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July 22, 2008
Obama "Bows to Nobody in Understanding This World"
Susan E. Rice is the senior foreign policy adviser for US presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.
Interview with Obama Foreign Policy Adviser
Susan Rice is senior foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama. In an interview with SPIEGEL, Rice discusses Obama's upcoming visit to Europe, how it might be received in the US and how Obama intends to strengthen US-European ties -- and commitments.
SPIEGEL: It is unusual for a US presidential candidate to travel to Europe in the middle of the campaign. Why is Barack Obama coming?
Susan Rice: Senator Obama believes it is critically important for the United States and Europe to cooperate far more effectively than we have in recent years. None of us can tackle the critical global challenges we face in isolation -- be it terrorism, proliferation, climate change, disease, poverty or energy security. Obama will want to discuss in Europe and Germany how we each view these challenges and how we can best address them together.
SPIEGEL: Critics say the trip is nothing but a PR stunt to strengthen his foreign-policy credentials and that he has only rarely been to Europe before.
Rice: Senator Obama has travelled to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia many times before. He lived in Asia. He bows to nobody in his understanding of this world. This trip will be yet another opportunity for Senator Obama to exchange views with the leaders of countries whose partnership is critically important to US national security.
SPIEGEL: The reception for Obama in Europe will be very warm. But too much European enthusiasm could backfire in an US election campaign.
Rice: Americans understand that our security is enhanced when the United States is trusted and respected in the world. Unfortunately, our standing in the world has diminished in the last several years. This has hampered our ability to work cooperatively to confront global challenges. Americans are hungry for change both at home and in our relations with the rest of the world. Barack Obama represents a dramatic departure from the policies of the last eight years. There is no downside to Americans seeing the promise of change manifest both domestically and internationally.
SPIEGEL: Many expect Obama to promise "tough love" to the Europeans -- more listening, but also more demands.
Rice: To deal effectively with critical global security challenges will require a greater commitment from both sides of the Atlantic. We cannot afford a least-common-denominator approach. Both America and Europe will have to do more to uphold our respective responsibilities in the context of true partnership -- whether the issue is climate change, halting Iran's nuclear program or securing Afghanistan from Al-Qaida and the Taliban.
SPIEGEL: What would be the major change in trans-Atlantic relations under a President Obama?
Rice: Obama would proceed from a fundamentally different premise than has been the case in recent years. Obama does not perceive Europe in terms of "old" versus "new." He thinks it would be counterproductive to kick Russia out of the G-8. He sees the world as more complex than simply good versus evil. He recognizes that we can only deal effectively with global challenges if we have 21st century partnerships that work -- partnerships based on shared values, common security and mutual respect, in which everybody does their part and pulls their weight.
SPIEGEL: You said Europeans have to "pull their weight." What would that mean exactly in terms of their contribution in Afghanistan? More troops?
Rice: Obama's view is that circumstances in Pakistan and Afghanistan pose the most dangerous threat to Europe and the US right now. Al-Qaida is regrouping and reconstituting their safe haven; the Taliban are gaining strength. Europe is closer to that threat than we are. Yet, we all have to take it very seriously. The US has to put more resources and troops into Afghanistan, and NATO should do the same, while -- to the greatest extent possible -- lifting operational restrictions.
SPIEGEL: Would that lead to disillusionment with Obama in Europe?
Rice: We must be honest in acknowledging that neither Germany nor the US has the luxury of assuming that we can skate by on half-measures in Afghanistan and Pakistan and not risk suffering the consequences.
Wild Thing's comment........
I would love to see McCain air an ad with Obama's stuff like in this article and with Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” playing in the background.
Only a total ignoramus could imagine that he doesn’t need to bow to anyone — on any subject.
There’s always somebody who understands something you don’t.
Susan Rice’s comment that Obama “bows to nobody in understanding this world” parallels Michelle Obama’s claim a few months ago that “Barrack has seen everything.” How can a guy who has never run a business, never been impacted by marginal taxation, never seen combat, and never passed any meaningful legislation acquire such omniscience????!
The phrase "bows to nobody in understanding this world." is truly a frightening statement. This is not a political campaign...it's a cult rally.
Has anyone heard of any other person that has written TWO books - about themselves? And before he did much in his life?
Amazing he could fill up two volumes considering how little he has accomplished.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 22, 2008 04:45 AM
Comments
Absolute vanity. Susan Rice sounds as glib as a college professor trying to sell false Liberal doctrine to his class. I would guess the European leaders he meets with already know what an inexperenced lightweight Obama is. They will probably take advantage of him and maybe even pretend to support him just to see what they can get off America.
Posted by: TomR at July 22, 2008 10:09 AM
Monkey glands and Vladimir are grinning ear to ear, only 4 months to victory. Remember all those friends of Obama's around the world, including pastor Wright who were celebrating the victory in the streets, the shooting in the air, the jubilant demonstrations and rampant destruction of private property at the demise of the World Trade Center and the loss of all those souls in it and those aircraft. Obama has already 'Bowed'.
Posted by: Jack at July 22, 2008 11:51 AM
WHERE IS HER BURQA? SHE LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE A POS MUSLIM!!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE DUMB ASS AMERICANS? -
CAN'T THEY SEE WHAT AN AMORAL JERK OBAMA IS??
ARE WE SUPPOSED TO CARE IF HE BOWS DOWN-? (TO ALLAH) LOL!!
WHAT A STUPID STATEMENT!!
HE BOWS DOWN TO MICHELLE-EVERY NIGHT- WHO KNOWS IF THAT IS A MAN OR NOT?
I 'M SURE HE HAS BOWED DOWN TO A FAGGOT OR TWO- AND A FEW FARM ANIMALS TOO!!
OBAMA MUST LOSE 2008!!!
Posted by: Cheryl Zee at July 22, 2008 12:26 PM
Tom, I bet your right, they look at him like they can tell he is an idiot unlike how they knew they had to deal with others that at least knew something.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 22, 2008 05:19 PM
Jack, yes ya know that is so true. Obama has already bowed down to the enemy.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 22, 2008 05:22 PM
Cheryl, LOL yes where the ehck is her ever lovin burka. I agree does sound like a Muslim.
YUK
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 22, 2008 05:24 PM
He's got it all wrong--he bows to us. It's the people to the government, not the other way around.
I pay his salary and if I want him to do something for me, he better do it and do it effectively and efficiently.
God, he reminds me of Commodus in Gladiator. He'd kill his own parent just to be emperor and then not listen to his own senate, elected by his own people to serve in their capacity.
Yeah, he better bow to me and every other law abiding citizen of these great United States and quit catering to those who would have us die painfully.
Posted by: Lynn at July 22, 2008 07:02 PM
Lynn, amen my friend, we pay his salary and he better get off is high horse.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 23, 2008 03:09 AM
