Ex-Bush Official: Obama Right About Diplomacy

Newsweek:

One of the sharpest and most telling differences on foreign policy between Barack Obama and John McCain is whether the United States should talk to difficult and disreputable leaders like Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Venezuela's Hugo Chávez. In each of the three presidential debates, McCain belittled Obama as naive for arguing that America should be willing to negotiate with such adversaries. In the vice presidential debate, Sarah Palin went even further, accusing Obama of "bad judgment ... that is dangerous," an ironic charge given her own very modest foreign-policy credentials.

Are McCain and Palin correct that America should stonewall its foes? I lived this issue for 27 years as a career diplomat, serving both Republican and Democratic administrations. Maybe that's why I've been struggling to find the real wisdom and logic in this Republican assault against Obama. I'll bet that a poll of senior diplomats who have served presidents from Carter to Bush would reveal an overwhelming majority who agree with the following position: of course we should talk to difficult adversaries--when it is in our interest and at a time of our choosing.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[pupbayer]

Ex-Bush official..now there's an expert on diplomacy! LOL!!!!

O bama IS starting to look like Bush!

[Ramirez]

Burns is making the same straw man argument that Obama uses.

The Republicans are NOT stating that our country should not talk, negotiate, discuss issues,etc with our enemies. Of course we should, and we do. That's what embassies and diplomats are for, and we speak diplomatically with these nations all the time. We will continue to do so no matter who is president.

The difference is that Obama stated he would sit down PERSONALLY, president to president, and speak with the leaders of enemy nations. And he would do it in the first year of his presidency. This is the distinction that Republicans are making.

A meeting between presidents is part of the diplomatic process. It is not the beginning. There must be positive results BEFORE that stage is reached.

Did Obama mean to say what he did about personally meeting with Iran, Cuba, et al? Don't know. Perhaps he just blurted out something and then it became policy when he was forced to defend it.
If so that is not reassuring.

[InnerThetan]

I feel that Obama has the integrity,­humility,s­ound judgement(­intelligen­ce), and insight that we need as the next POTUS. Let's free ourselves of the issues, for one moment. Let's look at these two people without all of the rhetoric and B.S. JFK did not have a lot of experience, but he led us out of the Bay of Pigs invasion and a possible nuclear catastrophe because of GOOD JUDGEMENT. Barack was born for the same greatness.

[zenaby56]

McCain, again proves he lacks the ability to lead this nation.

Thanks for putting this out there. I have been hoping that someone would say this and bring some positive attention to diplomacy and its role. Either you are with us or against us approach is part of how we got to a pace where the U.S. is not being viewed positively across the world.

[harriettubman]

Of course Obama is logical. Who wouldn't want to sit down and discuss something but Bush/Chene­y/Rove/McC­ain/Palin? You'll never know what's on the enemies mind by ignoring him.

[RobinSeattle]

I love the smell of repudiation in the morning.

[Hare]

Isn't it deplorable to instigate wars just so McCain can have a chance at the polls? Iran and Syria should just wait a little longer until Obama takes power and then seat with him and accept his explanation. I hope they know by now it is all about politics but playing with peoples lives is just despicable. These people are just ev!l.

[imsosure]

That's just another way of saying McCain is wrong and will certainly lose.

[JNagarya]

Sarah Palin's ". . . very modest foreign-policy credentials."

They aren't "very modest". They are NON-EXISTENT, and EVERYONE KNOWS IT.

Stop lying in order to be polite!

[Ramirez]

Palin's foreign policy credentials are equal to Obama's.

[Jason404]

Oh come - she did actually get a passport last year. Give her some credit.

[pjburns11]

Looks like he is desperately trying to position himself to serve another president.

www.thetruthburns.wordpress.com

[benedict15]

Not very likely. Nick Burns by his talent, learning, and professionalism is the very best American diplomat since John Quinsy Adams or George Kennan. Instead of the old, tired, Democratic foreign policy establishment, he stands a very good chance of being named Secretary of State in an Obama cabinet. We have some great diplomats, including some retired generals (like Jones) who can bring a new, tough, enlightened leadership to the State Department. I don't think Obama will be picking any of the old crowd. The fact is that the United States needs to become the first among democratic equals, rather than trying to build an empire. Never in history have the rich powerful nations been so ready to cooperate, rather than compete. Rarely have they had as a great a need. Germany, France, UK, Italy are united in the EU, and are truly democratic. There are dozens of second tier countries eager to increase their security, and ready to follow if someone would lead. The nondemocratic countires -- especially Russia and China.
But the U.S. is in dire financial straits. It needs to build the NATO and Pacific Alliances into a working economic and security alliance -- threatening no one with aggression but tolerating no backsliding into dictatorship. The democracies can enforced peace, trade, and human rights without fighting dumb wars. The UN should become the arena in which the democratic alliance enforces its will. A G-7 with ultimate influence in the UN, WTO, IMF, IBRD, WHO and FAO.

[forthepeople1]

The preemptive strike in Iran, and now the votes in OHIO, two things BUSH is doing to help his PAL MCCain STEAL THIS ELECTION; OBAMA MUST WIN BY A HUGE LANDSLIDE!!!!
ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT:
They are trying to STEAL THE ELECTION AGAIN
I just read that BUSH, on behalf of OHIO REPUBLICAN and minority house Leader John A. Boehner, has asked the Dept of Justice to investigate 200,000 OHIO voter ballots for discrepancies.
This comes a week after the SUPREME COURT has ruled on this and DISMISSED THIS!!!!

[Dynamohum]

The information you speak of is ONLY on Repukelican blogs. I cannot find the story from any credible news agency!! WE MUST BE VIGILANT. But I believe you may be overreacting in this case. Just thinkin'

[klo]

Which story can't you find?

http://news.aol.com/article/us-forces-launch-rare-attack-in-syria/226155

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/white_house_wants_doj_action_o.php

[Gib]

Try Syria, duckwit.

[Marichu]

Diplomacy may be considered slow and arduous, but in the long run it pays off. Sitting down and trying to hash out accords or treaties, lacks the glamour and élan that draws media attention (until the parties are ready to sign). It may turn out to be a long, drawn out process that with patience yields positive results. Talks can hit a snag or fall apart, but that is the nature of the beast. Another round of talks will then begin. And many a times using a third party or the backing of other nations could prove beneficial and can be used as an added leverage.
Diplomacy may not always work, but the alternative is worst.
From an old American saying: Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

[benedict15]

"Better Jaw-Jaw than War-War." Winston S. Churchill (who never saw a war he didn't love.)

[Marichu]

The basic problems facing the world today are not susceptible to a military solution. ~JFK

[Clois]

Yes, I had read earlier about the Descendants of Senator McCain.

I think it sad that he refuses to acknowledge them and even goes so far as to say his family never owned slaves. How ironic, when his brother attends to the family reunions. I saw a video of many of the white McCains, including his brother, attending one of these reunions with the black McCains.
So many of these relatives were in the military as well, and he should be very proud of them. I imagine they did much better than he did meaning he graduated in the bottom 5th of his military class.

They interviewed one of his relatives and she said she was voting for Senator Obama. Her brother said he was still not sure. What a feeling of obligation for someone that cares nothing about you.

McCain voted against the Martin Luther King holiday several times.

[Dynamohum]

FORTHEPEOPLE is a repukelican operative. DO NOT ENGAGE. Do not reply below. Do not comment or reply. Google shows information only on reich wing blogs, no credible news agencies reporting. What a TR011 Forthepeople is.

[forthepeople1]

ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT:
They are trying to STEAL THE ELECTION AGAIN
I just read that BUSH, on behalf of OHIO REPUBLICAN and minority house Leader John A. Boehner, has asked the Dept of Justice to investigate 200,000 OHIO voter ballots for discrepancies.
This comes a week after the SUPREME COURT has ruled on this and DISMISSED THIS!!!!
Bush has intervened after A SUPREME COURT RULING DECLARED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE BALLOTS. The SUPREME COURT DISMISSED THE CASE LAST WEEK!!!!!
They are trying to steal the Election..... VOTE NOW, SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN NOW!!!

[KickerBoard]

The theft is well underway - and not just in Ohio. Be vigilant, America - fascism has been lurking for a while and the prospect of a third tainted election might well rule out any near-future possibility of deposing a right-wing Presidency.

[forthepeople1]

OMG what in the world can be done about this. I am sure OBAMA is aware of this and knows he absolutely must win by a HUGE uncontested LANDSLIDE. The preemptive strike that BUSH just engaged in on Iran and now the OHIO votes, 200,000 votes that the Supreme Court dismissed last week, BUSH is now ordering the Dept Of Justice to investigate it anyway. How does OBAMA get around this? This is extremely alarming!!!
BELLS SHOULD BE GOING OFF EVERYWHERE BEHIND THIS!!!

[mikemiami]

Palin called Obama naive which is an even more ironic charge given her own very modest foreign-policy credentials.