Moving Beyond Gut-Check Diplomacy

Unlike President Bush, who trusted his instincts, President Obama so far has relied on analysis. Will that be enough?

By Eleanor Clift | Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 8, 2009 | Updated: 3:25  p.m. ET May 8, 2009

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  • Posted By: TheFourthHorseman @ 05/13/2009 11:42:29 PM

    Attention, Paulejb and Gregcovert:

    This is not Twitter or Myspace; with that said I will ask you both to make an effort to keep your butt slapping and personal attacks to a minimum, some of us would like to comment on the actual topic.

    Thank you,

    The Fourth Horseman

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/14/2009 2:33:45 PM

      Thank you very much, TheFourthHorseman.

      • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 05/14/2009 4:15:38 PM

        Hi there...

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/14/2009 4:18:51 PM

          Hi whatisreal. Thank you.

          • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 05/14/2009 4:22:45 PM

            You are very welcome:)

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 05/14/2009 12:44:55 AM

      Welcome back Horseman. Spot on, as always.

  • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 05/14/2009 4:09:51 PM

    I was away for a day and it has come tio this childish low life crp. NExt time I will hire a babysitter..

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/14/2009 3:25:18 PM

    iza my friend, this article is finished, time to move on....check out Jonathan Alter's new article on insurance reform. Above Eleanor Clifts.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/14/2009 2:55:52 PM

    Paulejb-as per your accusation that izageek hacked anything on NW, here you are, a link to the Forums site that I came upon last week while searching for old articles. I am the one who found it and forwarded the link to izageek. Izageek didn't hack a thing.This NW site which has a non functional email system is available to all registered members, unfortunately not all members know of this site. 

     

    http://blog.newsweek.com/forums/default.aspx

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/14/2009 2:30:54 PM

    Interesting that the ones here on this article who cried abuse continue to try to bait and instigate more arguments with their so called 'perpetrators' who are not here. Hypocritical to say the least.

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/13/2009 10:51:57 PM

    Interesting article. He should use his brain, but the gut may work. Here's an off topic article that shows you how he operates.

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/495xuxad.asp

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 8:24:01 AM

    Gates said he was removing Gen. David McKiernan after only 11 months in command after deciding that "fresh thinking" and "fresh eyes"were needed to implement the expanded counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama.

    What up with that 40R? Barry lining up the "yes men?" LMAO

    Windbag


    40YearR @ 05/12/2009 12:26:38 AMOk gregcover, You have absolutely no way to refute anything I've ever said about how the know-nothing ideologue neocon Dubya Puppeteers F'ing up both Afghanistan and Iraq. Nothing. Because it's true.

    So you, and your weakling also-never-says-anything cohort, have to change the subject.

    It's all ya got, gregcovert. And it's nothing at all.

    Windbag

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/13/2009 7:06:53 PM

    Posted By: izageek @ 05/12/2009 11:47:54 PM
    covert:"I wouldn't mind kicking them in the nucks"

    Look at the two little girls giggling off in the corner. You two really think you have some sort of impact on me, naw. Sooner or later I'll get us all bumped from newsweek. I had Paul spinning like a top earlier over the pi$$ing on his momma's grave comment. He went crying to Pia. Ha, so easy to get a reaction. You can hardly be ignoring me if you react to my posts.

    So covert where's your momma buried?


    True Colors

  • Posted By: sms29s66 @ 05/13/2009 2:29:24 PM

    ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE????????

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/13/2009 2:55:01 PM

      No, "we people" are not insane. Only the Obama haters and the Obama supporter haters. You're reading them here.

      • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/13/2009 3:19:39 PM

        And the people who support racism and bigotry, i.e. Geek and 40Repulsive

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/13/2009 3:40:52 PM

          Dead wrong.

          • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/13/2009 3:52:42 PM

            Poor, Pia.

            Forgive her Pope, for she is misguided and unenlightened to the truth.

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/13/2009 3:55:53 PM

              Dead wrong. To conclude our brief blogging time together, I wish you a nice blogging life.

  • Posted By: Fernadez @ 05/13/2009 3:07:05 PM

    The Only Way to stop any WAR happening around the world,are for the Arabs to start ignoring the (Internatonal Treaties)The Laws of Convience by the Big Bullies ,By buildng up his Arsenal as Nuclear Power Nation.It's then,Fair and Square playing field,everyone have it..Its Ok for Arabs to ignore the International Treaties,Americans have shown the Ways how to manipulates the Laws of Convient,by refusing justice,Conspiracy,hiding with War's Criminal. The Arabs Countries are mostly wealthy nations but always being seen and treated as pariahs,aslo known for ther stupidity,they're happy to sign the Internatonal Treaties, (Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).The (Carrots) being fools enable them to purchase Expensive American's toy F-15 planes(waste of Money) but they forgotten who's having the Master's Remote Control on that plane.The Arab Countries always as the venue for Practising Targets of One's new weapons Testing as always seen the propaganda Hollywood movies between Vallian, the hero nation.. Arabs should starts Learning that being the Nuclear Power Countries really HUGE pay off.Lately 5 Chinese fisherman able to block and Cause Havoc to American's Warship at International Water.IF this were Arab Fisherman,they're probably dead demostrators by now or ends up at Nazi's Camp being label as Terrorist.Why? the Answer is simple because China is Nuclear Power Nation.N-Korea is another Example,Poor Nation but respected as Individual Citizen,Its been since 50 years nobody dares fuc*kng around.

    • Posted By: Fernadez @ 05/13/2009 3:32:09 PM

      The advantages,Arabs should learns from the Chinese.

      China have shot down one of its own satellites, sparking international criticism and concern over the strength and sophistication of the nation's mighty military.

      The Feng Yun 1C polar orbit weather satellite was hit by a medium-range, ground based ballistic missile approximately 537 miles above the Earth's surface. The missile used a "kinetic impact" to destroy the satellite, said Johndroe. Both the satellite and the missile were launched from the Xichang Space Center in Sichuan Province; the satellite in 1999, and the missile on January 11 this year.

      Officials in the U.S. are now concerned that debris from the test could cause problems for civilian and/or military satellites. It is estimated that at least 40,000 pieces of debris are now floating around in space as the result of the test, and the pieces range anywhere from 1???10 cm. The pieces of the satellite and missile could stay in Earth's orbit for several decades.

      When the test happened, the U.S. stated that communication with one of its spy satellites was lost, but thus far no evidence has turned up to suggest the loss of communication was directly related to China's test.

  • Posted By: Steve the Computer Guy @ 05/13/2009 3:22:44 PM

    Trusting your gut is always right, until your gut is wrong, as GWB proved in Iraq. Being rational is always right, until the irrational intrudes -- as it always does, sooner or later. But in the final analysis, honesty and respect are hard to beat. That's what Obama seems to have going for him.

  • Posted By: lalarukh00 @ 05/12/2009 9:40:50 PM

    Pakistan is an independent country its nucks are perfectly safe

  • Posted By: lalarukh00 @ 05/12/2009 9:39:36 PM

    Pakistan is an independent strong enough and civilized country ,no one can challenge the writ of government .these talibans are American launched .they will be defeated soon

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 9:06:46 PM

    Gates said he was removing Gen. David McKiernan after only 11 months in command after deciding that "fresh thinking" and "fresh eyes"were needed to implement the expanded counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama.

    What up with that? Barry lining up the "yes men?" LMAO

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 6:08:46 PM

    Gates said he was removing Gen. David McKiernan after only 11 months in command after deciding that "fresh thinking" and "fresh eyes"were needed to implement the expanded counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama.

    What up with that? Barry lining up the "yes men?" LMAO

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 10:17:05 AM

    40F- The senior military and diplomats were either fired or ignored!

    Windbag

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 10:08:52 AM

    Gates said he was removing Gen. David McKiernan after only 11 months in command after deciding that "fresh thinking" and "fresh eyes"were needed to implement the expanded counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama.

    What up with that 40R? Barry lining up the "yes men?" LMAO

    Windbag


    40YearR @ 05/12/2009 12:26:38 AMOk gregcover, You have absolutely no way to refute anything I've ever said about how the know-nothing ideologue neocon Dubya Puppeteers F'ing up both Afghanistan and Iraq. Nothing. Because it's true.

    So you, and your weakling also-never-says-anything cohort, have to change the subject.

    It's all ya got, gregcovert. And it's nothing at all.

    Windbag

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 7:52:09 AM

    Gates said he was removing Gen. David McKiernan after only 11 months in command after deciding that "fresh thinking" and "fresh eyes"were needed to implement the expanded counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama.

    What up with that 40R? Barry lining up the "yes men?" LMAO

    Windbag

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 7:47:29 AM

    Posted By: 40YearR @ 05/12/2009 12:26:38 AMOk gregcover, You have absolutely no way to refute anything I've ever said about how the know-nothing ideologue neocon Dubya Puppeteers F'ing up both Afghanistan and Iraq. Nothing. Because it's true.

    So you, and your weakling also-never-says-anything cohort, have to change the subject.

    It's all ya got, gregcovert. And it's nothing at all.

  • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 12:20:20 AM

    40YearR- It also annoys you that I know that Dubya's megalomaniacal, ideologue puppeteers fired or disregarded the experienced military both on Afghanistan and Iraq, and did it 'their' way instead.

    Gates said he was removing Gen. David McKiernan after only 11 months in command after deciding that ???fresh thinking??? and ???fresh eyes??? were needed to implement the expanded counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama.

    What up with that 40R? Obama lining up the "yes men?" LMAO

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 05/12/2009 12:26:38 AM

      Ok gregcover, You have absolutely no way to refute anything I've ever said about how the know-nothing ideologue neocon Dubya Puppeteers F'ing up both Afghanistan and Iraq. Nothing. Because it's true.

      So you, and your weakling also-never-says-anything cohort, have to change the subject.

      It's all ya got, gregcovert. And it's nothing at all.

      • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 12:43:03 AM

        You can do better than that 40R.

        All Presidents don't like to get their "guy" in there? Only Bush? 40R, that's why people have trouble, me included, with your objectivity. Do you want to know how it probably (I could be wrong- new concept here- grasp it if you can) went down?

        Probably a high-level briefing was given to a lot of powerful people and the people didn't want to hear what a particular 4 Star had to say about possible things that will be happening and the best way to deal with those situations. Maybe it wasn't Obama, but he knew about it and definitely sanctioned it. 4 Stars serve at the "leisure" of the President. I could be wrong, but having been in a few 3 Star level meetings I might be right? At a minimum, Obama blessed it. Gates would get crushed if he did that without the President,

        40YearR, you should know that they all do it. Johnson in Vietnam, Reagan, Bush 1. Come on. Your guy did it, maybe for good reason, and you still can't acknowledge it?

        Poor 40.

        • Posted By: gregcovert @ 05/12/2009 1:23:08 AM

          Crickets, as usual. 40Windbag

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