Obama explains missile defense decision

President Barack Obama explains why he canceled the missile shield plan for eastern Europe.

The missile shield was supposedly to protect Poland and neighboring companies from Iranian missiles, but it was causing a lot of friction with Russia.

There will still be a defense system against the unlikely possibility that Iran should launch a ballistic missile at Europe. This system will be more based on sea using current interceptors to shoot down short range missiles.

Is Obama Tough Enough?

The proposition that American voters might not view Barack Obama as tough enough was discussed recently on a few nationwide television news talk shows.

Basically, the idea is that Barack Obama is viewed as a pushover and that he might be seen in the light of say, Jimmy Carter.

However, I don't remember seeing anything in the sense of poll data or opinion surveys that suggest Obama is seen as a weak figure. So it seems that much of this discussion is based on the personal opinions of various pundits.

A tough exterior does not necessarily translate into greater security or stability. George W. Bush cultivated the cowboy image, but that didn't stop al-Qaeda from launching a brazen attack on 9-11.

Even with American troops overextended on two battlefields, terrorist networks have continued to launch major attacks worldwide since the bombing of the World Trade Center.

It was during tough guy Bush's watch, that fundamentalist Iran has become the major power in the Middle East region, Hezbollah is now stronger than ever in Lebanon, and Hamas has come to ascendancy in Palestine.

On other fronts, the world's worse humanitarian crises in Darfur is mostly the result of military confrontation between Sudan and Chad.

Oil prices, long linked with U.S. security, are high at about $90 a barrel and many think they will eventually go much higher. High oil prices are often cited as one of the "failings" of a "weak" Carter administration.

In Asia, North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon against the warnings of the cowboy administration. Islamic fundamentalism has become a more serious problem in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Malaysia, once seen as the shining example of a tolerant multi-cultural Muslim-majority state, has been moving at an alarming rate toward hard-line Islamism since the invasion of Iraq.

Russia, once seemingly on a benign path has been moving increasingly toward the right under the Bush administration igniting fears of a new Cold War.

So, tough images and tough action does not translate into security or stability. If America does not like to be pushed around, neither do people in most other parts of the world. And in not a few cases, they are willing to fight when pushed to a certain point even if out-gunned.

Good judgment, diplomacy and sound knowledge of the situation at hand trump cowboy images and tough talk.

Bush, for example, showed his ignorance of the situation in launching his attack on Iraq, when it was revealed that he was unfamiliar with the sectarian strife between Sunni and Shi'ite sects.

Obama, on the other hand, as shown an intricate knowledge in the area of international relations and foreign policy.

Likewise, Obama showed good judgment when he failed to accept the administration's case on WMD in Iraq. He spoke before the war began of the chaos that would ensue in the country.

An aggressive foreign policy will not work because it is not concerned with creating a win-win situation for everybody involved. It's only concerned with American interests at the expense of everybody else. Now, when those others decide not to cooperate, it turns into a lose-lose situation as we have today.

One of the strange things I've seen in this campaign, is that many people seem to be judging Obama's "toughness" on his willingness to attack Hillary Clinton on the stump. One has to wonder how this should translate to Obama's foreign policy performance if elected.

The world may not be a friendly place, but those perceived most unfriendly are the bullies. Everyone loves to take down a bully. Obama's approach, it would seem, would be to promote an environment where peace and stable relationships actually have a chance to flourish.

Obama: Show restraint on Iran

In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Barack Obama urged restraint in dealing with Iran.

"Typically, we have made our biggest blunders when we overreached militarily, and we have had our greatest foreign policy successes ... where we showed restraint," Obama said.

The Illinois senator has recently drawn a sharp contrast between his position on Iran and that of Sen. Hillary Clinton, who recently voted to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Many observers see the move as the first step toward military conflict with the Islamic nation.

Barack boogies with Ellen DeGeneres

Barack Obama launches new ad in New Hampshire

Barack Obama has a new TV ad rolling out in New Hampshire that focuses on Democrats's "conventional thinking."

The new 30-second ad is titled "Conventional" features Obama saying that he will talk to both friends and foes alike.



The spot highlights differences between Obama and Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in negotiating with states like Iran, Syria and North Korea. Recently, the Illinois senator has also spoke out against a Senate vote recognizing Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Clinton voted for the legislation.

Can Oprah make you vote for Obama?

A USA Today article examines whether television superstar Oprah Winfrey's endorsement will help Barack Obama get elected president.

Barack Obama promises immediate Iraq pullout

Speaking to a crowd of 5,000 Friday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Sen. Barack Obama pledged to order a U.S. troop pullout from Iraq upon taking office.

Raul Alvillar, director of Obama's campaign in Arizona, said he thinks Obama's consistent opposition to the war in Iraq will present a clear choice to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who voted to authorize the war. This

More combative style

Many observers have noted that Barack is taking on Hillary much more in his public statements. A Politico blogger speculates that this may be driven by supporters who are getting worried by Obama's position in the polls.

Obama's handlers, however, keep assuring the faithful that the strategy of winning or beating expectation in Iowa and building up momentum will work.

I have to think that Hillary Clinton's camp is under a lot pressure now. If she goes up any more in the polls, even Pollyanna would have to suspect something was fishy in Denmark.

The Obama camp was able to celebrate they're reaching the goal of $2.1 million to close the funding gap with Clinton.

A crowd of Obama supporters in Nevada on Thursday.

There is a great article in Esquire about the Bush administration's moves toward war with Iran:

The Secret History of the Impending War with Iran That the White House Doesn't Want You to Know