Lugar gives Obama an 'A' on foreign policy

[babylonsister]

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/06/15/lugar-gives-obama-an-a-on-foreign-policy/

June 15, 2009
Lugar gives Obama an 'A' on foreign policy
@ 4:37 pm by Eric Zimmermann


President Obama has earned an 'A' in foreign policy so far, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) said today.

Obama has maintained many of President Bush's policies, Lugar said, but has approached them in a more conciliatory, humble manner.

"The idea of being more inclusive and reaching out, alliances, working with the international comities, his own vigor in going all over the world giving these speeches in the first few weeks or months of the administration are really remarkable," Lugar told a group of reporters Monday morning.

Lugar, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is one of Congress's most influential voices on foreign affairs. When Obama was a Senator, the two teamed up on a number of issues, including nuclear non-proliferation.

While suggesting Obama's conduct was an improvement from Bush's, Lugar gave the former President credit for acting in a chaotic and dangerous environment.

Bush felt that the country was in "such an embattled position that we had to act unilaterally whether the international organizations responded or not in terms of our own defense and security. Time has passed since that point, and it's appropriate that the new administration adopt, as President Obama has, a very new position."

[ErinBerin84]

1. at first

I read that as "Lugar also said that the former president was chaotic and dangerous " (instead of, gets credit for acting in a dangerous and chaotic environment), that sounds more right.

[DrToast]

2. Nah...that would have been President McCain.*

*

[prolesunited]

3. He may be a Republican

but he's one of the few remaining statesmen.

[Clio the Leo]

4. Remember when some doubted his "weak" foreign policy cred...

.... but WE always knew better.

If you can deal with folks in the US, you can deal with folks anywhere. If there's ANYTHING Barack Obama has mastered, it's "how to win friends and influence people." :)

[depakid]

5. I have the complete opposite take of that- though with the same conclusions as to foreign policy

Obama is proving more than adept in dealing with foreign policy- which would have been expected, but thus far less than adept dealing with the dynamics within the states. The big test, though is yet to come.

[Clio the Leo]

6. ehhhh......

... so many ponies, so little time.

Or, perhaps, we were wishing for ponies that were never promised.

[depakid]

7. So much evidence- so little motivation to objectively parse it

Much easier to believe in heroes, than men and women with talents and flaws.

[EndElectoral]

8. Is it just me, or when anyone from the GOP gives us Obama "A" worries the shit out of me.

[harry_pothead]

10. Lugar supported Obama in the 2008 election.

While I disagree with him on many issues, he's definitely one of the better Republicans.

[DrToast]

11. He didn't, but he's still good friends with Obama

And their foreign policy views are very much aligned.

[eridani]

9. The Nunn-Lugar act to help Russia and other ex-Soviet countries--

--safely get rid of WMD was inspired. Bush cut funding for it. Hoping that Obama has boosted it in some line item somewhere.

[babylonsister]

12. Thanks for that. I know I've had some issues with Lugar

when he's supported policies from the former admin, but this is good, and I'm so not surprised funding was cut.