Obama won't budge

IOWA | Repeats hawkish Pakistan comment, dovish diplomacy remark

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- Barack Obama stuck to his guns Thursday, reiterating his controversial statement that if Pakistan can't take action against "high-value" terrorists in its western provinces, then the United States should.

The Democratic presidential hopeful has been criticized for this strong-arm statement by those who stress that Pakistan is our ally and worry that any military move against that country would undermine the fragile position of its president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Obama's statement has been disclaimed by some of his Democratic rivals who point out the Illinois senator opposed the Iraq war. But some Republicans, and the conservative Wall Street Journal, have applauded the forceful recommendation.

Regardless, Obama says he is comfortable with his tough line, and he tried to clarify his position by saying that the United States must not allow Osama bin Laden a safe haven in western Pakistan, where he can prepare for another terrorist attack on our country.

"If we have the capacity to take out these terrorist cells and our ally Pakistan is not able to do so ... it makes sense" for America to step in, he said in a speech on foreign policy.

He said this should be done with conventional weapons, not nuclear arms.

Later, in a news conference at another campaign stop, Obama said he would work diplomatically with Pakistan "to make sure they take the al-Qaida threat seriously." He added that any military aid to Pakistan should be contingent on its ability to quash terrorism.

His tough talk, he insists, is necessary.

"We're not going to fix our failed foreign policy if we can't talk straight about [it] during the campaign," he explained.

Obama also reiterated a comment he made during the YouTube debate in New Hampshire last month that he would meet in person, without pre-condition, with rogue leaders from Syria, Iran and North Korea.

At the YouTube debate, Hillary Clinton challenged him, saying he was naive for suggesting this and that diplomatic channels need to be explored and conditions arranged before a president meets face-to-face with these enemies of the United States. She also said she feared dictators would use a presidential visit for propaganda purposes.

"I'm not afraid to lose a propaganda battle to a bunch of dictators," Obama said in response to the criticism, adding that, of course, he would "do the proper preparation" before meeting someone like Kim Jong Il of North Korea.

In the news conference in Atlanta, Iowa, Obama said the Bush administration's refusal to meet with rogue foreign leaders is, in part, what led us into Iraq and it was this arrogance that also led to the erosion of America's foreign relations.

As for suggestions about his lack of experience, Obama countered: "No one had more experience in Washington than Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld."