Thursday, August 02, 2007

BARACK OBAMA, MITT ROMNEY

Obama: No Nukes Ever? Under Any Circumstances?

I am told that Barack Obama just made a comment on a campaign trail that is striking – I’m looking to confirm, since I heard it second-hand.

On an unrelated note, someone wants us to believe that Mitt Romney said he would pull U.S. troops out in September. That requires a pretty deliberate misreading of his comment that he hopes that if the surge continues to succeed, Iraqi troops will be able to take over additional duties from American forces and our men and women in uniform can come home.

UPDATE: Well, here it is. I had heard Obama had promised to never use nuclear weapons in any circumstances; His answer is mud, but I think that's a fair interpretation of his comment.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Thursday he would not use nuclear weapons «in any circumstance.

 

«I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance,» Obama said, with a pause, «involving civilians.» Then he quickly added, «Let me scratch that. There's been no discussion of nuclear weapons. That's not on the table.

The Illinois senator warned Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf earlier this week that he would use U.S. military force in Pakistan even without Musharraf's permission if necessary to root out terrorists.

 

However, when asked by The Associated Press after a breakfast with constituents whether there was any circumstance where he would be prepared or willing to use nuclear weapons to defeat terrorism and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Obama replied

 

«There's been no discussion of using nuclear weapons and that's not a hypothetical that I'm going to discuss.

 

When asked whether his answer also applied to the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons, he said it did.

I appreciate a candidate who is reluctant to use nuclear weapons. I am worried about a candidate who promises to never use nuclear weapons, and/or discuss the circumstances he thinks their use is appropriate.

08/02 12:42 PMShare