So, another Obama policy is being enacted before he even gets elected. They're already making a big deal that this is not a direct presidential negotiation, but it's clearly the direction Obama described -- direct conversation with adversaries, rather than relying on surrogate countries to relay US positions.
We need to start listing all of the Obama suggestions that are being taken... Off the top of my head:
* Obama mentions going into Pakistan to attack terrorists.
He is first mocked for this by McCain, even though Bush said after 9/11 that we would not allow countries to harbor terrorists. The following week, predator planes attack terrorists inside Pakistan.
* Obama repeatedly suggests strengthening Afghanistan.
He is mocked for this for months by McCain then, within a day of his suggestion to send two more brigades to Afghanistan, McCain suggests sending three more.
* Obama repeatedly denounces the suggestion of a long-term US presence in Iraq.
McCain argues the position that we should create permanent bases there. Iraq begins to take the position that the US should not remain... Still waiting for reality to hit McCain on this issue, but given that Iraq is a sovereign democracy, his resistance will soon be a moot point.
* Obama suggests establishing a dialog with our enemies.
He is mocked for this by both McCain and the White house. Within months, we are directly negotiating with North Korea and Iran, and even Israel begins negotiating with Hamas, resulting in a hostage release.
It's pretty amazing how many Obama policies are being quietly adopted even while he's still campaigning, and even as he gets slammed for proposing them. And these are just the ones that come to mind in the moment.
It sure would be nice if the media would take notice of what's actually happening here, instead running around with a microphone playing the Gotcha Game of who said what about whom.
Here's a link to the Iran story...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/17/usa.iranThe US plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran for the first time in 30 years as part of a remarkable turnaround in policy by President George Bush.
The Guardian has learned that an announcement will be made in the next month to establish a US interests section - a halfway house to setting up a full embassy. The move will see US diplomats stationed in the country.
The news of the shift by Bush who has pursued a hawkish approach to Iran throughout his tenure comes at a critical time in US-Iranian relations. After weeks that have seen tensions rise with Israel conducting war games and Tehran carrying out long-range missile tests, a thaw appears to be under way.
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