Colin Powell agreeing - Obama foriegn policy approach to talking to all parties

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

CNN interview today.  He also believes we should be talking to Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.   

Had some nice things to say about Obama

[True Democrat]

He also said arbitrary deadlines are completely ridiculous, as advocated by Obama and Clinton.  Don't spin the story.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

He also said arbitrary deadlines are completely ridiculous, as advocated by Obama and Clinton.  Don't spin the story.

Yes, both favor deadline based withdrawals and Powell doesn't agree with that.  He also didn't endorse any candidate.   

The one difference on Foreign Policy between Obama and Clinton that seems to be of any substance is how Obama would approach dealing with states like Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.  Hillary has the same position as Bush, she's concerned about the "gravitas" of the Presidency.  Obama disagrees and Powell shares that view.  That my friend is not Spin but it is a Fact whether you like it or not.

[True Democrat]

He also said arbitrary deadlines are completely ridiculous, as advocated by Obama and Clinton.  Don't spin the story.

Yes, both favor withdrawals and Powell doesn't agree with that.  He also didn't endorse any candidate.   

The one difference on Foreign Policy between Obama and Clinton that seems to be of any substance is how Obama would approach dealing with states like Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.  Hillary has the same position as Bush, she's concerned about the "gravitas" of the Presidency.  Obama disagrees and Powell shares that view.  That my friend is not Spin but it is a Fact whether you like it or not.

But to say that Powell is "endorsing" Obama's foreign policy is ludicrous.  Yes, Powell is endorsing Obama's idea to talk to foreign leaders.  But a key part of Obama's foreign policy is his insistence on a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, something Powell said he resolutely opposes.  I don't see this as an endorsement of Obama's foreign policy.  Agreeing with one position of a candidate is not an endorsement.

[J. J.]

He also said arbitrary deadlines are completely ridiculous, as advocated by Obama and Clinton.  Don't spin the story.

Yes, both favor deadline based withdrawals and Powell doesn't agree with that.  He also didn't endorse any candidate.   

The one difference on Foreign Policy between Obama and Clinton that seems to be of any substance is how Obama would approach dealing with states like Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.  Hillary has the same position as Bush, she's concerned about the "gravitas" of the Presidency.  Obama disagrees and Powell shares that view.  That my friend is not Spin but it is a Fact whether you like it or not.

I'm not sure that either Clinton or McCain said that we should never to Iran and North Korea.  Bush seems to had some contact with both.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

No, that's part of the problem with our foreign policy in my view.  We will not sit down and talk with states that we don't agree with.  Bush has been unwilling to talk until they agree to what we want before we sit down.  That's a bad approach.

I didn't say that Powell was endorsing Obama's foreign policy.  I said he is endorsing the
APPROACH.  It is a key difference

[True Democrat]

No, that's part of the problem with our foreign policy in my view.  We will not sit down and talk with states that we don't agree with.  Bush has been unwilling to talk until they agree to what we want before we sit down.  That's a bad approach.

I didn't say that Powell was endorsing Obama's foreign policy.  I said he is endorsing the
APPROACH.  It is a key difference

So a timetable for withdrawal is not part of Obama's approach?

Also, where did Powell officially "endorse" this approach? (I could be wrong on this, I wasn't listening that well to the interview).

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

No, that's part of the problem with our foreign policy in my view.  We will not sit down and talk with states that we don't agree with.  Bush has been unwilling to talk until they agree to what we want before we sit down.  That's a bad approach.

I didn't say that Powell was endorsing Obama's foreign policy.  I said he is endorsing the
APPROACH.  It is a key difference

So a timetable for withdrawal is not part of Obama's approach?

Also, where did Powell officially "endorse" this approach? (I could be wrong on this, I wasn't listening that well to the interview).

Point taken...I'll modify my headline

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

"Also, where did Powell officially "endorse" this approach? (I could be wrong on this, I wasn't listening that well to the interview)"

Powell spoke to the US being the most powerful nation on earth and not fearing sitting down with any nation to discuss differences.  He pointed out that we had contact with Syria ( while he was Sec of State ) and sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn't.  He pointed out that not wanting to sit down until the other side meet our conditions made no sense.  If you know Rice and Bush's approach, it's exactly what they have insisted upon before talking to Iran.  He further went on to point out that we talked to Iran in Bagdad about Iraq security and we should be talking them about more than just this single issue.  It was not a sign of weakness

[King]

I watched this interview I didn't get the idea of him favoring Obama at all.  He completely bashed on Clinton, but defended Obama and McCain on an equal level.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

I watched this interview I didn't get the idea of him favoring Obama at all.  He completely bashed on Clinton, but defended Obama and McCain on an equal level.

Agree