Barack Obama's Speech BEFORE the Iraq War

[zenje]

I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest in history, and yet it was only through the crucible of the sword, the sacrifice of multitudes, that we could begin to perfect this union and drive the scourge of slavery from our soil.

I don't oppose all wars. My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton's army. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil.

I don't oppose all wars. After September 11, after witnessing the carnage and destruction, the dust and the tears, I supported this administration's pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance, and I would willingly take up arms myself to prevent such tragedy from happening again.

I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne. What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income, to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression.

That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.

Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power.... The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him. But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors...and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.

I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda.

I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to make sure that...we vigorously enforce a nonproliferation treaty, and that former enemies and current allies like Russia safeguard and ultimately eliminate their stores of nuclear material, and that nations like Pakistan and India never use the terrible weapons already in their possession, and that the arms merchants in our own country stop feeding the countless wars that rage across the globe.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to make sure our so-called allies in the Middle East, the Saudis and the Egyptians, stop oppressing their own people, and suppressing dissent, and tolerating corruption and inequality, and mismanaging their economies so that their youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope, the ready recruits of terrorist cells.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil through an energy policy that doesn't simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil.

Those are the battles that we need to fight. Those are the battles that we willingly join. The battles against ignorance and intolerance. Corruption and greed. Poverty and despair.

Obama for President!! 

[BOOST]

Peace

What a powerful speech... What a Submitter !

I like him more than Hillary Clinton now and I'm a die-hard fan of hers.

[zenje]

There is hope!...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UQszHVx_iw

 

[BOOST]

awww man you got my hopes up 

[Danish]

There is hope!...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UQszHVx_iw

I've been going through most of Barack Obama's powerful speeches on youtube, on senate, state and special interview levels. I must confess that he's not only Intelligent, Smart and Young but possesses strong words of wisdom and charisma. Ofcourse action speaks louder than words, and I believe he has an outwitted potential to prove himself and become the current "Martin Luther King" and the future president of USA. The only barrier that might hinder is his "color" and some influential crooked politicians, but hopefully that shall phase out since he already seem to have a lot of support throughout the nation. I wish him all the best and so much better for the nation.

[AspeRin]

peace
does anyone still buys the republican-democrat game?

also as president,the new world order has chosen hilary clinton to be their new presidential actress.there is no true voting in the usa either.

peace

[Lobster]

peace
The democrats are republicans in disguise. But not all of them. I think Obama is one of the more reasonable politicians. Unfortunately, he is not going to win.

And this political scientists called Dahl has come out with a book. In it, he says that the US is not really a true democracy because of 1. our senate system (don't represent population; california with 30 mil people has the same number of senators as alaska with 1/2 mil), 2. the electoral college (which means the votes of half the people don't count), 3. the supreme court, five people can overrule the majority (most people want to outlaw flag burning, but because five people say it's OK, it's legal. that's not democracy!).

and Asperin, how much are you betting on Hillary winning?

[AspeRin]

peace phoenix

betting? me? a believer? i cant sorry...but its not my opinion that she will "win" she will be put in a Mickey mouse election and will be brought into the presidency.knowing how history is in the politics of the USA will let you know whats next.again it is not a prediction,it is truth,and the day u see it happen you'll remember what i told you.
also when i say Dem-rep game,i mean,there's no competition in between them,its a a trick,divide and rule technique,they have you and your friends against the other kids,fighting nonsense and debating never ending themes.when the real boss in politics sits down in the throne laughing at how stupid people is to think they are part of a political party that makes them feel proud and its better than the other one.
in human nature there is a need for rivalry.because thats how we are.do u want to go on the good vs evil, or demoblicans vs republicrats?(no need to answer)
also brother,did u check the videos Ive posted in this news section? u asked for the new world order info and i supplied it to you.
peace be with you

[Lobster]

peace Asperin

I was just asking you how sure you were about Hillary "winning" the election.
I agree with you about the dems and republicans.

EDIT: and (forgot to tell you) I also saw your vids. I liked the one about the dollar bill. Thanks.

[Tay]

Peace Zein,

If you don't mind revealing your source, could you post the link?

Thanks,
Tay