flying colors(even though the msm is trying it's darnest to tarnish the image), communicated with our allies beautifully, if this isn't enough to convince the american people he stands miles above the competition........fk 'em!

[Seattlelite]

03:05 AM on 07/27/2008

What 's so amazing and fantastic is he didn't just go "there" HE WAS WELCOMED! i don't ever recall seeing foreign leaders smiling and so relaxed in photos. Relief was the impression I got from the photos.

No one's ever offered to personally drive shrub nor McSame to the airport, nor do I recall a foreign leader calling them their "buddy". O did a brilliant job on his foreign trip. the republicans and media can spin it all they like but the proof is in the photos.

[scouserinlondon]

05:27 AM on 07/27/2008

Spot on.We wanted to keep him.

[ggmome]

07:50 AM on 07/27/2008

Your point of Republicans and the Media spinning Obama's trip, you are so right. 250,000 people, by their estimates, reduced to 'close to 200,000 people' on the MSM here is more than an underestimation of the success of his trip.

It is becoming very apparent who and where our true enemies reside. I believe the fungus is among us...

[1028jenn]

03:14 AM on 07/27/2008

Go President Obama ! You're the greatest, and we're all so proud of you ! You did a fabulous job representing the U.S. while in Europe.