"Shame on you, Barack Obama"

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Foreign policy experience is not the same as "connections in Kenya" - and I openly question whether that experience carries over into a dangerous and difficult situation such as Iran. That's my point.

Fair enough, I said foreign relations for a reason. I don't know the specifics of his foreign policy experience except for membership on the Senate committee.

I'm all for increasing positive foreign relationships - that's been one of the downfalls of the Bush administration, I'll certainly agree. But it is pandering to associate my post with jingoism, especially when you've chosen the intentionally inflammatory "dick measuring contest" metaphor as your base of attack.

I'm not associating your post with jingoism. My response to your comment was don't blow off people who don't want to attack Iran as pacifist. The other point I was making is that being patriotic these days is seen, both in this country and in others, as not just thinking America's great, but insulting every other country in the process, even if they're our allies and support us. It's the difference between having self-esteem and finding it necessary to deride your classmates to show how awesome you are. Hence why Obama's patriotism is called into question because he chooses not to wear a flag pin. I mean, seriously.

You either missed my point, or chose not to acknowledge it because of how I packaged it - that's pretty shitty, but to each her own.

I haven't seen Team America so besides the thought that you need a guy in office (one I disagree with) I don't know the main point of what you're getting at.

There is a difference between the two, of course - there are also situations where "positive foreign relations" is a poor course to follow. Iran is likely a bigger threat to Americans than Iraq or Afghanistan. Sometimes force is required - and, since you're not a pacifist, you'll surely agree with that.

While I agree that force is necessary and that Iran is a potential threat, that doesn't mean we go invade them, something that seems to be Bush's next great adventure. Obama's said he'd act on knowledge of bin Ladin in Pakistan by attacking him directly if we didn't have Musharraf's support. He's not opposed to the careful and calculated use of force. There's a lot of room between that and invading a country.