Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama said Friday that President George W. Bush’s policies in the Middle East have served to benefit U.S. foes Iran and Hamas.
“[Bush and Republican nominee John McCain have] got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush’s policies,” he said.
“They’re going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority,” he added.
Obama, relishing a long-distance debate with Bush on foreign policy, said the president had contributed to Tehran’s rise in the Middle East by launching the Iraq war, which he said had removed Baghdad as a counterweight to Iran.
The Illinois senator said Republican presidential nominee John McCain was as much to blame as Bush for what he termed a failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
“They’re trying to fool you, and trying to scare you, and they’re not telling the truth. And the reason is because they can’t win a foreign policy debate on the merits. But it’s not going to work,” said Obama, the Democratic front-runner vying to face McCain in the November presidential election.
Speaking to reporters after a speech, Obama said if elected president he would meet, with preparation but without preconditions, leaders Bush has avoided - Irania ...
Anytime
Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama said Friday that President George W. Bush’s policies in the Middle East have served to benefit U.S. foes Iran and Hamas.
“[Bush and Republican nominee John McCain have] got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush’s policies,” he said.
“They’re going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority,” he added.
Obama, relishing a long-distance debate with Bush on foreign policy, said the president had contributed to Tehran’s rise in the Middle East by launching the Iraq war, which he said had removed Baghdad as a counterweight to Iran.
The Illinois senator said Republican presidential nominee John McCain was as much to blame as Bush for what he termed a failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
“They’re trying to fool you, and trying to scare you, and they’re not telling the truth. And the reason is because they can’t win a foreign policy debate on the merits. But it’s not going to work,” said Obama, the Democratic front-runner vying to face McCain in the November presidential election.
Speaking to reporters after a speech, Obama said if elected president he would meet, with preparation but without preconditions, leaders Bush has avoided - Irania ...