Keep Your Enemies Closer

Maybe it was because he didn't like the idea of being picked on by a girl, but Barack Obama wasn't going to take the initial jab from Hillary Clinton about his views on foreign policy sitting down. After she criticized him for being "naive" when it came to expressing an interest in negotiating with America's adversaries, Obama fired back, saying that Mrs. Clinton's arrogance is indicative of her hostility toward dealing with our enemies to get any progress made toward easing relations with countries such as Cuba and Venezuela.

Good for him. Our belligerent attitude toward governments we don't like the color of has gone on too long. Fidel Castro (and his beard) has long insisted that Cuba and the United States don't have to be foes and believes there is a chance for a working relationship like the one he has with every other Western country (including Canada). George W. Bush is probably closer to Obama than Hillary; after all, he's allowed his diplomats to talk to the Iranians. Geez, even Nixon went to China! And every president from FDR to the first George Bush negotiated with the Soviet leadership.

Hillary's stand against dealing with American adversaries is counterproductive and tiresome. Barack Obama promises a change of perspective. It normally takes time for Americans to embrace change, but, given the dangerous world we live in, dealing with Castro or Hugo Chavez directly might not be a bad thing.