Iran’s missile tests divide Obama and McCain
Iran’s missile tests divide Obama and McCain
Direct quotes taken from Douglass K. Daniel of the Associated Press. I feel this is an extremely important article to read and I have made comments throughout. Please leave any thoughts or feedback. Click here to read the full article: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iM20OuwwEfNzceNo1cYLrLxYc_DQD91QC0N84
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday that Iran’s missile tests highlight the need for direct diplomacy as well as tougher threats of economic sanctions and strong incentives to persuade Tehran to change its behavior.
John McCain, the Republican seeking the presidency, said the tests demonstrate a need for effective missile defense, including missile defense in Europe and the defense system the U.S. plans with the Czech Republic and Poland.
“Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran, not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy,” McCain said in a statement
Obama has been criticized by Republicans for being too eager to engage enemies of the U.S. in talks. Asked how he would respond to the missile tests if he were president, Obama said he would confer with his national security team to find out whether “this indicates any new capabilities on Iran’s part.”
“At this point, the report is unclear, it’s still early,” Obama said on “The Early Show” on CBS. “What this underscores is the need for … a clear policy that is putting the burden on Iran to change behavior. And frankly, we just have not been able to do that the last several years, partly because we’re not engaged in direct diplomacy.”
What exactly makes Obama think if we haven’t been able to engage in direct diplomacy that we can start now?
“Obama said he continued to favor an incentive package that is aimed at getting Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions.”
What kind of incentive package? Is he talking about financial incentive packages? He doesn’t exactly specify what type of incentive packages he is talking about…I hope he was misquoted and doesn’t mean financial incentives because I don’t think anyone could be that misguided.
“Iran’s state-run television reported Wednesday that the government had tested nine long- and medium-range missiles, including a new version of the Shahab-3 missile that has a range of 1,250 miles and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. A missile with that range could strike Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan or Pakistan.”
An Iranian military official said the missile tests would show Iran’s enemies its “resolve and might.” In June, Israel conducted military exercises largely seen as a potential test for a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
This is especially disturbing since Obama has pledged to end production of fissile materials for nukes, promised not to build new weapons, and vowed not to threaten terrorist training camps with nukes/missiles. (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/obama-outlines-nuclear-weapons-policy/) I’m not sure if he forgot what happened on September 11th, 2001 but to refresh his memory our country was attacked by terrorists and thousands of people died. Remember Barack??!? Since when are we more concerned about terrorists in training camps who have been brainwashed since childhood with one primary goal; to kill. Especially more recently to kill Americans! Why in the world would we limit ourselves? If the CIA or FBI gets information that a terrorist camp is going to fly people over to kill us is he seriously not going to bomb them first? First we get rid of nukes, then what is next? I am not advocating the use of nuclear weapons unless it is completely necessary, the United States had strict policies against using them. However, it would be stupid to dispose of them especially at a time when the world is more dangerous than ever.
McCain said Iran’s missile tests “demonstrate again the dangers it poses to its neighbors and to the wider region, especially Israel.”
“Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran’s continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran’s dangerous ambitions,” McCain said.
My closing thoughts: Republicans need to unite now more than ever before…