Should Obama Continue Covert Operations In Iran? - David Sanger

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/01/27/Obamas_Foreign_Policy_Inbox_A_Discussion

David Sanger, New York Times White House correspondent, examines several covert operations initiated against Iran by the Bush administration, and discusses the likelihood that President Obama will continue them.

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President Obama steps into office immediately confronted by multiple pressing foreign policy puzzles. Iran's march to nuclear power, ongoing volatility in Gaza, Russia's increasingly fraught relations with Europe and the struggle to stabilize Afghanistan almost make it possible to forget that Iraq remains America's largest overseas commitment.

How will each of these challenges be met and what should take priority?

David Sanger and Barbara Slavin discuss. -- Council on Foreign Relations

David E. Sanger is the White House Correspondent for the New York Times. A graduate of Harvard College in 1982, Sanger has been writing for the New York Times for over 24 years covering New York, Tokyo and, most recently, Washington. He has reported on such issues as foreign policy, globalization, nuclear proliferation, Asian affairs, and the revitalization of Boston's Parker House hotel. He currently covers the Bush presidency. Before coming to the White House, Sanger was a correspondent and then bureau chief of the New York Times bureau in Tokyo. There he developed a specialization in writing on the influence of economics on foreign policy and the relationships between the United States and its major allies, a beat which he continues to pursue in Washington. He left Asia in 1994 to become the chief Washington economic correspondent, later being named senior writer. In 1999 Sanger joined the ranks of Elisabeth Bumiller as White House correspondent. Sanger has received numerous journalistic awards, including being named twice among New York Times reporting teams honored with the Pulitzer Prize. First, in 1987, his reporting team won the Pulitzer for national reporting on its investigation of the space agency following the Challenger disaster. Later, he was among another Pulitzer-winning team to write about the Clinton Administration's struggle to control exports to China.

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[FXThug]

@MonsterIsrael Really?

[MonsterIsrael]

USA Govt. control by Israel. Do you know about AIPAC? They control American election , your daily life, your economy , everything. If they tell USA Govt. to tell lie even though they know it is lie, no problem American Govt. tell it immediately there is WMD in iraq, including Obama, John Machine,Clinton Bush all are member of AIPAC and all will tell the same voice without any difference.

[theforeigner85]

Oh, I used to be viciously anti-Israel.

You do realize that Hamas also does most of those things you mentioned to its own people, and they're religious fanatics who celebrate civilian murder on top of that.. and by celebrate, I don't mean solemn vigils, I mean firing-shots-in-the-sky, handing-out-flowers- and-candy celebrating.

I don't agree with everything Israel does, but from all i've seen, read and heard, the lesser of two evils in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can't be more obvious.

[MrMan428]

Religion aside, if an official governing body segregated you from your loved ones, prevented travel, limited your freedom, destroyed your house to build illegal cities, and killed your friends or family in airstrikes, you would be angry also. It's a natural human response. You may take a holier-than-thou approach now, but it seems that you don't really know the situation. Where do you get your information?

I will PM you a couple of links.

[theforeigner85]

"In the case of Hamas, first ask yourself what would cause the majority to elect such a hardline party in the first place. Israel has a policy of apartheid in Palestine. Would you react so differently in a similar situation?"

Yes, I would. I'd like to think i'm above barbarism and religious supremacism.

Apartheid? Arab-Israelis are officials, mayors, even lawmakers in Israeli Parliament, they go to the same universities as Jews, they have more rights in Israel than in most Arab countries.

[MrMan428]

In the case of Venezuela I was critical of Chavez's referendum to remove term limits. I think it opens the door to one party rule dictatorship. When it comes down to it though, it's their prerogative. It was put to a national vote and passed by popular mandate.

In the case of Hamas, first ask yourself what would cause the majority to elect such a hardline party in the first place. Israel has a policy of apartheid in Palestine. Would you react so differently in a similar situation?

[anthony68drake]

In fact, Rwanda and Darfur are perfect examples of success in us NOT policing the world. Here, we have NOT got involved and what do you know...after only a few hundred thousand people dead, raped or tortured, there is peace again. And since we DIDN'T get involved, nobody hates us. It's a win win situation. Don't get involved! Stop being policemen!

[anthony68drake]

We need to stop being involved in foreign matters, like we did in South Africa against Apartheid, like we did in Yugoslavia against the Serbians, like we do in the Middle East, trying to "restrain" Israel. Just let everyone do what they want with their own countries and stay out!

[mathomaatuark]

There really is not much of a better way to say this. America has criticism coming in the face of its past deeds yet people who are not responsible for these actions run to Americas defense as if they are insulted or angry. It's like the father who beats your mom. Some people are confused about how they should feel about that guy.

[theforeigner85]

Well, if you look at far-left democracies, like in Venezuela, you'll notice once they assume power they quickly try to erode democratic institutions.

Hamas was democratically elected, but I doubt many people would label them democrats.

In South America, it appeared there could emerge a communist "southern bloc". Which i'm sure you'd agree would be a threat to the U.S. militarily and economically.