Posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 by Joanna Klonsky
In a major speech Thursday at Berlin’s Victory Column, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) recounted the historic relationship between the United States and Europe and said the “burdens of global citizenship” will continue to bind the two powers together. A “true partnership” between Europe and the United States will require “sharing the burdens of development and diplomacy; of progress and peace,” Obama said.
- Obama called on Europe to provide resources to the war in Afghanistan, saying both the United States and Germany have a “stake in seeing that NATO’s first mission beyond Europe’s borders is a success.”
- Obama also said it is time “renew the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.” He called for a reduction in nuclear arsenals and said all loose nuclear materials must be secured.
- Obama briefly discussed free trade, saying the United States and Europe should “build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably.”
- Obama called for Europe and the United States to “come together to save this planet” and to reduce carbon emissions.
- He also said Europe and the United States must stand together in “sending a direct message to Iran that it must abandon its nuclear ambitions.” He also urged support for Lebanon in its quest for democracy, and for “the Israelis and Palestinians who seek a secure and lasting peace.”
Posted in Afghanistan, Climate Change, Europe, General Election, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 by campaign2008
Discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson on Wednesday, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) said the parties involved will have to decide whether to include Hamas in negotiations.
MCCAIN: In a separate interview with Gibson, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said the United States should move its embassy to Jerusalem. McCain also attributed a drop in gas prices this week to President Bush’s declaration that he would lift a moratorium on offshore drilling.
In a new CFR.org podcast, a scholar at an Israeli think tank discusses how the country views the U.S. elections, and says the most important issue for Israelis is the U.S. stance toward Iran.
The AP previews Barack Obama’s Europe tour, underway today, and says “Obamamania” is in full effect in many parts of the continent.
Posted in Energy Policy, General Election, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 by campaign2008
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank next week, a Palestinian official confirmed Monday (NYT). Obama will also meet with several Israeli leaders during his trip, which will also include visits to European capitals.
Obama will address Iraq policy (Reuters) in a speech Tuesday morning. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will give a major speech on Afghanistan on Thursday.
According to a new poll, voters are evenly divided (WashPost) between the two presidential candidates’ positions on Iraq.
Posted in Afghanistan, General Election, Iraq, Morning Update, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 by campaign2008
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) both gave speeches on energy policy on Tuesday. McCain promoted his plan to implement a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, which he said will “give American businesses new incentives and rewards to seek, instead of just giving new taxes to pay and new orders to follow.” Obama again called for higher fuel standards and criticized proposals for domestic oil exploration and a gas tax holiday.
LATIN AMERICA: McCain will travel with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to Mexico and Colombia (ChiTrib) during the July 4 congressional recess to meet with the presidents and other leaders of those countries.
ISRAEL: Both candidates signed letters (Politico) to President Bush in defense of Israel ’s right to defend itself on Tuesday.
ZIMBABWE: Obama on Tuesday released a statement condemning the recent actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and calling for “fresh elections” in that country.
Posted in Africa, Energy Policy, General Election, Latin America, Morning Update, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 by campaign2008
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Wednesday that a date for troop withdrawal is “not too important” and that low troop casualty rates should be the priority. “Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That’s all fine,” he said. “The key to it is we don’t want any more Americans in harm’s way.”
Several Democratic leaders released critical statements in response to McCain’s comment.
In a speech Wednesday, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi criticized Sen. Barack Obama (BBC) for his recent statement that Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel.
The New York Times looks at objections among labor leaders to the recent appointment of Jason Furman as Obama’s economic policy chief. Labor has expressed particular concern over Furman’s approach to free trade.
Posted in General Election, Iraq, Morning Update, Palestinian-Israeli, Trade | 0 Comments »
Posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 by Joanna Klonsky
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) suspended her candidacy for the Democratic nomination
June 7 . Clinton, who had advanced farther than any woman presidential candidate in U.S. history, sought throughout the campaign season to distinguish her foreign policy agenda from that of her main opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).
In a concession speech Saturday, Clinton endorsed Obama and urged her supporters to work for his election.
Here is a review of Clinton’s key foreign policy positions:
- Clinton said she would end the war in Iraq. Although she voted in favor of the 2002 Senate resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, she has since become critical of the war, opposing the troop surge and the use of private military contractors there. Clinton’s plan to end the war included a phased redeployment of troops beginning within the first 60 days of her administration. She also said she would keep “small, elite strike forces” in Iraq “to engage in targeted operations against al-Qaeda.”
- Clinton said she would open a diplomatic channel with Iran upon taking office, but also warned the country about its aggression toward Israel, saying in April 2008 that the United States would “totally obliterate” Iran if it were to “foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel” under her presidency. Clinton also received criticism from her Democratic opponents for her September 2007 vote in favor of the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which labeled the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.
- Clinton promised to renegotiate NAFTA to improve the trade deal’s labor and environmental protections. She planned to implement a “time out” on new trade deals during her first months as president so she could “assess their impact before going forward.” Clinton also said she would crack down on China’s “unfair trade practices,” including the revaluation of the yuan.
- Clinton said she would maintain the U.S. embargo on Cuba and would pressure the Cuban government to release political prisoners and become more democratic.
- Clinton planned to institute a cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions and create a $50 billion “Strategic Energy Fund,” funded in part by oil companies, to invest in alternative energy. She also said she would create a “green collar” jobs program.
- Clinton said she would visit Africa during her first term, if elected. She called for a no-fly zone over Darfur, Sudan, but said she would not send U.S. troops to stop the mass killings there. Clinton signed a statement in May 2008 saying the Khartoum regime was “chiefly responsible” for the violence in Darfur and demanding that it adhere to the standards of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Posted in Africa, Climate Change, Cuba, General Election, Iran, Iraq, Palestinian-Israeli, Trade | 0 Comments »
Posted on Friday, June 6th, 2008 by campaign2008
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) yesterday elaborated (AFP) on his remarks in a speech before AIPAC that Jerusalem must remain the “undivided” capital of Israel. In an interview with CNN, Obama said a divided Jerusalem would be “very difficult to execute.” Israel “has a legitimate claim on that city,” he said.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors & Press Association that President Bush should keep the American public better informed about the Iraq war. He said as president he would hold a weekly briefing about Iraq, “even if it was only carried on C-SPAN.”
In a letter posted on the National Review’s website, top McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin says McCain supports warrantless wiretapping of Americans.
Posted in General Election, Homeland Security, Iraq, Morning Update, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 by campaign2008
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) both spoke before the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference Wednesday. Obama vowed to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapons capability and promised to ensure “Israel’s qualitative military advantage” by implementing what he called a “Memorandum of Understanding” that would grant Israel $30 billion over the next decade.
In her speech, Clinton said she opposes negotiating with the Palestinian group in control of Gaza, Hamas, until it renounces terror and recognizes Israel. She also said the United States should develop an “international consensus against Iran’s nuclear program with a set of tougher sanctions if Iran continues to defy the international community.”
Arab leaders responded unfavorably to Obama’s assertions about Jerusalem, al-Jazeera reports. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Obama’s comments on Israel proves “there will be no change in the U.S. administration’s foreign policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Posted in General Election, Iran, Morning Update, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 by campaign2008
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) called for a global divestment campaign against Iran similar to the effort launched against South Africa before it abandoned apartheid. Speaking at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual policy conference on Monday, McCain also warned against “conferring approval” upon Hamas and said the international community should “more fully empower” allies against Hezbollah in Lebanon. McCain also praised “America’s progress” in Iraq and linked U.S. success there to Israeli security.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) are scheduled to speak at the AIPAC conference Wednesday.
A Gallup poll released Monday found 59 percent of Americans surveyed said they thought the president of the United States should meet with the president of Iran. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they thought the U.S. president should meet with rogue leaders in general.
Posted in General Election, Iran, Iraq, Morning Update, Palestinian-Israeli | 0 Comments »
Posted on Monday, June 2nd, 2008 by campaign2008
“We should privatize the sanctions against Iran by launching a worldwide divestment campaign. As more people, businesses, pension funds and financial institutions across the world divest from companies doing business with Iran, the radical elite who run that country will become even more unpopular than they are already.”
–Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), in a speech Monday before the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference.
Posted in General Election, Iran, Palestinian-Israeli, Quote of the Day | 0 Comments »
