Obama meets with new security advisory group
A day after a sharp exchange with Republican rival John McCain over terrorism, Barack Obama huddles today with a newly formed group of national security advisers.
The Senior Working Group on National Security, which his campaign says he will consult with regularly before the election, includes former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher; former Senator David Boren, who was chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig; former Representative Lee Hamilton, who was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, who is also helping Obama vet possible running mates; and former Senator Sam Nunn, former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and someone who could be on Obama's consider list for vice president.
“Each individual here today has provided extraordinary service to our nation in the executive branch and Congress. Several have been advising my campaign for some time. We’re also honored to be joined by some of Senator Clinton’s senior advisors. In the months to come, we’ll be reaching out to others, as well as leaders in Congress,” Obama said in a statement. “The stakes in this election could not be higher. John McCain wants to continue George Bush's foreign policy which has made us less safe, less respected, and less able to lead the world. It's time to change course. It's time to end the war in Iraq responsibly, refocus on Afghanistan and al Qaeda, and renew our global leadership so that we can tackle the huge challenges of the 21st century.”
Later today, Obama also plans to meet with nearly 40 retired admirals and generals. Obama and McCain have stark differences on foreign policy and on the Iraq war -- distinctions that both are trying to sharpen, McCain to highlight his experience, Obama to spotlight his message of change.
UPDATE: The Republican National Committee reminded that Obama hasn't been to Iraq for 892 days and counting, though he has pledged to tour the war-torn country before November.
“Taking pictures and shaking hands with a few hand-picked advisers is no substitute for a real briefing or a real understanding of how to keep Americans safe. Barack Obama’s consistent unwillingness to listen to experts like General Petraeus underscores the very real concerns Americans have with his judgment and experience,” RNC spokeswoman Blair Latoff said in a statement.
David Boren. president of the University of Oklahoma, is a master of deceit. He is a close friend of the Bush family and other top Republicans. He has been a patron and mentor of former CIA directors George Tenet and Bob Gates, now Bush's Secretary of Defense. Since he resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1994, he has endorsed various politicians with conflicting views. In the 90s he was a close associate of Ross Perot, and for a few years in that decade there was a Reform Party committee to draft Boren for President in 2000. Their website (boren2000.org) can now be found at the internet archive. The google search term is "wayback." For 2004, Boren endorsed Lieberman for President. He supported Lieberman again when he was running as an independent for the Connecticut Senate seat. Now Lieberman is attacking Obama. In early 2008, Boren held his "bipartisan forum" at OU because he was hoping that Michael Bloomberg would run as an independent and make him the running mate. Boren is a good friend of McCain and hosted him as OU's commencement speaker in 2005. Currently Boren's son, a right-wing Democrat and Oklahoma Congressman, is keeping Obama at arms length and has announced that he is not endorsing him. Obama is a fool for lettting Boren sit in on his "national security" meetings. Boren cannot be trusted. He is probably passing the information he gains directly to his good friend McCain.
Blair Latoff must be a miserable human being. Basically, her job is to send out crotchety, obnoxious press releases in response to anything that Obama or the DNC does. She's like that guy at the office that always looks mad cause no one gets it but him.
These party press releases are getting more and more ridiculous on both sides. I can't imagine any American voter takes them seriously.
General Petraeus is a Bush buddy, and has nothing to be considered towards security of our nation, his support of the Bush policy in Iraq shows he should and probably will be replaced once Obama is President. I would trust Clark who is probably at the meeting more than General Petraeus.
Charles
Vet
Bloomfield, Iowa
Charles, who is no doubt a veterenarian -- has it ass-backwards.
It was President Bush who adopted General Petraeus plan.
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