Live Blog transcript – Barack Obama on Larry King Live
Here is the transcript of the Live Blog of Barack Obama’s appearance on Larry King Live
9:01 Larry King Live – Barack Obama speaks out about the New Yorker cover
9:01 Larry- that New Yorker cover… what do you make of that?
9:02 obama: I know that it was an attempt at satire – but it’s just a cartoon – i haven’t spent much time thinking about it
9:02 Larry – didn’t it sting?
9:03 Obama – you get a thick skin – I’ve seen and heard worse
9:03 Larry – a good percentage still believe that you are Muslim
9:03 Obama – I was raised a Christain – all you can do is tell the truth and trust in the American people
9:04 Obama – this is actually an insult against Muslim Americans
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9:04 larry – let’s turn to Iraq – do you go with an adgenda
9:04 obama – my adgenda is to keep american’s safe
9:05 Obama – McCain has ignored the wider strategy
9:05 Obama – money spent, where the central front against terrorism should be (afghanistan)
9:06 Obama – imagine what we could have done with the money spent on the war – if it had been invested at home
9:07 Obama – but i want to discuss it with the commanders to find out the best ways to end the war
9:07 Clip of McCain – criticizing Obama for preaching policy before witnessing what is going on
9:08 Obama – straegically – I believe that it is time to get out – at a pace that will allow us to do what we need to do there – to make sure that police and army are trained. And to leave a residual force to protect our bases/diplomats
9:10 Obama – Larry, when you travel around this country – you meet families where members have served 3 – 4 terms – this can’t be sustained. also, economically we have a lot of needs – and we need to look at other areas of the world
9:10 next – Larry will ask about Veeps – you can vote at CNN.com
9:11 still no score in the All Star Game – bottom of the 2nd
9:14 Obama – I think that the failure of this administration is amazing to find and capture Osama Bin Landen – and the resurgence of the Taliban9:14 we need to further our relationship with pakistan -
9:14 Larry – would you go in to get Bin Laden
9:15 Obama – We want to capture or kill him -
9:15 Larry – how will you deal with your generals?
9:15 Obama – I think that they are critical – I have been so impressed with their work – even with a difficult mission
9:16 obama – but, I think this is the difference between myself and GB and JMc, as President, it is my job to set the mission – ultimately, the buck stops with me
9:17 Obama – the role of the Commander in Chief is to secure the US on all fronts
9:17 Obama – making sure that we have an energy policy that frees us from foreign oil
9:17 Larry – how is the search for VP going?
9:18 Obama – I’m not going to discuss it – but the process is going well – with a vision that we need to fundamentally change what is going on in wash
9:18 Larry – how will you use Bill CLinton?
9:19 Obama – i want him as an advisor – he is an enormous resource – as are all former presidents
9:19 Obama – i think you want to use all the talent – bring back bipartisanship in foreign policy
9:19 Larry – what about the foreclosure problem
9:20 Obama – it is a huge problem – we could have prevented a lot of this – but, moving forward – glad to see that the President is supporting the housing bill coming out of Congress – help for homeowners
9:21 Obama – i want to make sure that we aren’t bailing out CEOs – I want to stabilize the market – and that sound borrowers are confident
9:21 Larry – thanks for joining us
9:21 Obama – thank you
9:22 Larry continues with talk about the foreclosure crisis.
9:22 with that – we end the live blog!
In the 1950s, in the wake of Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” plan, Pakistan obtained a 125 megawatt heavy-water reactor from Canada. After India’s first atomic test in May 1974, Pakistan immediately sought to catch up by attempting to purchase a reprocessing plant from France. After France declined due to U.S. resistance, Pakistan began to assemble a uranium enrichment plant via materials from the black market and technology smuggled through A.Q. Khan. In 1976 and 1977, two amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act were passed, prohibiting American aid to countries pursuing either reprocessing or enrichment capabilities for nuclear weapons programs.
These two, the Symington and Glenn Amendments, were passed in response to Pakistan’s efforts to achieve nuclear weapons capability; but to little avail. Washington’s cool relations with Islamabad soon improved. During the Reagan administration, the US turned a blind eye to Pakistan’s nuclear weapon’s program. In return for Pakistan’s cooperation and assistance in the mujahideen’s war against Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the Reagan administration awarded Pakistan with the third largest economic and military aid package after Israel and Egypt. Despite the Pressler Amendment, which made US aid contingent upon the Reagan administration’s annual confirmation that Pakistan was not pursuing nuclear weapons capability, Reagan’s “laissez-faire” approach to Pakistan’s nuclear program seriously aided the proliferation issues that we face today.
Not only did Pakistan continue to develop its own nuclear weapons program, but A.Q. Khan was instrumental in proliferating nuclear technology to other countries as well. Further, Pakistan’s progress toward nuclear capability led to India’s return to its own pursuit of nuclear weapons, an endeavor it had given up after its initial test in 1974. In 1998, both countries had tested nuclear weapons. A uranium-based nuclear device in Pakistan; and a plutonium-based device in India.
Over the years of America’s on again- off again support of Pakistan, Musharraf continues to be skeptical of his American allies. In 2002 he is reported to have told a British official that his “great concern is that one day the United States is going to desert me. They always desert their friends.” Musharraf was referring to Viet Nam, Lebanon, Somalia … etc., etc., etc.,
Taking the war to Pakistan is perhaps the most foolish thing America can do. Obama is not the first to suggest it, and we already have sufficient evidence of the potentially negative repercussions of such an action. On January 13, 2006, the United States launched a missile strike on the village of Damadola, Pakistan. Rather than kill the targeted Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s deputy leader, the strike instead slaughtered 17 locals. This only served to further weaken the Musharraf government and further destabilize the entire area. In a nuclear state like Pakistan, this was not only unfortunate, it was outright stupid. Pakistan has 160 million Arabs (better than half of the population of the entire Arab world). Pakistan also has the support of China and a nuclear arsenal.
I predict that America’s military action in the Middle East will enter the canons of history alongside Hiroshima, Nagasaki and the Holocaust, in kind if not in degree. The Bush administration’s war on terror marks the age in which America has again crossed a line that many argue should never be crossed. Call it preemption, preventive war, the war on terror, or whatever you like; there is a sense that we have again unleashed a force that, like a boom-a-rang, at some point has to come back to us. The Bush administration argues that American military intervention in the Middle East is purely in self-defense. Others argue that it is pure aggression. The consensus is equally as torn over its impact on international terrorism. Is America truly deterring future terrorists with its actions? Or is it, in fact, aiding the recruitment of more terrorists?
The last thing the United States should do at this point and time is to violate yet another state’s sovereignty. Beyond being wrong, it just isn’t very smart. We all agree that slavery in this country was wrong; as was the decimation of the Native American populations. We all agree that the Holocaust and several other acts of genocide in the twentieth century were wrong. So when will we finally admit that American military intervention in the Middle East is wrong as well?
What is the true definition of a “terrorist” and what is the true definition of a “student radical”, and should we view them as equals? Also, is Bill Ayers currently of the U.S.’s list of known or suspected terrorist? Lastly, if a terrorist is a person who uses fear as a tool or weapon to motivate people into destructive acts, then how should we view Mrs. Palin’s recent insightful speeches, especially if Obama ticket starts to receive death threats or is attacked? Could this possibly hurt the McCain ticket?
Obama side steps where the Bail out money comes from.Also he side steps how much,but circles enormous.Also he admits no quick fix.Also admits a lot of bad times to go before it gets better.It seems as though he is trying to let us know all the change isnt going to happen anytime soon.He has connected with blacks ,media and the youth.I tell my son who has backed him ,i hope your not dissappointed.I am middle white class ,making less in years.Bobby waxahachie texas