Video: Obama’s nuance on Iran’s “exporting terror”
posted at 2:30 pm on June 24, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
My friend John Ziegler pointed this out to me a little while ago. I had completely missed this, er, nuanced evolution on Obama’s view of “core national security interests” regarding Iran. The statement from yesterday’s presser comes from a Jennifer Loven question:
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Your administration has said that the offer to talk to Iran’s leaders remains open. Can you say if that’s still so, even with all the violence that has been committed by the government against the peaceful protesters? And if it is, is there any red line that your administration won’t cross where that offer will be shut off?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, obviously what’s happened in Iran is profound. And we’re still waiting to see how it plays itself out. My position coming into this office has been that the United States has core national security interests in making sure that Iran doesn’t possess a nuclear weapon and it stops exporting terrorism outside of its borders.
Why “nuanced”? Obama had an opportunity to keep Iran from exporting terrorism as a member of the Senate. Joseph Wilson ripped Obama over a year ago on this very point at the Huffington Post, and outlined how hard Obama had to work to avoid taking a stand on it:
As a consequence of Obama’s dereliction of duty on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a feckless administration has had absolutely no oversight as it careens from disaster to disaster in Afghanistan, including the central governments loss of control over 70 percent of the country and yet another bumper crop of opium to fuel the efforts of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. Of course, if you don’t hold hearings, conduct oversight, make recommendations or sponsor legislation, then you have no record to explain or defend and you are free to take whatever position is convenient when attacking those who actually did address issues. Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, Obama holds forth on Afghanistan, chiding the administration and our allies as though he’s a profile in courage and not someone who has abandoned his post in establishing accountability.
On Iran and the question of designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, the junior senator from Illinois was not quite so clever at avoiding taking a position. He first co-sponsored the “Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007,” which contained explicit language identifying the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. He subsequently claimed to oppose the Kyl-Lieberman sense of the Senate resolution proposing the same thing. Obama’s accountability problem here is that he didn’t show up for the vote on that resolution — a vote that would have put him on record. Then he declined to sign on to a letter put forward by Senator Clinton making explicit that the resolution could not be used as authority to take military action. All we have is Obama’s rhetoric juxtaposed with his co-sponsorship of a piece of legislation that proposed what he says he opposed.
Obama’s gyrations on Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran are not the actions of one imbued with superior intuitive judgment, but rather the machinations of a political opportunist looking to avoid having his fingerprints on any issue that might be controversial, and require real judgment, while preserving his freedom to bludgeon his adversary for actually taking positions as elected office demands.
Obama attacked Hillary Clinton for supporting the act when the presidential campaign heated up in late 2007. In 2008, he dismissed the notion that “tiny” Iran could pose a threat to the US. Now Obama likes to talk about “core interests,” but he still doesn’t like to take action, which is why the phrase “weenie diplomacy” seems so apropos.
Blowback
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I think I’m going to go throw up.. BRB
reshas1 on June 24, 2009 at 2:34 PM
N to the U to the A to the NCE…
Can I get a what what?
Tapper, we need Tapper! Get that Jake guy in here pronto!
alohapundit on June 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Why, is this the same Joseph Wilson, paragon of the Left? Teller of Truths? Unmasker of Perfidy? Why yes, yes it is.
Yes, indeed, schadenfreude does come in many wonderful flavors.
nukemhill on June 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Does anything else need to be said?
This is what you get, when your “international experience” comes by having lived in Indonesia for awhile, and when you’re nothing but a “neighborhood organizer.”
OhEssYouCowboys on June 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Teddy Roosevelt: Walk softly and carry a big stick.
B.Hussein Obama: Vote present and serve a big weenie.
Disturb the Universe on June 24, 2009 at 2:37 PM
OT: Sanford admits affair. On MSNBC video now.
Matticus Finch on June 24, 2009 at 2:38 PM
LOL
excellent….
cmsinaz on June 24, 2009 at 2:39 PM
OhEssYouCowboys on June 24, 2009 at 2:39 PM
OhEssYouCowboys on June 24, 2009 at 2:39 PM
a cocktail weenie
Disturb the Universe on June 24, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Things change, Obama’s policy positions change on a minute by minute basis.
Really, it’s only been 6 months? It feels like 3 years at least.
myrenovations on June 24, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Drudge has it too on top of front page.
alohapundit on June 24, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Freakin’ moron; just when Obama is making a weenie of himself a hornie Republican goes and steals the spotlight.
Disturb the Universe on June 24, 2009 at 2:42 PM
This is a duh story. Anyone paying attention knew that the one dear leader never took a stand on many issues because he didn’t want a record for which to be judged. Somehow the mainstream press never covered that though because they had to find any dirt they could on the Thrilla from Wasilla.
matthew26 on June 24, 2009 at 2:44 PM
We obviously couldn’t expect anything else from a guy voting present over 130 times.
You nailed it, Ed. The essence of Obama’s policy toward Iran, and much of his other foreign policy positions, is avoiding making any specific claims. That way he can do what he did yesterday and call a press conference to say that he has been “consistent” all week because he, technically, hasn’t contradicted himself.
It’s the power of being “deeply concerned” about issues – it means pretty much nothing as far as taking action and being a leader in general.
Rightwing Czar on June 24, 2009 at 2:44 PM
seems to be alot of them recently….but you’ll never hear of all the scandalous affairs of folks with a (D) next to their names….
cmsinaz on June 24, 2009 at 2:45 PM
last post in response to disturb the universe
cmsinaz on June 24, 2009 at 2:46 PM
I can’t wait for Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, et al., to whip out their array of oddball shrinks [redundant, I know], who will tell us that this type of thing is OK, and to be expected from an alpha male politician.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 24, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Anyone else just hear Sanford admitted to having an affair in Argentina???
DontTaseMeBro on June 24, 2009 at 2:47 PM
It really is annoying when somebody like Obama uses terminology like “core national security interests.” Those are just words on a page without any meaning for somebody with his lack of expertise in national security issues.
highhopes on June 24, 2009 at 2:48 PM
on the video, Sanford said “a friendship started 8 years ago that progressed into more…”
Matticus Finch on June 24, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Nuance, er Toad in Chief wrote letter to the butchers of Iran. ‘Jesus”s timing not very good.
Freedom for him, thuggary for all other.
Schadenfreude on June 24, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Or, when you do, it’s okay because the Dems are so enlightened and all, while the Republicans are painted as hypocrites.
Disturb the Universe on June 24, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Matticus Finch on June 24, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Any love children?
Disturb the Universe on June 24, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Things change, Obama’s policy positions change on a minute by minute basis.
Really, it’s only been 6 months? It feels like 3 years at least.
myrenovations on June 24, 2009 at 2:41 PM
He is going to end up having a grand mal seizure the way his mind is working like a contortionist.
fourdeucer on June 24, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Every single thing obama has done so far has weakened America and strengthened terrorism. Does anyone here believe he doesn’t belong to radical islam? And his wife for that matter?
A terrorist in a slick suit.
ErinF on June 24, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Although he won’t answer the question directly and say no, there is no line I won’t cross, that is his answer. He is so certain that the path of ‘direct talks’ is the only path to achieving those national security goals, that he can’t pause for a moment and realize that regime change might accomplish not only those but others that would benefit the Iranian people directly. He really is a one-trick pony in so many ways, and shows an obvious inability for absorbing new information and lateral thinking. I always thought those were key elements of intelligence.
ProfessorMiao on June 24, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Didn’t mention any. He was stammering like you wouldn’t believe. I’d be surprised if he makes it three more days with his job. It was bad, bad, bad.
Matticus Finch on June 24, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Matticus Finch on June 24, 2009 at 2:54 PM
His wife has known for 5 months!
Disturb the Universe on June 24, 2009 at 2:55 PM
very true….
cmsinaz on June 24, 2009 at 2:58 PM
You know who else is missing in action? Hollywood! What’s the matter, George Clooney and Co., aren’t the Iranians worth your attention–or has Axelrod asked you to keep your mouth shut?
PattyJ on June 24, 2009 at 3:01 PM
I really couldn’t care less right now about Iran…sorry but when the “Great Obunghole” can seize the census which will eventually end free and open elections in the U.S. and few people, with exception of Dick Morris and Mark Stein, will touch this census issue with a 10 foot pole, I have to think that Americans have become gutless, or don’t Americans even know what seizing the census entails?
Is the American educational system THAT bad or are too many people claiming to be Conservative just stuck on stupid?
nelsonknows on June 24, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Obama, Joe Wilson calling you a hypocritical weasel is like Roger Clemens saying you have a damn good fastball. Know what I mean?
drunyan8315 on June 24, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Present…Above my pay grade…Present…above my pay grade…hope…present…above my pay grade…change..
I love the LEFT.They keep advertising how GUTLESS they are.
Jeff from WI on June 24, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Obama has always played both sides of the fence.
Voting “present” more than 130 plus times was never the sign of true leadership to the people actually in touch with reality.
The big problem with Obama playing both sides is the fact that when he takes a U-turn,the press takes it with him.
This was very evident during the primaries with Hillary:
Obama criticizes Clinton over her words about Iran
When Obama was polled as looking weak on this issue,he took a U-turn.
The press took it with him.
Source: Obama to nuke Iran if Iran nukes Israel
posted at 3:52 pm on December 11, 2008 by Allahpundit
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/12/11/source-obama-to-nuke-iran-if-iran-nukes-israel/
Remember when it was so important to kill Osama.
Now that Obama is in charge,just having him pinned down is considered victory.
This is the position Bush has had Osama in for over 7 years
and was considered failure when he was in office:
Obama: On second thought, it’s not that important to capture Bin Laden
posted at 6:18 pm on January 14, 2009 by Allahpundit
That’s more than nuance their,it is blatant hypocrisy that was ignored by the press and looked over by his sheep.
Obama’s even able to commit,according to liberals,war crimes and turn them into “smart power”:
Obama Begins Air-Raiding Villages & Killing Innocent Civilians
Barack Obama
On US troops in Afghanistan
August 14, 2007
Of course now we see Obama bombing villages and civilians left and right.
Over 80 killed yesterday in a drone attack.
Apparently when a democrat is in office,air raiding villages and killing civilians is no longer a war crime,it is “smart power”.
On Iraq he has played both sides with the help of the press:
This video shows Obama and Biden’s hypocrisy on Iraq:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aryTu4ZlhZc&eurl=http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/&feature=player_embedded
Now we have this from Obama without the slightest rebuke from the press concerning how wrong and bad his judgment was on this issue:
Obama to troops: “You got the job done” in Iraq
(via Ed at Hot Air)
This has been his MO throughout his political career.
This combined with the enormous amount of broken promises has been embraced by the press as being “pragmatic” instead of stubborn like that Cowboy Bush.
Not keeping your word and saying whatever it takes to make the people you are speaking to vote for you is considered “smart and open to change” if you listen to the liberal constituency of today.
No matter how hypocritical and wrong Obama is,he has his sheep and the press to go to bat for him.
This democrat sums this sickness up quite well I think:
(via Talk left)
Is This What It Means To Be An Obama “Progressive?”
By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 04:05:15 PM EST
Baxter Greene on June 24, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Obama has always played both sides of the fence.
Voting “present” more than 130 plus times was never the sign of true leadership to the people actually in touch with reality.
The big problem with Obama playing both sides is the fact that when he takes a U-turn,the press takes it with him.
This was very evident during the primaries with Hillary:
Obama criticizes Clinton over her words about Iran
When Obama was polled as looking weak on this issue,he took a U-turn.
The press took it with him.
Source: Obama to nuke Iran if Iran nukes Israel
(via Allah Hot Air)
posted at 3:52 pm on December 11, 2008 by Allahpundit
Remember when it was so important to kill Osama.
Now that Obama is in charge,just having him pinned down is considered victory.
This is the position Bush has had Osama in for over 7 years
and was considered failure when he was in office:
Obama: On second thought, it’s not that important to capture Bin Laden
(via Ed Hot Air)
posted at 6:18 pm on January 14, 2009 by Allahpundit
Remember at the debate when he vowed, “We will kill Bin Laden, we will crush al-Qaeda”? He’s stressed the importance of taking out Osama on other occasions, but never quite as forcefully as that. Why, enter the quote in Google and you’ll find it immortalized in the very first hit with an especially fulsome tribute at the Daily Dish.
Anyway, change of plans:
COURIC: How important do you think it is, Mr. President-elect, to apprehend Osama bin Laden?
OBAMA: I think that we have to so weaken his infrastructure that, whether he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function. My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him. But if we have so tightened the noose that he’s in a cave somewhere and can’t even communicate with his operatives then we will meet our goal of protecting America.
That’s more than nuance their,it is blatant hypocrisy that was ignored by the press and looked over by his sheep.
Obama’s even able to commit,according to liberals,war crimes and turn them into “smart power”:
Obama Begins Air-Raiding Villages & Killing Innocent Civilians
Barack Obama
On US troops in Afghanistan
August 14, 2007
Of course now we see Obama bombing villages and civilians left and right.
Over 80 killed yesterday in a drone attack.
Apparently when a democrat is in office,air raiding villages and killing civilians is no longer a war crime,it is “smart power”.
On Iraq he has played both sides with the help of the press:
This video shows Obama and Biden’s hypocrisy on Iraq:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aryTu4ZlhZc&eurl=http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/&feature=player_embedded
Now we have this from Obama without the slightest rebuke from the press concerning how wrong and bad his judgment was on this issue:
Obama to troops: “You got the job done” in Iraq
(via Ed at Hot Air)
This has been his MO throughout his political career.
This combined with the enormous amount of broken promises has been embraced by the press as being “pragmatic” instead of stubborn like that Cowboy Bush.
Not keeping your word and saying whatever it takes to make the people you are speaking to vote for you is considered “smart and open to change” if you listen to the liberal constituency of today.
No matter how hypocritical and wrong Obama is,he has his sheep and the press to go to bat for him.
This democrat sums this sickness up quite well I think:
(via Talk left)
Is This What It Means To Be An Obama “Progressive?”
By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 04:05:15 PM EST
Baxter Greene on June 24, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Bambi doesn’t want Iran to export terror outside its borders, but it’s perfectly okay with him if they murder and terrorize their own citizens within their borders. That’s just some “robust debate” that we Americans have no business interfering with, right Bambi? We don’t have any right to tell another sovereign nation how to conduct their own internal affairs (unless that nation is Israel, of course, in which case we have every right to tell “dem Jews” how to behave).
Thanks, Obamabots, for saddling the rest of us with this pantywaist fool for the next 3-1/2 years.
AZCoyote on June 24, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Obama has never made a decison on record of ANYTHING of importance, thus he is “clean” AND “articulate” as his VP stated during the presidential campaign.
He’s now finding that it’s a little harder to actually LEAD when you actually have to MAKE a decision, other than decisions involving spending hell out of other people’s money. That’s his only experience.
Affirmative Action hire if there ever was one. Totally clueless, incompetent, and inexperienced in anything other than nasty street-level Saul Alinsky-type politics.
The Piper is going to have to be paid eventually, and EVERYONE will end up paying. Well, most everyone. Not the perennial government-feeding classes, but everyone else.
bradley11 on June 24, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Ohh sh!t!
Sorry about the double post.
Baxter Greene on June 24, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway. He can keep his preemptive social penance.
bluelightbrigade on June 24, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Are you really trying to use Joe Wilson as a credible source?
roux on June 24, 2009 at 5:02 PM
It takes a LEADER to take ACTION.
GarandFan on June 24, 2009 at 6:18 PM
What? Obama’s a lightweight???
Shocking news.
Scrappy on June 24, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Obambi = President Softserve.
techno_barbarian on June 24, 2009 at 7:11 PM