Pakistan: “Obama’s An Idiot”
US presidential candidate Barack Obama has said he would order military action against al-Qaeda in Pakistan without the consent of Pakistan’s government.
Mr Obama made the comments in a speech outlining his foreign policy positions.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said any threat to act against al-Qaeda from within its territory should not be used for political point scoring.
Earlier this month, Mr Obama’s chief rival, Hillary Clinton, described him as “naive” on foreign policy.
The attack from Mrs Clinton came after a televised debate between Democrat presidential hopefuls.
During the debate Mr Obama said he would be willing to meet leaders of states such as Cuba, North Korea and Iran without conditions.
‘Terrible mistake’
In his speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, in Washington, Mr Obama said General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s president, must do more to end terrorist operations in his country.
f not, Pakistan would risk a troop invasion and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars of US aid during an Obama presidency, the candidate said.
“It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005,” he said, referring to reports that the US had decided not to launch a strike for fear of harming ties with Pakistan.
“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will,” Mr Obama said.
The BBC’s Jonathan Beale, in Washington, says such comments are clearly designed to bolster his credentials among a domestic audience.
But a spokeswoman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, Tasnim Aslam, told the AFP news agency that talk of military action was a serious matter and political candidates and commentators should “show responsibility”.
White House spokesman Tony Snow defended Pakistan’s leadership, saying it was working hard to fight al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters within its borders.
Gen Musharraf has been a key US ally in its so-called “war on terror” since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
But US officials have publicly said recently that they believe Pakistan has let al-Qaeda and Taleban militants reorganise themselves in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Mr Obama also used his foreign policy speech to criticise the Bush administration’s focus on al-Qaeda in Iraq, saying US President George W Bush was “confusing” the mission.
He said Americans were more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than before the 9/11 attacks because of a war in Iraq “that should never have been authorised and should never have been waged”.
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So-called “war on terror”? Why must they refer to it that way? It’s a REAL war! Geee
August 1st, 2007 at 5:40 pmBarney Obama Osama Yo’ Momma….Bwahahahahahahahahahahah..
As usual a democrat has no long-term memory. Let’s see Clintonista had a chance to get OBL from Sudan, got a second chance when our operatives in Afghanistan had OBL all lined up and all Sandy Burglar had to say was “go”.
And Bush failed to get OBL at Tora Bora. Why, because we were too busy chasing out the taliban and hitting their asses wherever we could find them. And we managed to do this with just 350 SpeOps people on the ground.
Top that one generalisimo Barney.
“He said Americans were more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than before the 9/11 attacks because of a war in Iraq “that should never have been authorised and should never have been waged”.”
Oh really? So what was the excuse when the Cole was hit, or 9-11? Or the embassy bombings? Or the Khobar towers? Were we in Iraq then oh great wizard Barney?
“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will,” Mr Obama said.”
And how about all the HVT’s in Iraq, there Barney? You going to hit them or just let them slide?
Seems to me that the only ‘Terrible mistake’ is that you are a Presidential candidate who is unfit for command. Pack up your little red wagon little kid and go home. The WH is no place for small minds such as yours. And the only person who’s “confused” there Barney is you.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:50 pmYeah, I’m really tired of people saying, “It’s not a War on Terror because you can’t fight an idea/tactic”.
Well, we can call it, “War against Al Qaeda and other Islamist organizations both regional and global who support expanding their cause by threatening and attacking civilian populations, and which may receive underground funding from theocratic Arab-Muslim states”.
But that’s not catchy at all. Get it? War on Terror is just a name. If you don’t know what the mission is than you’re an idiot.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:59 pmWell, I’m convinced.. He’s and idiot.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:00 pmwhy did you feel the need to insult the Great American Barney Fife?
Obama is over, not sure he could even make VP at this point.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:51 pmWe ought to be grateful that the press inspired veneer of intelligence and experience has been ripped off by faux pas just like this now instead of later. Expect more, this guy is in self destruct mode because he believes his own press.
August 1st, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Yep. He said all that. I am glad he has taken himself out of the running for sure now.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:26 pmYou would think he would be over after making a comment like that. But the majority of the American public is not that smart when it comes to interpreting politics. That and we can be pretty forgetful. Hopefully, his rivals bring this up constantly all the way to election day.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:46 pmAll the more reasons to not vote for him! Not like I would have ever voted for him before.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:00 amnot only is he an idiot..he talks out of his ass..now you got hillary talking tough..unfrikkinbelievable..do you think they’re sencing the wind is changing
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:59 amhttp://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080107/content/01125108.Par.89380.ImageFile.jpg
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 amThat’s not a fair comparison. Barney was much smarter than that.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:14 amMany conservatives have rightly labeled this the “War on [Some] Terror”… which is what it is.
There are many regimes that have strong ties to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, that our goverment unfortunately continues to be allied with.
Both the Democrats and Republicans are divided, with regard to foreign policy - as these latest statements have shown.
September 2nd, 2007 at 3:42 pm