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Obama
Obama says Bush has fallen short
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama
said Monday that President George W. Bush has fallen short in his role
as leader of the free world, and the 2008 election is a chance to change
that.
"This president may occupy the White House, but for the last six years
the position of leader of the free world has remained open. And it is
time to fill that role once more," Obama said in a speech to the Chicago
Council on Global Affairs.
The Illinois senator was in his hometown to deliver a foreign policy
address that was rescheduled last week after the shootings at Virginia
Tech.
In his remarks, Obama said the world is disappointed with the United
States, but it would be a mistake to "cede our claim of leadership in
world affairs" because Americans might be tempted to turn inward in the
face of negative world opinion.
"America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world
cannot meet them without America. We must neither retreat from the world
nor try to bully it into submission — we must lead the world by deed and
by example," he said.
Monday's speech is the third time in recent months that Obama has come
home to deliver a foreign policy address.
In a March speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a
bipartisan pro-Israel lobby, Obama blamed Bush administration failings
in Iraq for strengthening the strategic position of Iran. He called for
a reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq, during a November address before the
Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
On Monday, Obama reiterated his call for a phased withdrawal of U.S.
forces from Iraq and said bringing a responsible end to the war was one
of the ways the country could begin to lead again if he is elected
president.
Another would be to increase the overall size of the military by adding
65,000 soldiers to the Army and 27,000 Marines, forces stretched thin
fighting wars abroad and protecting the homeland.
Obama also pledged to lead a global effort to secure nuclear weapons and
materiel at vulnerable sites around the globe within four years. He said
the United States must work with Russia — which he called "neither our
enemy nor our close ally right now" — to make sure its weapons and
nuclear materiel are secured.
Also, he said the world must stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons
and work to eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
"If America does not lead, these two nations could trigger regional arms
races that could accelerate nuclear proliferation on a global scale and
create dangerous nuclear flash points," he said.
Republican National Committee spokesman Chris Taylor dismissed Obama's
criticism.
"It obviously takes alot more than empty rhetoric to lead this country
and that is what Barack Obama continues to give us," Taylor said.
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