Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., May 31, 2008 Iyyar 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:59 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Barack Obama (AP) Last update - 10:04 27/05/2008 Barack Obama: I wouldn't promise Ahmadinejad a meeting By Reuters Tags: John McCain, Barack Obama  U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama underscored his willingness to talk to leaders of countries like Iran that are considered U.S. adversaries but said on Monday that does not necessarily mean an audience with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Obama, the Democratic Party front-runner vying to face Republican Sen. John McCain in the November race for the White House, has said he was willing to meet with leaders of countries such as Iran, Syria, Cuba and Venezuela without preconditions. McCain has criticized that view, saying that sitting down with someone like Ahmadinejad would give the Iranian president a spotlight and send the wrong signal to U.S. allies such as Israel. Advertisement Iran does not recognize Israel's existence and Ahmadinejad has been repeatedly quoted calling for its descruction. Earlier this month, he called the country a "stinking corpse" and said that its destruction was imminent. Obama, an Illinois senator, said Iranian presidential elections in 2009 would be a factor in the timing of any meetings, as would considerations of who wields the power. "There's no reason why we would necessarily meet with Ahmadinejad before we know that he was actually in power. He's not the most powerful person in Iran," Obama told reporters while campaigning in New Mexico. Under Iran's system of clerical rule, the Islamic Republic's religious establishment has final say in all state matters. The McCain campaign accused Obama of backtracking. "Over the past year, Sen. Obama has repeatedly confirmed that he'd meet unconditionally with Ahmadinejad and the leaders of Syria, Cuba and Venezuela," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. Republicans have accused Obama of inconsistency on his policy on talking to adversaries. In recent weeks, Obama and his aides have emphasized that, while there would be no "preconditions" for potential top-level meetings, there would be extensive staff-level preparations. In the case of Iran, Obama said, "Preparation means that there are low-level talks in which there's clarity about our concerns around the nuclear weapons program but that we're willing to listen to their perspective." Obama said his position has been consistent. "I've said that with sufficient preparation I would be happy to meet leaders from other sovereign states including countries like Iran or North Korea or Venezuela," he said. "I have said that it is important to make sure that it begins with low-level diplomatic engagement and that there's a clear agenda so that any meetings would be constructive." Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the VIP If you want Olmert, pay for 'first class' hotels and flights. Don't mention the war The first to mention Nazis or the Holocaust automatically loses.   1.   Look Guys 09:28  |  Yosemite 27/05/08   2.   Yosemite: Preaching to the wrong audience 10:06  |  Natallie Durson 27/05/08   3.   The U.S. "mainstream" media is pushing Obama to the right..... 10:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/05/08   4.   Israel will NOT attack Iran 10:56  |  Iranian-American 27/05/08   5.   president for life hussein obama 10:57  |  greatleader 27/05/08   6.   Why would Barak waste his time on a nut job with a special light 10:58  |  PETER SM 27/05/08   7.   Obama makes promises to the whole world 11:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/05/08   8.   quite frightening 12:00  |  english jew 27/05/08   9.   Backtracking willie Hussein 12:32  |  POP 27/05/08   10.   PEACEMAKER VS WARMONGER IN 2008 12:40  |  indrajaya 27/05/08   11.   Finally Barack doesn`t speak to Ahmadinejad but... 12:59  |  The Archives 27/05/08   12.   Which is it OBAMA? - Yes or NO 13:23  |  Avi 27/05/08   13.   # 7 No, Cipora, unlike you, he is simply not a "zealot"..... 13:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/05/08   14.   Indrajaya #10 13:35  |  Pnina 27/05/08   15.   # 3 Swiss....rather then center on his own 13:46  |  Lynn 27/05/08   16.   Hey Guys: It`s game time, election time, fun time 13:52  |  Markus 27/05/08   17.   Master of double talk, Obama. relatively speaking 13:53  |  Max Horoskopski 27/05/08   18.   # 10 Indy ..stuff and nonsense 13:56  |  Lynn 27/05/08   19.   # 4 Iranian American....fear mongering 14:05  |  Lynn 27/05/08   20.   With oil at 140, Ahmadinejad is a king. He doesn`t need to meet U 14:41  |  Aounist 27/05/08   21.   # 13 Swiss...Cipora isn`t a zealot 14:57  |  Lynn 27/05/08   22.   Natallie -- you have no idea... 14:58  |  bbl 27/05/08   23.   him speak with forked tongue kimma savvy 15:16  |  victor hardman 27/05/08   24.   bbl 15:22  |  Natallie Durson 27/05/08   25.   @21 lynn 16:08  |  Mark B. 27/05/08   26.   #22 bbl 16:16  |  Cool B 27/05/08   27.   Barack (derived from the Arabic Barake) Hussein Obama may say ... 16:25  |  Amihai 27/05/08   28.   Baruch Obama: our man in Washington 16:27  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 27/05/08   29.   Mark B # 25 16:34  |  American in NY 27/05/08   30.   # 15 Lynn 16:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/05/08   31.   Obama is an empty suit 16:40  |  Nemesis 27/05/08   32.   Who are you appeasing today? 16:59  |  Aphemia 27/05/08   33.   indrajaya # 10 americas enemy is people,with a mentality like you 17:08  |  terrornator 27/05/08   34.   lynn,surely this is not the first time you have been disappointed 17:10  |  terrornator 27/05/08   35.   mark B where have you been,obama has made more promises that he 17:21  |  terrornator 27/05/08   36.   Natallie I`ve Got A Problem With You 17:22  |  Yosemite 27/05/08   37.   He will have to swallow many frogs before he finally looses 17:27  |  Pervert 27/05/08   38.   # 34 terrornator....no, and probably not the last 17:50  |  Lynn 27/05/08   39.   President Obama would be lithmus test - 17:53  |  17 27/05/08   40.   He`s not the most powerful person in Iran? 18:32  |  Simon 27/05/08   41.   Lynn you are right on 18:43  |  Iranian-American 27/05/08   42.   English Jew.... 18:48  |  Iranian-American 27/05/08   43.   A fool climbing down from his foolish tree. 18:50  |  Fortuna Benmayor 27/05/08   44.   # 29 American in NY...you have got to be kidding 18:51  |  Lynn 27/05/08   45.   # 25 Mark B......why would I be angry? 19:06  |  Lynn 27/05/08   46.   29 American in Ny 19:10  |  Robert Lovell 27/05/08   47.   Lynn #44 19:16  |  Roo 27/05/08   48.   #22 At least you get the courtesy of an answer to your posts 19:18  |  Robert/Lovell 27/05/08   49.   #32 - Aphemia 19:19  |  MichaelF 27/05/08   50.   #19 Lynn-not really true 19:20  |  John Syracuse 27/05/08   51.   #10 - indrajaya, you will be disappointed 19:39  |  MichaelF 27/05/08   52.   Lynn #45 -fuzzy math-popular vote 19:39  |  John Syracuse 27/05/08   53.   # 49 Mike-Presidential talks are a last step 19:56  |  Aphemia 27/05/08   54.   john syracruse on iran 20:32  |  yair 27/05/08   55.   # 52 John Syracuse....Howard Dean may end up 20:45  |  Lynn 27/05/08   56.   Well Lynn #55 21:04  |  John Syracuse 27/05/08   57.   yair-zion answer your quiz questions please 21:09  |  John Syracuse 27/05/08   58.   RE 10 21:31  |  english jew 27/05/08   59.   Well Lynn #55 21:32  |  John Syracuse 27/05/08   60.   oh dear, how silly Barack Arabic??? 21:32  |  s_charles 27/05/08   61.   yair-zion answer your quiz questions please 21:33  |  John Syracuse 27/05/08   62.   #53- Aphemia 22:03  |  MichaelF 27/05/08   63.   john syracruse "answer the quiz questions" 22:08  |  yair 27/05/08   64.   # 56 John Syracuse....LOL!!!! 22:12  |  Lynn 27/05/08   65.   #13, Dino 22:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/05/08   66.   #7 Cipora...Amen 22:20  |  Pastor Joseph 27/05/08   67.   #13 Swiss...time for cheese and watches 22:24  |  Pastor Joseph 27/05/08   68.   #21, Lynn 22:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/05/08   69.   John Syracuse #56 And Lynn also 22:36  |  Robert lovell 27/05/08   70.   Who cares 22:38  |  anti Hill/Obama 27/05/08   71.   Obama History :( 22:55  |  Pastor Joseph 27/05/08