Sunday, April 5, 2009

Barack Obama says, “I'm not naive."


Many experts would beg to differ with Barack Obama when he said, “I'm not naive." His repeated warnings to North Korea failed. Giving warnings that are going to be ignored makes Obama look like a weakling. Then, just hours after North Korea launches a missile as a step in their quest for an ICBM capable of hitting the U.S., Obama appears to support what would almost be an unilateral disarmament for the U.S. by suggesting we should "lead the way" on nuclear disarmament.


Obama calls for 'world without' nukes
By JONATHAN MARTIN & DAVID S. CLOUD

PRAGUE – Just hours after North Korea launched a long-range rocket, President Barack Obama called for "a world without nuclear weapons" and said the United States has a “moral responsibility ” to lead the way, as the only nation ever to use them.

Obama’s speech was long planned as the centerpiece of his first presidential trip overseas, but it gained new urgency after North Korea sent a multi-part rocket soaring over the Sea of Japan early Sunday morning.

North Korea insisted the launch was meant to put a satellite into space but the U.S. and other nations believe Pyongyang is trying to develop the capability to launch a nuclear warhead.

The president, who was woken up just after 4:30 a.m. local time by news of the launch, spoke to the authoritarian state in remarks hastily added to his text.

“Now is the time for a strong international response and North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons,” Obama said to thousands thronged into the cobblestone square outside the elegant Prague Castle, in what was the largest crowd of his five-country, eight-day swing.

Going off script to borrow his signature campaign line, Obama acknowledged a nuclear-free world will not happen easily.

“I'm not naive. This goal will not be reached quickly –- perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence,” he told an adoring crowd that waved miniature American and Czech flags. “But now we, too, must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, "Yes, we can." (excerpt) read more at politico.com

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