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Last update - 00:00 29/08/2008
Obama: You don't protect Israel, deter Iran by talking tough in D.C.
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: Democratic Convention 

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama accused his presumptive Republican opponent John McCain of "follow[ing] George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy," telling the Democratic convention in Denver that rhetoric alone will not neutralize the Iranian threat to Israel.

"You don't defeat a terrorist network that operates in 80 countries by occupying Iraq," Obama said. "You don't protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances."

"If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice, but that is not the change that America needs," Obama said.
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The Illinois senator also vowed on Thursday to end U.S. energy dependence on Middle East sources within 10 years if elected in November.

Obama launched his historic campaign for the White House with an outdoor extravaganza Thursday, promising more than 84,000 cheering supporters an "end to the broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush."

In a nationally televised speech in which he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination, Obama pressed the themes that will guide his campaign through the Nov. 4 election: that he will help the country's struggling middle class and be strong on national security, and that a victory for rival John McCain would amount to a third term for Bush.

"Tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land - enough!" he said.

The speech capped the four-day Democratic National Convention, where he sought to unite a party divided after a bitter primary fight and regain momentum in the campaign against McCain.

In an audacious move, McCain sought to steal some of the political spotlight by spreading word that he had settled on a vice presidential running mate. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty canceled all scheduled appearances for the next two days, stoking speculation that he was the one.

Obama's speech was delivered in a dramatic setting, a filled sports stadium, the camera flashes in the night, the made-for-television backdrop that suggested the White House, and the thousands of convention delegates seated around the podium in an enormous semicircle.

"We meet at one of those defining moments, a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more," Obama said.

"America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this," he said.

Obama's speech came one day after Democrats made him the first black presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party. His address coincided with the 45th anniversary of one of the most critical events in the American civil rights movement: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

Obama mentioned but did not dwell on the anniversary. His campaign has tried to prevent his candidacy from being defined by his race as it tries to appeal to a wide swath of the American electorate.

The Illinois senator also laid out his energy policy, promising Americans a short-term rebate of $1,000 per couple to help with rising energy costs; release of up to 70 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and investment of $15 billion a year over the next decade to encourage renewable energy, clean-coal technology and electric cars. "In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East," Obama said.

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      1.   IT WAS JUST THE 5th SYMPHONY OF BEETHOVEN 07:49  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      2.   I fully support Obama 09:10  |  Shimon Cleopas 29/08/08
      3.   McCain was never a Bush Appeaser 09:17  |  John 29/08/08
      4.   Change for chains 10:02  |  Shimon Cleopas 29/08/08
      5.   The purest fantasy, cynically delivered in the hope of votes 10:53  |  Clickfool 29/08/08
      6.   #5 i am feeling ill i agree with clickfool 11:06  |  vhardman 29/08/08
      7.   Indrajaya #1 papapa, pooooo, 11:07  |  S 29/08/08
      8.   MCCAIN NEEDS MORE THAN 10 KARL ROVE 11:18  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      9.   obama why not? 11:48  |  dj 29/08/08
      10.   # 7, S 11:48  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      11.   Obama correct. Iran is NOT the problem, but the OCCUPATION 11:53  |  Ivar 29/08/08
      12.   Obama 12:06  |  Hilda 29/08/08
      13.   #8 the clintons will prove to be a handicap 12:09  |  vhardman 29/08/08
      14.   Excellent, energetic speech (Indrajaya got it right !!), BUT..... 12:11  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/08/08
      15.   Almost ALL of US oil is from Mexico and Canada right NOW 12:38  |  The Equalizer 29/08/08
      16.   # 12, VICTOR HARDMAN 12:42  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      17.   Protect Israel? How embarrassing for Israel! 12:47  |  Natallie Durson 29/08/08
      18.   # 11, HILDA 12:49  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      19.   Only wisdom can save Israel 13:21  |  Edith 29/08/08
      20.   Good night America 13:25  |  Shimon Cleopas 29/08/08
      21.   Israel can NOT be protected 13:28  |  spyguy 29/08/08
      22.   I agree 13:29  |  bouf 29/08/08
      23.   #16 indrajaya is as mistaken on the clintons as he is everything 13:48  |  victor hardman 29/08/08
      24.   Get your facts straight, Equalizer # 15 13:52  |  Clickfool 29/08/08
      25.   Hilda, Hilda, don`t be so scared 13:57  |  Fauna 29/08/08
      26.   So Israel will not get the trailer park..? 14:03  |  Stephen 29/08/08
      27.   It`s not c-h-a-n-g-e but c-h-a-m-b-e-r-l-a-i-n 14:05  |  norb 29/08/08
      28.   Obama looked good last night & it was definitely more - 14:15  |  ivo 29/08/08
      29.   Obama`s Real Stength 14:19  |  Rabbi Jonathan 29/08/08
      30.   Awesome speech, he came out swinging 14:35  |  Aphemia 29/08/08
      31.   Today`s Durson writer musta been bullied at school 14:38  |  ZISD 29/08/08
      32.   Hilda on Pride and Obama 14:46  |  Rabbi Jonathan 29/08/08
      33.   spyguy you are right that is why Israel must nuke Iran 14:52  |  Steven 29/08/08
      34.   tripe 14:53  |  albert paul ortiz 29/08/08
      35.   Ivar`s mind is Occupied 14:54  |  ZISD 29/08/08
      36.   far too much promises. 15:02  |  Dr D 29/08/08
      37.   Obama is wrong 15:10  |  Brod 29/08/08
      38.   Obama is right, but bad for Israel 15:11  |  Joey 29/08/08
      39.   A million dollar tip to contenders 15:16  |  Shimon Cleopas 29/08/08
      40.   Natallie Durson (#17) you really don`t want to go on that road 16:06  |  Gil 29/08/08
      41.   A deep breath of (fresh, clean) air 16:12  |  utagawa 29/08/08
      42.   #30 Aphemia....Great oratory is right 16:22  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      43.   More fresh air 16:26  |  utagawa 29/08/08
      44.   "There you go again." 16:39  |  Ronald Reagan 29/08/08
      45.   # 42, LYNN 16:47  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      46.   #32 Stephen go ahead and nukem, BUT 16:48  |  spyguy 29/08/08
      47.   # 37, BROD 17:01  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      48.   #14 Dino 17:16  |  luna 29/08/08
      49.   #43 more hot air on electric cars, they use carbon fuels 17:23  |  vhardman 29/08/08
      50.   so many idiot responses 17:34  |  ross 29/08/08
      51.   Even MORE fresh air 18:04  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      52.   follow the money 18:36  |  b jack 29/08/08
      53.   What a move by McCain choosing Sarah Palin 18:40  |  Mark B. 29/08/08
      54.   HOW`S HE GOING TO DO THIS;END US DEPENDENCY AT THE SAME TIME HE`S 18:41  |  glenna 29/08/08
      55.   misspelling abbas is to get his his promise from mert:divide 18:43  |  glenna 29/08/08
      56.   # 45, LYNN 18:56  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      57.   #32 Rabbi Jonathan....so, if one does NOT vote 19:01  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      58.   Indrajihad - does having kids make people irrelevant? 19:06  |  ZISD 29/08/08
      59.   To Clickfool (#5): Not so fantastic, just visionary 19:09  |  Morris Valentine 29/08/08
      60.   # 50, ZISD 19:23  |  indrajaya 29/08/08
      61.   Obama in his own words 19:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/08/08
      62.   NO MORE BREAST FEEDING FOR THE WORLD 19:53  |  DENNIS MIV 29/08/08
      63.   To Gil 19:57  |  Persian Kitty 29/08/08
      64.   talking tough 20:19  |  Shmuelshachor 29/08/08
      65.   Morris Valentine 20:22  |  Mark B. 29/08/08
      66.   Energy Independence Is Doable 20:33  |  Bronxite10 29/08/08
      67.   Rabbi Jonathan 20:34  |  Alain 29/08/08
      68.   Persian Kitty 20:44  |  Alain 29/08/08
      69.   #47 Mark B ..........yes, it certainly has 20:48  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      70.   #50 Indy.....she is going to eat him alive 20:49  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      71.   Glenna of Alaska....congrats on your Governor 20:54  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      72.   Only An Even Handed Foreign Policy Can Save Any Of Us 21:04  |  Gray 29/08/08
      73.   #55 Well Cipora, facts are facts. 21:28  |  ballistic 29/08/08
      74.   #47 Mark B 21:35  |  ballistic 29/08/08
      75.   To Indrajaya 22:21  |  Proud Jew 29/08/08
      76.   barack...yadayada...... 22:40  |  The Judge 29/08/08
      77.   #60 Wormwood.......get a grip 23:03  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      78.   Parsian Kitty (#57) 23:03  |  Gil 29/08/08
      79.   #61 Wormwood....sounding a bit desperate 23:05  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      80.   #61 ballistic still whistling in the dark, no jews under the bed? 23:08  |  vhardman 29/08/08
      81.   ENDGAME - ALEX JONES - BLUEPRINT for GLOBAL ENSLAVEMENT 23:21  |  Linda Rivera 29/08/08
      82.   class move by Mac, Lynn 23:22  |  aphemia 29/08/08
      83.   Blather Matters 23:23  |  Doubleclick 29/08/08
      84.   #59 Gray....a stronger Isamic world? 23:35  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      85.   #24 clicky......What difference will it make when 23:50  |  Lynn 29/08/08
      86.   DOH! 00:12  |  Clickfool 30/08/08
      87.   #71 who? 00:21  |  Bronxite10 30/08/08
      88.   #69 Aphemia.....I was floored!!! 00:25  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      89.   Natallie, you are not Tzipi Livni, Gray, you aren`t Obama 01:01  |  Israeli citizen 30/08/08
      90.   #Lynn. The Putin/Medvedev duo... 01:48  |  Maureen Ann 30/08/08
      91.   # 48 Glenna Hey Good News Don`t You Think? I mean 02:10  |  anonymous 30/08/08
      92.   To Gil 02:14  |  Persian Kitty 30/08/08
      93.   To Gil - Part II 02:24  |  Persian Kitty 30/08/08
      94.   Protect the US with speeches in Denver 02:29  |  Nathaniel 30/08/08
      95.   Obama`s speech 04:44  |  arline 30/08/08
      96.   What`s Missing In This Picture 05:27  |  Gray 30/08/08
      97.   Obama Israel`s little Moshiach 05:48  |  mitch 30/08/08
      98.   #90 Maureen Ann.....they are going to be too busy 06:02  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      99.   #98, Lynn 07:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/08/08
      100.   #90, Maureen Ann 07:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/08/08
      101.   #98 Lynn. U.S./Anglo oil conglomerates have you all... 07:55  |  Maureen Ann 30/08/08
      102.   # Cipora Julianna Kohn. What else can we expect from Republicans 08:27  |  Maureen Ann 30/08/08
      103.   Persian Kitty (#93) 08:43  |  Gil 30/08/08
      104.   Persian Kitty (#93) 08:44  |  Gil 30/08/08
      105.   Lynn; "Parity" = "Equality" 08:53  |  Gray 30/08/08
      106.   #102, Maureen Ann 08:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/08/08
      107.   Gray continues spouting hypocrisy 09:04  |  utaga,,wa 30/08/08
      108.   The MINUTE We Get Off Of Oil 11:23  |  Alan 30/08/08
      109.   Since everybody here is talking "Oil".. 13:21  |  Stephen 30/08/08
      110.   GRAY Let me sum up all your hate words 13:39  |  Gil 30/08/08
      111.   #99 Cipora JK....as a Mayor and a Governor 14:33  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      112.   #105 Gray...yes, I am reading closely 14:54  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      113.   #101 Maureen...... 14:58  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      114.   # 107 utagawa...... 15:00  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      115.   #105 can gray be specific on when and how 15:01  |  vhardman 30/08/08
      116.   #102 Maureen.....your heroes the Chechens 15:03  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      117.   #109 Stephen of Geneva......the industrialists of 15:08  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      118.   #93 Persian Kitty....I would be soooo happy 15:12  |  Lynn 30/08/08
      119.   Alan 15:57  |  lady from USA 30/08/08
      120.   Who knows if Mideast Arabs will have that much OIL in ten years. 15:57  |  charlie 30/08/08
      121.   To Indrajaya # 1 - Up your alley 16:12  |  Pathfinder 30/08/08
      122.   Analysis of Gray 16:16  |  lady from USA 30/08/08
      123.   # 115, PATHFINDER 16:44  |  indrajaya 30/08/08
      124.   To Indrajaya # 123 - Interesting that.... 18:54  |  Pathfinder 30/08/08
      125.   is israel a protectorate? 19:16  |  protector 30/08/08
      126.   Obama can`t protect Israel 19:30  |  T A Sheppard 30/08/08
      127.   Great for McCain - Awful for women 20:37  |  examiner 30/08/08
      128.   #80 Paul Harris? 21:32  |  ballistic 30/08/08
      129.   Persian Kitty -You have a groupie at #118 22:08  |  Roo 30/08/08
      130.   Iran: You don`t deter Iran by barking tough against Iran 22:18  |  Aounist 30/08/08
      131.   That scary "Equality" thing 22:38  |  Gray 30/08/08
      132.   Lynn & uga,,,That desperate? #114 22:53  |  Gray 30/08/08
      133.   To my secretly admiring fans above/earlier 23:02  |  Gray 30/08/08
      134.   I HOPE THE DECIDING VOTE COMES DOWN TO ALASKA;HANDS DOWN MCCAIN/ 23:39  |  glenna 30/08/08
      135.   Surprising Gray! 00:09  |  utagawa 31/08/08
      136.   #133 gray try actual factual allegations instead of slogans 00:15  |  vhardman 31/08/08
      137.   Israel lobby too powerful for even US PREZ 01:47  |  gideon 31/08/08
      138.   #Lynn. America`s heroes - Al Qaeda. 02:47  |  Maureen Ann 31/08/08
      139.   # 45 Indy I do agree with that one. 03:20  |  Lynn 31/08/08
      140.   Brod: here lies your ignorance 03:30  |  Ruth Samuels 31/08/08
      141.   Obama will be there for Israel 03:38  |  Dena Silver 31/08/08
      142.   Tripe: change, not just for the sake of change 03:40  |  Dena Silver 31/08/08
      143.   Rabbi Jonathan is mistaken 03:43  |  Dena Silver 31/08/08
      144.   Obama Binladen is a lame duck 04:53  |  John 31/08/08
      145.   to dena silver(?) on 141 05:59  |  Shmuelshachor 31/08/08
      146.   # 92 & 93 to persian kitty re: persia freed 07:58  |  eric 31/08/08
      147.   #134 Glenna. It`s an arranged political marriage... 08:11  |  Maureen Ann 31/08/08
      148.   Israel`s security is a sham.... 09:16  |  Dutch 31/08/08
      149.   DORIS Sham is Pals saying peace in English& oppositte in Arabic 10:20  |  PETER SM 31/08/08
      150.   #148 why does haaretz keep posting the lunatic doris cadigan? 10:40  |  vhardman 31/08/08
      151.   obama or mccain 19:12  |  reuven itzhaki 31/08/08
      152.   I`M starting to REALLY question obama`s rhetoric about "change"? 00:52  |  eric 01/09/08
      153.   Eric, Re: The rise in terrorism 10:10  |  Dutch 01/09/08
      154.   Victor Hardman on `lunatic` Doris Cadigan. 10:40  |  ward manager 01/09/08
      155.   # 153 to dutch re: international terrorism 12:44  |  eric 01/09/08
      156.   No double standards 19:27  |  Lisa 07/09/08
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