Talking to Iran
A big chunk of The American Foreign Policy Establishment came out in support of engagement with Iran:
Five former U.S. secretaries of state said on Monday the next American administration should talk to Iran, a foe President George W. Bush has generally shunned as part of an "axis of evil." [...]
The five — Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger — all said they favored talking to Iran as part of a strategy to stop Tehran's development of a nuclear weapons program.
Kissinger specifically came out in favor of negotiating with Iran "without conditions."
The fact that McCain occasionally talks to Henry Kissinger is occasionally offered as evidence that McCain is hearing from a diverse group of foreign policy advisers. The fact that Kissinger advocates a course that McCain has derided as naive and irresponsible should be a huge clue as to whom McCain actually listens.
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Obama was right on what Kissinger said. McCain was working a nonissue.
McCain tried to make this an issue, it wasn't. It also seemed that McCain was getting a bit agitated during this exchange.
Is John McCain running for US presidency or Israel's? It seems like he care more about Israel than he does about this Great Nation of us (USA)!!!
i'm glad npr cleared this up i was depending on your team to do so
i am an avid listener and my question is will the american people go for politics as usual or are the looking for a change if they are they had better get on the Obama train
I thought that Senator Obama won this exchange. I agree that the emphasis on Israel seem disproportionate, but do not forget that the Christian right believes that Israel is God's chosen people still, so McCain may have been appealing to them.
Obama made it clear that, as my brother would say, His [George W.] Bush best thinking got us where we are today, and that McCain would continue those failed policies.
Peggy
Both distinguished candidates referred to the "Republican Guards" in Iran. Iran does NOT have "Republican" guards (a reminder: It was Iraq under Saddam, that had such troops with such a name). Iran has "Revolutionary Guards" which is at short name for its formal title "Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps" or "IRGC."
In this regards, both candidates had a (minor) gaffe!, however, it was Mr Obama who "blindly" followed and didn't (or chose not to) correct Mr McCain's gaffe.
The fact check for the "without conditions" link above shows an article where Dr. Kissinger re-states his position to corroborate Sen. McCain's position.
FYI
The "Without conditions" link said this:
September 15, 2008 6:16 PM
ABC News' Rachel Martin Reports: Former U.S.Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today told an audience in Washington, DC that the U.S. should negotiate with Iran "without conditions" and that the next President should begin such negotiations at a high level.
Bob is refering to another article.
Typical.
If I were McCain, or anybody else for that matter, I wouldn't be claiming Kissinger as a friend of 35 years. The man is a war criminal for god's sake.
"Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain."
Kissinger made the above statement after the debate. He NEVER said a President should meet without preconditions. Obama got it wront, he was talking about a high level government figure, not the President.
Beginning at a high level refers to a hogh level government official, such as Secretary of State, not the Present. That would be the highest level.
Wayne you are right typical, look around a little bit more next time. It about getting all the information to make important decisions. I was trying to help the readers get the latest and greatest, but thanks for your sentiment.
Fact Check: Kissinger Defends McCain's Iran Stance
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September 26, 2008 11:54 PM
ABC News' Kirit Radia Reports: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger came to the defense of longtime friend Sen. John McCain following Friday's presidential debate saying he "would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level."
"Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality," Kissinger said in statement issued by the McCain campaign.
Dr. Henry Kissinger, in an authoritative essay entitled "A Nuclear Test for Diplomacy", which was published in the Washington Post (Tuesday May 16, 2006), has unequivocally professed: "The United States should not negotiate through proxies, however closely allied. If America is prepared to negotiate with North Korea over proliferation in the six-party forum, and with Iran in Baghdad over Iraqi security, it must be possible to devise a multilateral venue for nuclear talks with Tehran that would permit the United States to participate -- especially in light of what is at stake."
