BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

During the CNN/YouTube debate last July Obama answered the question. 

QUESTION: “Would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea?”

OBAMA: “I would. And the reason is this: The notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them — which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration — is ridiculous. Ronald Reagan constantly spoke to the Soviet Union at a time when he called them an evil empire. He understood that we may not trust them, and they may pose an extraordinary danger to this country, but we had the obligation to find areas where we can potentially move forward. And I think that it is a disgrace that we have not spoken to them.”

But, now it seems that there is a slightly different rhetoric going on.  This isn’t to say that Obama has flip-flopped, but rather as time goes by he seems to be refining his answer.  Or, is it a flip-flop?

According to his most recent statement, there is a slight twist:

“[A]s president of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leaders at a time and place of my choosing if and only if it can advance the interest of the United States. That is my position. I want to be absolutely clear.”

Obama’s campaign insists that this is not a flip-flop.  And, it really isn’t, perhaps.  Maybe he’s just clarifying his previous statements.  But, it seems to most of us that his position is “evolving.”

Since the CNN/Youtube debate, he has been saying that he would only meet with Iranian leaders after “preparation” by lower-level officials.

Most recently, talking to reporters in South Dakota last month, he explained, “The preparation would involve starting with low-level, lower-level diplomatic contacts, having our diplomatic corps work with their Iranian counterparts, an agenda. But what I have said is that at some point, I would be willing to meet.”

Well, whether Obama will or will not talk to Iran may be of little consequence if Israel continues to sit ready to attack Iran if they continue with their nuclear proliferation policy.  According to most reports, Israel is just a hairline away from taking action. And, of course, at that point we would be drawn into another battlefield… with or without talks.