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Barack Obama. (AP)
Last update - 20:28 17/05/2008
Obama says Bush policies strengthened Iran, Hamas
By Reuters
Tags: George Bush, John McCain 

Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama said Friday that President George W. Bush's policies in the Middle East have served to benefit U.S. foes Iran and Hamas.

"[Bush and Republican nominee John McCain have] got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush's policies," he said.

"They're going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority," he added.
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Obama, relishing a long-distance debate with Bush on foreign policy, said the president had contributed to Tehran's rise in the Middle East by launching the Iraq war, which he said had removed Baghdad as a counterweight to Iran.

The Illinois senator said Republican presidential nominee John McCain was as much to blame as Bush for what he termed a failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

"They're trying to fool you, and trying to scare you, and they're not telling the truth. And the reason is because they can't win a foreign policy debate on the merits. But it's not going to work," said Obama, the Democratic front-runner vying to face McCain in the November presidential election.

Speaking to reporters after a speech, Obama said if elected president he would meet, with preparation but without preconditions, leaders Bush has avoided - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, North Korea's Kim Jong-il and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"I would engage in direct talks," he said.

Iran, Syria and North Korea are considered by the U.S. State Department to be state sponsors of terrorism while Venezuela has stoked anti-American sentiment in South America.

Obama accused Bush on Friday of "fear-mongering" for suggesting Democrats wanted to appease terrorists and vowed to meet leaders of hostile nations like Iran if elected.

Bush triggered Democratic outrage on Thursday by saying in a speech before the Knesset in Jerusalem that some politicians would pursue the "false comfort of appeasement" by negotiating with militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah organizations and Iran.

Obama said Bush and McCain were guilty of "bombast, exaggerations and fear-mongering."

The White House said it was baffled at the heat of the Democratic response, saying Bush had been making similar statements for years.

"I would encourage you to ask them what sentences that they disagree with, what specific sentence," White House counselor Ed Gillespie said on the Air Force One flight to Saudi Arabia.

The McCain campaign derided Obama for what it called "the same tired partisan rants."

"It was remarkable to see Barack Obama's hysterical diatribe in response to a speech in which his name wasn't even mentioned," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.

The episode allowed Obama to talk directly to Bush and elevate himself on the national stage as he tried to wrap up the Democratic presidential nomination. Even party rival Hillary Clinton has rushed to Obama's defense on the issue.

Weakened by the Iraq war and ailing economy, Republicans hope to convince Americans that Obama is too inexperienced to be trusted as commander in chief - a point McCain tried to make on Thursday.

But Obama sought to turn the experience question around on Bush and McCain.

"They've got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush's policies," he said.

"They're going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority," he added.

Related articles:
  • Was Bush's Knesset speech a swipe at Obama?
  • Obama tries to inch closer to Israel
  • Obama advisor: Jerusalem must be included in peace talks
  • Ex-U.S. envoy: Slim chance for Mideast peace by end of year
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      1.   Obama 23:26  |  Yariv 16/05/08
      2.   Bad Ideas from Good Idealists 23:30  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/05/08
      3.   Under Bush`s Policies 23:31  |  WASP American 16/05/08
      4.   Obama`s approach is foolish and dangerous 23:45  |  Brod 16/05/08
      5.   Yariv 01:46  |  Jack 17/05/08
      6.   long live obama 01:52  |  Daniel 17/05/08
      7.   # 3 WASP...well, love the concern for Israel 01:55  |  Lynn 17/05/08
      8.   Ronnie Wolman....the world at this stage 01:58  |  Lynn 17/05/08
      9.   some politicians would pursue the "false comfort of appeasement" 02:12  |  Joseph . E 17/05/08
      10.   Heyzeh mefagrim 02:21  |  Amnon HUSSEIN Cohen 17/05/08
      11.   But when Mac wanted to talk to Hamas it was ok 02:34  |  Aphemia 17/05/08
      12.   Obama is turning cowardly 02:38  |  Keb 17/05/08
      13.   US failures 02:50  |  Phil 17/05/08
      14.   So how would Obama`s policies weaken Iran and Hamas? 02:56  |  Realist 17/05/08
      15.   Jack 03:13  |  Yariv 17/05/08
      16.   Why Does Hamas Want Obama to Win ? 03:25  |  Tod Zuckerman 17/05/08
      17.   Osama not Obama 03:36  |  K 17/05/08
      18.   Yariv 03:42  |  Amnon 17/05/08
      19.   USA is dying to talk to Iran 04:01  |  Amin 17/05/08
      20.   USA is dying to talk to Iran 04:01  |  Amin 17/05/08
      21.   And Bush was epxerienced? 04:21  |  Hank Essay 17/05/08
      22.   Obama is refreshing 04:27  |  David 17/05/08
      23.   Jewish Obama supporters 04:36  |  Nechama 17/05/08
      24.   Obama 05:25  |  Kadaazka 17/05/08
      25.   Obama will win, and israelis will pay the price of that victory 05:29  |  Voice of Reason 17/05/08
      26.   Amon 05:41  |  Yariv 17/05/08
      27.   Obama it was one sentence about NOT YOU....I think you may be a 06:01  |  r 17/05/08
      28.   Tell us Jr. Senator how are over age 30 and still Liberal? 06:45  |  david 17/05/08
      29.   Obama obviously right 09:39  |  American in Paris 17/05/08
      30.   Not to talk to "foes" is an Israeli tradition 09:45  |  Joe 17/05/08
      31.   Obama`s misconceptions 11:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/08
      32.   democracy 11:11  |  Naim S. Mahlab 17/05/08
      33.   Obama should first answer the public about his appeasement 12:02  |  Rob and Debbie 17/05/08
      34.   Obama is quite correct. Right on the mark. 13:38  |  Stephen. 17/05/08
      35.   Tried and true GOP strategy 15:05  |  W 17/05/08
      36.   Tried and true GOP strategy (cont`d) 15:08  |  W 17/05/08
      37.   Making peace with Lebanon = Making peace with Hizbollah 15:21  |  Natallie Durson 17/05/08
      38.   #1 Yariv 15:21  |  Kapule David Mabuta 17/05/08
      39.   CJK #29 15:23  |  Guido 17/05/08
      40.   Obama - how refreshing 15:23  |  Star of David 17/05/08
      41.   Kohn 15:33  |  Kapule David Mabuta 17/05/08
      42.   #35 Natallie. If you say so. 16:17  |  Stephen. 17/05/08
      43.   Speaking to Ahmadinejad, etc.. 16:22  |  S 17/05/08
      44.   A NON-STATE ACTOR LIKE HAMAS 16:25  |  indrajaya 17/05/08
      45.   # 40. Star of David. 16:37  |  Stephen. 17/05/08
      46.   #12 Keb 17:06  |  Kapule David Mabuta 17/05/08
      47.   Kapule David Mabuta re: CJK 18:30  |  CHGODMK 17/05/08
      48.   Obama rules, rightists and settlers drool!!! 19:07  |  anti-racist 17/05/08
      49.   #34 Stephan from Switzerland 19:09  |  Pastor Joseph 17/05/08
      50.   #37 Durson- Bloods and Crips 19:12  |  Pastor Joseph 17/05/08
      51.   Obama 19:43  |  yaf 17/05/08
      52.   Speaking to Ahmadinejad; etc.. (second try, why?) 20:38  |  S 17/05/08
      53.   #30 Joe ; Israel talks to anyone that shows sincere attitude to 21:29  |  Haham me Bat Yam 17/05/08
      54.   the world doesn`t need a new chamberlain -obama 21:32  |  michel 17/05/08
      55.   obama can be us ambassador in iran!!! 21:34  |  eduardo 17/05/08
      56.   to 32 21:36  |  dav 17/05/08
      57.   #39, Guido 22:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/08
      58.   $41, Kapula 22:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/08
      59.   #52, S, and the talking business 22:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/08
      60.   President Obama will be humuliated and will become 23:25  |  17 17/05/08
      61.   Obama is naive 23:45  |  JH 17/05/08
      62.   sounds like demagoguery 23:47  |  say vs. do 17/05/08
      63.   # 49. The Pastor Joseph..I presume..? 23:52  |  Stephen. 17/05/08
      64.   Bush will help Israel like he helped Iraq 00:05  |  W 18/05/08
      65.   Both Bush and Obama are wrong 01:10  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/05/08
      66.   Jews seem to be against Obama, if he wins... 02:41  |  American Cow 18/05/08
      67.   it is the republ. that do not know the region 02:43  |  UN MAN 18/05/08
      68.   4 Brod - Same Approach as Kennedy and Reagan 02:47  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/05/08
      69.   Osama not Obama -- K 03:04  |  Jack 18/05/08
      70.   FEAR MAKES ISRAELIS LOSE THEIR SENSE 04:45  |  Marco 18/05/08
      71.