Lieberman: No Democratic Presidential Candidate Has ‘Strong And Muscular’ Foreign Policy

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/19/lieberman-strong-policy/


Lieberman: No Democratic Presidential Candidate Has ‘Strong And Muscular’ Foreign Policy

Today on MSNBC, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) declared that he is searching for a political party that is “very strong and muscular on foreign and defense policy.” Anchor Nora O’Donnell responded, “But, Senator, arguably there’s not one Democratic presidential candidate that is espousing that particular position, right?” Lieberman said, “So far, you’re right.” Watch it at link:

All of the current Democratic presidential candidates want to sharply reduce or eliminate the U.S. presence in Iraq. That is strong and muscular — redeployment will refocus America’s security posture on combating global terrorist networks and the war in Afghanistan. It will restore our military and address the current readiness crisis. It will take away a prime rallying cry for extremists, shore up America’s image abroad, and free up billions of dollars for critical homeland security and domestic needs.

The problem is that Lieberman doesn’t want a strong foreign policy. He wants a belligerent one.

Transcript:

O’DONNELL: Senator, you have broken with your former party, the Democratic Party, specifically on the Iraq war. There have been questions.

Can you rule out that you may switch to the Republican Party?

LIEBERMAN: I wouldn’t rule it out, but it’s certainly not my intention. It’s not my desire. You know…

O’DONNELL: What would cause to you switch to the Republican Party?

LIEBERMAN: Well, I’m not going to set any conditions. But, you know, my real hope here is to stay and fight for the kind of Democratic Party I joined when John F. Kennedy was president — which was progressive on domestic policy and very strong and muscular on foreign and defense policy.

We’re at war here.

O’DONNELL: But, Senator, arguably there’s not one Democratic presidential candidate that is espousing that particular position, right?

LIEBERMAN: So far, you’re right. I mean, obviously, it’ll be more than Iraq. It’ll be: How do they feel about Iran and the rest of the threats that we face?

But look, the central challenge to our security in our time is from radical Islam; the people who attacked us on 9/11.

And to be as direct as I can be, Norah, in this question of who I will support for a president, I’m going to wait until both parties have their nominees and I’m going to support the candidate that I think is best for our country, regardless of party.

And, obviously, the positions that they take on the war on terrorism will be very important to me.

[MadMaddie]

1. Lieberman just needs to go on and crossover....to the Repugs...

He is a bastard....

[Tom Joad]

2. Joe being a big supporter of genocide against Arabs, not surprising he would say this.

[mike_c]

3. why is that hack still wasting oxygen on this planet...?

Lieberman is further proof that if there is a god, he hates us.

[Cha]

16. Yeah, or otherwise why would

he put lieman on tv with insipid punditwhacks like whorao'd askin' him insipid questions in relation to Dems "foreign policy"?

[sandnsea]

4. They called Kennedy a wimp and a commie too

I guess Lieberman forgot about that. It's what Republicans do, even before Vietnam.

[hlthe2b]

5. God, my reaction to him is so damned visceral... Won't someone

tell me how it is possible to NOT hate this ass of a man?

[DemCam]

8. can't...'cause blood pressure is way up

[AnOhioan]

6. Joe needs to just shut his trap and quit wasting our time

What an asshole

[cindylouwho]

7. Let me guess.

He plans to fill the "gap" that he sees, right?

[saltpoint]

9. Diplomats don't need to be strong and muscular. They need to be nimble-

minded.

Our own top military personnel have conceded that a political solution is the only hope for a lasting national entity for Iraq.

Not a military solution.

Rumsfeld tried the military solution. It hasn't gone all that well.

Lieberman doesn't deserve the time he's given on network and cable news, and no one gives a rat's patoot which candidate he's endorsing for 08 anyway.

He's a has-been if not a never-was.

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. No too easy, now you've colluded in putting your country in a position of

extraordinary diplomatic weakness abroad and economic weakness at home, Rep. Lieberman.

[MadMaddie]

11. Are there any citizens of CT here...you should seriously

push to have a new law added that will allow you to recall a candidate if he/she does like Lieberwhore has done.

[monarch]

18. Sorry. We would if we could, but it is a federal office. n/t

[MadMaddie]

23. Oh man...Thanks for the info...

[Cobalt-60]

12. Liber - Who?

I consign him oblivion.
This unit no longer recognizes the existence of the Senator from Connecticut.

[zbdent]

13. Hey, Lieberman ... you and Bush should

get a room ...

[flaminbats]

14. a policy on steroids or just plain bowflex?

something tells me John F. Kennedy would have opposed this war in Iraq..and there would have never been a Vietnam war if he had lived! hello??we spend more every year on "Defense" policy than the rest of the industrial world combined. If Americans really supported this war in Iraq, they would be willing to pay $3,000 more each year in taxes to fund it! And we need a more muscular policy?

how about a strategy, an intelligent plan with backup options if we do get attacked again? building a world empire isn't muscular, it's supporting government obesity at its worst possible level!

[Cha]

15. Who even gives a fuck what lieman thinks on

what kind of toilet paper is used in the White House?

lieman's foreign policy is lie your fuckin' butt off.

[Robson]

17. Lieberman received approval with AIPAC first.

Lieberman has loyalties to AIPAC and their agenda first. He's not a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent.

He's an AIPACer and defines a "muscular foreign policy" based upon only the AIPAC wish list not USA citizen approval.

[shance]

19. For Lieberman, they aren't racist and White Supremist enough.

He wants all those dark skinned Arabs tarred and feathered.

[IndianaGreen]

20. "Strong and muscular"? Is Holy Joe about to step out of the closet?

May explain why Joe and Bush kissed each other at the SOTUS a couple of years back.

[marmar]

21. Loserman can go screw himself....

He's probably the only person who would without money changing hands. :argh:

[cyberpj]

22. No Independent Congressman from Connecticut has a strong and muscular MANHOOD. nt