Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has sought to bury the differences between the United States and "Old Europe" with a rousing speech at the base of the Berlin's Victory Column before an estimated 200,000 people.Whether or not the speech was made with one eye on the electorate at home seemed irrelevant as the junior Senator from Illinois charmed the massive crowd and sought their co-operation in ending conflict in trouble spots throughout the world.
With soaring rhetoric reminiscent of another U.S. President's famous speech in Berlin, Obama did not disappoint his many German fans.
"People of Berlin - people of the world - this is our moment, this is our time," he said.[source]
Obama rammed home his oft-repeated message that the central battle
against terrorism was in Afghanistan, not Iraq and called on the German
people to assist the United States in routing not just terrorism, but
the seemingly unstoppable flow of drugs from the region.
This is the moment when we must renew our resolve to rout the terrorists whoReminding Berliners of how they had stood against oppression in the days
threaten our security in Afghanistan, and the traffickers who sell
drugs on your streets. No one welcomes war. I recognize the enormous
difficulties in Afghanistan. But my country and yours have a stake in
seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success.
For the people of Afghanistan, and for our shared security, the work must
be done. America cannot do this alone. The Afghan people need our
troops and your troops; our support and your support to defeat the
Taliban and al Qaeda, to develop their economy, and to help them
rebuild their nation. We have too much at stake to turn back now. [source]
following the Second World War, the candidate also called for a
peaceful world without the threat of nuclear weapons.
This is the moment when we must renew the goal of a world without nuclearThe speech, which sounded like a cross between an acceptance of office and
weapons. The two superpowers that faced each other across the wall of
this city came too close too often to destroying all we have built and
all that we love. With that wall gone, we need not stand idly by and
watch the further spread of the deadly atom. It is time to secure all
loose nuclear materials; to stop the spread of nuclear weapons; and to
reduce the arsenals from another era. This is the moment to begin the
work of seeking the peace of a world without nuclear weapons. [source]
a presidential call-to-arms was without doubt a rhetorical triumph and
was lapped up by the German press,
yet some reports have noted that the speech could be seen in the United
States as prematurely triumphal, even counter-productive.
The International Herald Tribune quoted his opponent Sen. John McCain, who
seemed somewhat miffed at the attention Obama is receiving, as saying:
"I'd love to give a speech in Germany -- a political speech or a speech thatMcCain has had some difficulty winning decent press coverage in the wake of
maybe the German people would be interested in," he told a crowd in
Ohio, "but I'd much prefer to do it as president of the United States
rather than as a candidate." [source]
the interest in the Obama overseas trip to Afghanistan, Iraq and now
Europe. The contrast between McCain's own trip to the Middle East, and
the contrasting, even fawning, press reaction have been noted by CNN columnist Glenn Beck.
The race for the presidency is still seen as being very tight with latest opinion polls showing Obama leading McCain by a mere three percentage points - within the major of error - and the Democratic receiving little, if any, poll bounce from his overseas trip.
See here for full poll coverage.
Image:
U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of Multi-National Force
- Iraq, gives an aerial tour of Baghdad, Iraq, to Sens. Barack Obama,
left, and Chuck Hagel, Jul 21, 2008. Credit: U.S. Air Force.
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For some reason, everyone neglects to mention that Obama spoke at a Free Concert.
Maybe all those thousands of young Germans turned up for the two bands that were playing instead of coming to hear a speach in english.
Nah, Obama's charisma is so powerful it transcends language.
More Kool Aid anyone?
lol. Nice comment TV. Bet he wishes he could translate that adulation back home.
The same band that was playing in Portland?
Say your Lucky Prayers. The man upstairs has a plan for you. Thank the pilot for handeling the situation. My prayers go out to all involved. John Boy.
Antichrist-like
Don't forget Obama has been a member of the party in control of the legislative branch of our government for some time now and look at all the things he has changed already. Let's see there was ... uh...um...
I find it hard to believe that most in America can't see the desire for change not only in our country but all around the world. Obama has the intelligence and the necessary charisma to start to bring about this change after the Bush Administration has sullied the image of America worldwide. I have a son that lives in Europe and he tells me wherever he travels they can't
wait for a change.
We can't afford another Bush type presidency that John McCain seems to offer. He has flip flopped more than a playing dolphin. Although Obama has clarified some of his positions he has remained pretty consistent in the views he has presented. McCain can only say the surge is working and he supported it. He also said that we would win the war handily and have everything under control after a few weeks.
Obviously no one can win the office of the presidency and make all the changes necessary immediately but if you have the ability to motivate and create some enthusiasm you can accomplish a lot. Obama has this ability!!
Obama has %80 approval rating in Germany.
IF obama can convince the EU to give more troops to afghanastain then the trip was a great success.
I'm so happy for Obama...he has an 80 percent approval rating in Germany...unfortunately for him, he's not running in Germany. This little pre victory victory tour makes me like him even less. I don't care if the rest of the world loves him...that's not what a President is about. The President isn't a freaking citizen of the world, he's the leader of the United States. Please, somebody out there, tell me anything Obama accomplished as a "community activist", state senator, or U.S. senator. I've asked this question everytime I've left a comment on any news source...I still have never read a cogent response...even his supporters have come up empty in that regard.
Yes Obama will bring change. And I like that. But he will also bring more of the radical left's freedom to choose the neglect of ones CONSCIENCE when voting on matters concerning highly controversial issues such as abortion. I like his progressivism on many issues but not his and the radical left's neglect of CONSCIENCE in the public square on matters like abortion where that neglect has quite literally cost millions of innocent lives. And I think we need to be much more aggressive in protecting our environment. Environmental racism is also something that Barak needs to address more aggresively. That the poor must live in such terrible conditions and receive a vastly different quality of public education than the rich, is not just. That many are then permitted to be executed is also terribly unjust. Christians like Obama need to be much more aggtesive in speaking out against not only abortion but also the death penalty. And we as Christians need to think a heck of a lot harder about how to privately AND PUBLICLY (yes that include "public education" which is not very public) address the plight of the poor.
The people that came to Berlin came for Obama,almost everybody speaks and understands english in Europe .I guess we even understand some of it better than most republicans ,as they never even care to criticize the content of his speeches,almost certainly because they are too biased to even listen .It is demonstrated even here in the comment,none of which ever related to what Obama says .
Whatever you think of Euurope ,Obama's visit confirms that there is no such thing as anti-americanism in Europe .We are perfectly capable of making the distinction between the american people and its disastrous government .Not a decent soul here thinks that Bush is the typical representation of the american values .That is why we sympathise with the democrat candidates ;we simply hope you'll have a better government in the future.One that is capable of distinguishing the most urgent problems that loom over your and our future .And that is definitely not terrorism.The paranoia that is spread around in the USA is masking the much more menacing problems that need action.The economy,the real estate problems,the financial markets are problems that have a much more profound influence on your daily life right now .Global warming is a more universal problem that needs a rapid and intelligent response .Something that failed even to be noticed by the republicans until it was too late .What you need is an intelligent president,capable of understanding major problems and translatinng that into action .I failed to notice any of that in the electoral program of McCain.
Nice post Guadalcanal diary.....and good question.
Obama has sent a message to the country and the world that it's good to take your family to a racist church week after week for almost 20 years then when the heat is on, dump the preacher and your beliefs. Also that lying is OK; so much so that if one lies constantly (verbally and in print) one just might get nominated and elected president of the United States.
What is the change?Higher taxes?,no energy plan.More spending?Is this the new Democrat that the press is in love with?Which part is new,which part is change from the old Democrats?Behind the propoganda where is the change?
change for hispanics yeeeess!!!!
His speach was about the past and full of worn out cliches . Obama will not bring any changes , he already genuflucted at the altar of the Zionists in Israhell . The foreign policies of the US will not change , it will still be focused on the expansion of the EVIL Empire with the hundred of military bases around the world . Nato will continue to expand it's operatione outside Europe ...
The truth is that both Obama and McCain belong to the same team in the NEW World Order . Those people are just puppets in the grand scheme for world domination . The terrific news is that the US economy is going down the spout and we will see what happens to the US bases in Europe when the dollar is worth a fracion of what is today . The EU does not the US and it is time the EU find it's own way . Forge about Obama and US's crappy foreign policies , any country that stuff up and ignores the dictates from the deranged mob in Washington deserves a gold medal including Mr Ahmedinajad .