Thread: So which is it Obama?

"Barack Obama has made no commitment that a missile defense shield in eastern Europe will go ahead, an advisor to the president-elect said Saturday, in apparent contradiction of statements by Poland.

Earlier, a statement from Polish President Lech Kaczynski after the two men spoke by telephone said Obama had said he would go ahead with plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern Europe despite threats from Russia.


But Obama had given no such clear cut undertaking on the controversial program, his senior foreign policy advisor Denis McDonough said in a statement.


(The) "president-elect had a good conversation with the Polish President and the Polish Prime Minister about the important US-Poland alliance," McDonough said in a statement.
"President Kaczynski raised missile defense but President-elect Obama made no commitment on it.

"His position is as it was throughout the campaign, that he supports deploying a missile defense system when the technology is proved to be workable."


The statement by President Kaczynski appeared to put a different spin on the conversation between the two men.
"Barack Obama has underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between Poland and the United States, he expressed his hope of continuing the political and military cooperation between our two countries," the statement read.
"He also said the anti-missile shield project would go ahead," said a statement said.
Warsaw and Washington signed a deal on August 14 to base part of a US missile shield in Poland, despite Moscow's opposition and mounting East-West tensions over Georgia."


rest is here Obama makes 'no commitment' on missile shield


So which is it and why can't Obama state clearly what his policy is.


He says he doesn't support it being deployed until the technology is "workable". Well we are hitting more than we are missing so what does that meah? And does that mean he supports going full steam head to improve it and it's "workability"?


What exactly did he tell President Kaczynski and why the confusion? Our position must be made perfectly clear and without any doubt.

Have you ever thought that maybe Kaczynski misinterpereted?

Ahem... Obama is not the President yet. He doesn't have to commit until he IS. Let's refrain from second guessing him until he actually has the chance to DO something.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Have you ever thought that maybe Kaczynski misinterpereted?

Have you ever thought maybe he didn't. Kaczynski's statement is more believable because it is unequivocal, Obama's is vague and doesn't clearly state what his position is.

Originally Posted by nonsqtr

Ahem... Obama is not the President yet. He doesn't have to commit until he IS. Let's refrain from second guessing him until he actually has the chance to DO something.

He just ran for the privilege of being our leader and spokes person. If he doens't know what his policy is at this point we are in trouble. And the policy should be vice clearly and without reservation when he is discussing it with an ally and letting the country know what it is.

Originally Posted by Stinger

Have you ever thought maybe he didn't. Kaczynski's statement is more believable because it is unequivocal, Obama's is vague and doesn't clearly state what his position is.

Or maybe Obama is trying to not piss off either side by prematurly commiting before knowing all the facts.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Or maybe Obama is trying to not piss off either side by prematurly commiting before knowing all the facts.

What facts? He shouldn't have to be formulating a position on such a vital issue to our national defense and our foreign policy and he is showing weakness and confusion in dealing with our allies.

What does 'I will deploy it when it is workable' mean exactly? What is he going to do to make it workable or is he at all? Either he supports it or he doesn't.

What facts?

Like whether there are less costly or more effective alternatives.

He shouldn't have to be formulating a position on such a vital issue to our national defense and our foreign policy

I'm not convinced that it's even all that vital but taking time to formulate a plan is MUCH better than simply shooting from the hip and doing the first thing that comes to mind.

and he is showing weakness and confusion in dealing with our allies.

Weakness and confusion? He isn't even president yet and this is the first day this issue has come up. He hasn't exactly had a lot of time.

What does 'I will deploy it when it is workable' mean exactly?

It means he'll deploy it when it's workable? Pretty self-explanatory I'd say.

What is he going to do to make it workable or is he at all?

He's probably not the one responsible for making a missle defense system workable. It's much more likely that is the domain of scientists and engineers, don't you think?

Either he supports it or he doesn't.

The far right's constant need for cookie cutter "YES" or "NO" responses to complex issues is the main reason this country is such a mess today.

Originally Posted by Stinger

What facts? He shouldn't have to be formulating a position on such a vital issue to our national defense and our foreign policy and he is showing weakness and confusion in dealing with our allies.

What does 'I will deploy it when it is workable' mean exactly? What is he going to do to make it workable or is he at all? Either he supports it or he doesn't.

This is such a load of HOGWASH it's almost funny! :laughing:

"Either he supports it or he doesn't".

"You're either with us or you're against us".

Dude, that's FOX NEWS talkin'.

Please, do yourself a favor - see if you can go ONE WEEK without echoing any talking points. Seven days - test yourself. Think of it like a "week without beer". Think you can do it?

That'll be the day, when a Neo-Con apologist gets to frame the debate for President Obama. Ha ha.... :laughing:

Jeez, Obie isn't even president yet and he's cutting our real allies already.

As predictable as the sunset that's coming.

The French are going to say the Obie Presidency is the best since Wilson.