Welcome (back) Lord Subudei! Though I can't say as I remember you, at least not by that name. You ask some good questions.
Let me ask you in return about this one:
the ONLY people who have come out and categorically stated that they would militarily target Iran without question are:
George Bush and John McCain.
Sources please?
As for your question to me:
. . . you don't honestly think that Mr. Lind actually has a real clue when it comes to divining Obama's potential foreign policy initiatives, do you???
That's the point of the discussion, I believe - to see whether Mr. Lind's claims have any merit. My earlier post was intended to help the discussion get going after the initial dismissive remark by Moderator Hoskins. Your post seems largely dismissive as well, but at least you are willing to go in the right direction - to look again at what Sen. Obama said at the AIPAC Convention.
So we return to the source. BTW your link doesn't work. Here's another go at it:
transcript of Sen. Obama's AIPAC speechHope that works better!
As a quick aside, let me just state that after having re-read Obama's speech to AIPAC, I don't see what Lind is raving about.
While it is true, as you say, that Mr. Obama promises to undertake a long series of diplomatic maneuvers prior to using military force against Iran, he does nevertheless promise to use military force against Iran, just as Mr. Lind states. In what event does he promise to use military force? In the event that Iran attacks the US or US interests? No. In the event that Iran attacks an ally of the US? No. In the event that Iran poses an imminent threat to the US or its allies?
Ah, there's the rub. In his speech, Mr. Obama states that he will attack Iran if it is the only means remaining to
prevent Iran from
developing a nuclear weapon. This seems far from "the opposite" of attacking Iran, to my mind.
Pardon me for pointing out the obvious, but that seems to very closely resemble the reasoning employed to justify using military force against Iraq in 2003 - in other words, the Bush Doctrine. Please describe to me how that constitutes "just the opposite" of attacking Iran.
And one more thing. Please remember, this discussion is about Mr. Obama's foreign policy, not about that of Sen. McCain, or the current White House occupant.
