Obama In Berlin: New Walls Must Fall

Democrat Urges Transatlantic Unity, Cites NATO's Defeat Of Communism In Call To Combat Terror

(CBS/AP)  Cheered by an enormous international crowd, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Thursday summoned Europeans and Americans together to "defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it" as surely as they conquered communism a generation ago.

Obama said he was speaking as a citizen, not as a president, but the evening was awash in politics as the first-term U.S. senator sought to burnish his international credentials for the fall campaign at home. His remarks before a crowd estimated at more than 200,000 inevitably invited comparison to historic speeches in the same city by Presidents Kennedy and Reagan.

Despite talk in the German media that Obama's speech would draw a crowd of up to one million, it was more 200,000 - a massive crowd, regardless - that came to hear the presumptive Democratic nominee, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic. A local band warmed the crowd up for over an hour before the much anticipated speech.
(Click here to read Gavrilovic's post on Obama's speech in the "From The Road" blog).

Now a presidential candidate himself, Obama borrowed rhetoric from his own appeals to campaign audiences this year in the likes of Berlin, N.H., as he spoke in one of the great cities of Europe.

"People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment. This is our time," he declared.

"The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand," Obama said, speaking not far from where the Berlin Wall once divided the city.

"The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand," he said.

Obama's speech was the centerpiece of a fast-paced tour through Europe designed to reassure skeptical voters in the U.S. about his ability to lead the country and take a frayed cross-Atlantic alliance in a new direction after eight years of the Bush administration.

Although Obama isn't running for president in Europe, surveys on the continent show he would out-poll John McCain by as much as four to one, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

Republicans chafed at the media attention Obama's campaign-season trip has drawn. Presidential rival John McCain went to a German restaurant in swing-state Ohio, and said he'd like to deliver a speech in Germany, but as president not candidate.

In Die Welt, the German publication, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., wrote scathingly of the Democratic candidate and his views on Iraq and the rest of the world: "No one knows which Obama will show. Will it be the ideological, left-wing Democratic primary candidate who vowed to 'end' the war rather than win it, or the Democratic nominee who dismisses the progressing coalition victory as a 'distraction'? Will it be the American populist who has told supporters in the United States that he will demand more from our allies in Europe and get it, or the liberal internationalist hell-bent on being liked in Europe's salons?"

Obama met earlier in the day with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a discussion that ranged across the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change, energy issues and more.

Knots of bystanders waited along Obama's motorcade route for him to pass. One man yelled out in English, "Yes, we can," the senator's campaign refrain, when he emerged from his car to enter his hotel.

For his speech, Obama drew loud applause as he strode confidently across a large podium erected at the base of the Victory Column in Tiergarten Park in the heart of Berlin.

The crowd spilled away from the Column for blocks. Police spokesman Bernhard Schodrowski said there were more than 200,000 people, nearly three times the 75,000 Obama drew in Oregon this spring in his largest previous audience.

He drew loud applause when he talked of a world without nuclear weapons and again when he called for steps to counter climate change.

Obama mentioned Iraq, a war he has opposed from the start, only in passing. But in discussing Afghanistan, he said, "no one welcomes war. ... But my country and yours have a stake in seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success."

He referred repeatedly to the Berlin airlift, launched by the Allies 60 years ago when the Russians sought to isolate the Western part of the city. If they had succeeded, he said, communism would have marched across Europe.

"Where the last war had ended, another World War could have easily begun," the presidential candidate said.

Now, he said, the enemy is different but the need for an alliance is the same as the world stares down terrorism and the extremism that supports it. "This threat is real and we cannot shrink from our responsibility to combat it," he said.

He said Europeans sometimes view America as "part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right. ..." And in America, "there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe's role in our security and our future."

He said both views miss the truth, "that Europeans today are bearing new burdens and taking more responsibility in critical parts of the world; and that just as American bases built in the last century still help to defend the security of this continent, so does our country still sacrifice greatly for freedom around the globe."

In any event, he said, there will always be differences.

"But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more, not less."

[dodito2]

All the Republicans have been doing in the last 30 years is name calling, shout-loud-mouth radio, insulting, offending, deriding and intimidating.

Now the time has come.. not to do the same to them, but to simply relegate them to the darkest corners of the country, deep inside Alabama, Virgina, Oklahoma, Georgia and other God forsaken area, noone else wants to live.

Let them rot there, and bemoan the loss of jobs their so loved-free-capitalist-money-grab has created. Let them bemoan the lack of good healthcare in their small towns and let them be resentful that the world has moved on... and left them behind

Good bye religious and neocon right wingers. We won''t miss you.

[tbweb]

It`s true that McCain suggested and taunted Obama to take a trip to Iraq and overseas and now that the trip has been a success McCain is blasting Obama for taking it! LOL, Obama is dammed if he does, dammed if he doesn`t.

July 26, 2008 8:15 AM

LONDON -- "I am not sure that there is going to be some immediate political impact," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, told reporters today about his eight-day, eight-country world tour.

"I wouldn`t even be surprised if that in some polls that you saw a little bit of a dip as a consequence we have been out of the country for a week," he said. "People are worried about gas prices and home foreclosures."

Obama was also asked about Sen. John McCain''s reference to Obama`s trip as a "premature victory lap."

"It is hard for me to understand Senator McCain`s argument," Obama said. "He was telling me I was suppose to take this trip. He suggested it and thought it was a good idea -- although I have to admit we had it planned before he made the suggestion."

Obama said that "John McCain has visited every one of these countries post-primary that I have. He has given speeches in Canada, in Colombia, Mexico, he made visits. And so it doesn`t strike me that we have done anything different than the McCain campaign has done which is to recognize that part of the job of the next president, commander in chief is to forge effective relationships with our allies."

[intelligenc2]

Which presidential candidate is most favored by the people who have sworn an oath to destroy the US and our allies?

Posted by liberty_1776

Which candidate doesn''t know Iraq does not border Pakistan.

Which candidate has DECADES of foreign policy experience that he thinks shiite (Iranian) and Sunni (Al Qaeda)terrorists are the same ?

Which candidate sings "bomb Iran" songs ?

Which candidate thinks Maliki doesn''t know what he talks about... when he talks about Iraq...

Should I go on ? But yes.. let''s vote for EXPERIENCE... absolutely. Any time.

[intelligenc2]

Here''s another great one: complaining about 200.000 people going for a speech.. or for the bands. Or...

Talk about the "Pakistan - Iraqi border" and its dangers... also called... IRAN.. MORON.

For someone who has NO foreign policy experience he made very few mistakes, in fact NONE. For someone who claims to have DECADES of foreign policy experience... McCain makes a hell of a lot of stupid comments.. to downright insulting and ignorant

[dodito2]

McCain agrees with Obama''s timetable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mvk_NV8-L4

Hey.. Even Bush agrees. By the way... They all seem to agree on what needs to be done in Afghanistan too. So much for a senator who has NO experience, Was ALL WRONG about the war in iraq etc etc... blablabla

[dodito2]

And while we are at it: I live in both countries. I use the healthcare system of the Netherlands. The average quality it at least as good, if not better than in the USA. Granted the top surgeons, and the top treatments can be found in the USA sooner, but what if you cannot afford 500.000 US $ to pay for it.

What about the average person: a secretary, a factory worker, a marketing manager, a shopkeeper. With an average salary, and not that much money to spend.

Is universal health care REALLY that bad ? Countries like the Scandinavian ones, Germany, Netherlands etc. show it doesn''t have to be.

Same with social security, pensions.
Ohh the high taxes... right.. we pay 33 % up to a salary of 50.000 Euro (= US $ 75.000). Is that really so bad ? In the us the federal tax is what ? 22 % + state tax.. you''re getting awfully close to that 33 %. (which includes social security, pensions, health care).

Yeah for the higher salaries it''s 50 % and that''s lower than in the USA. But who of you in the USA makes more than US $ 75.000 ???

Mind you, there''s a lot I LOVE about the USA..that''s why I am there so much, but please.. let''s get the arguments and facts straight before you start shooting.

Not ALL BEST solutions can only be found in America, the rest of the world has intelligence too... perhaps you could learn something from them.

Want to know why we like Obama so much in Europe.. read the above..

[dodito2]

Which presidential candidate is most favored by the people who have sworn an oath to destroy the US and our allies?

Which presidential candidate are YOU voting for?

Posted by liberty_1776

Unfortunately for you.. Obama is equally loved by his *allies*: the UK, Denmark, Netherlands: I am Dutch. I like Obama. And yes we have troops dying in Afghanistan fighting against the Taliban. We also provide the present secretary general of NATO. We had troops in Iraq from day 1, in fact one of the top 5 largest contingents (and that for the small country we are).

I don''t like McCain. I don''t like an idiot who confuses Al Queda which Shiite Iranian terrorists. I don''t like someone who sings stupid "bomb Iran" songs. Nor do I like someone who is so old he doesn''t know how to use a computer.

He may have travelled, he may be a veteran, it doesn''t mean he has actually LEARNED from the world, from the diversity of opinions, for the complexity of problems.

I want a modern, atlantist, internationalist President. I think the USA has a lot to offer, but this endless barrage of fear mongering, of insulting your best allies and friends, of total arrogance has to end.. if you want to keep your friends.

[dodito2]

Wow, if a double-talking, say-anything fraud like Obama can attract a crowd of 200,000 in Berlin, then those Germans must be really bored.

Posted by GreatDriveW

It''s because you''re one of those that has NO CLUE seemingly about the low standing America has in the world. So.. not it''s not boredom, it''s the type of INTELLIGENT approach to world matters that we would expect from a country that calls itself a democracy and enlightened. Pissing against the rest of the world has done you "so much good"... it''s just surprising to see how stupid many Americans can be with continuing on that path... hmm maybe when we take all your jobs, your social security, health care and pensions.. perhaps then you might realize you do not live alone on this planet ???

What we like about Obama is that he makes clear you guys don''t and he understand that. Confusing *****''s with sunni''s, talking about Czechoslovakia, about a 100 year presence in Iraq, and singing "bomb bomb bomb.. bomb bomb Iran" with a stupid "hehehehe" cartoon grin.. is NOT the type of leader we look forward to dealign with.

[greatdrivew]

Wow, if a double-talking, say-anything fraud like Obama can attract a crowd of 200,000 in Berlin, then those Germans must be really bored.

[standlee5]

I saw the Rock-bama fest in Berlin and the silly press event in France with President Sarcozy tht was nothing more than an Obama ego-media-hoe event but I missed the London extravaganza did he have a big firework display at Buckingham palace? What an unbelievable display of ego and presumption.

[babooph]

Does he mean the walls in Iraq,or Palestine?The ones in Berlin & Warsaw are down already -no?

[firststate]

liberty_1776
Which candidate has a notorious, volcanic temper, himself?

About which candidate did Sen. Cochran (R), Miss say, "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine," Cochran said about McCain by phone. "He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me?"

Is it time to reprise the "Daisey" ad because mcbush is more dangerous than that other crazy Arizona Senator, Goldwater?

[liberty_1776]

Which presidential candidate would be most likely to wrap a towel around his head and pose smiling with the Taliban?

Which presidential candidate and his wife have "anger management issues" with white America?

Which presidential candidate is most favored by the people who have sworn an oath to destroy the US and our allies?

Which presidential candidate are YOU voting for?

[firststate]

Only counting "killed in action" casualties is deceptive and insulting to our other heroes who die from non-hostile injuries in a war zone.`If a humvee overturns while avoiding what appeared to be an IED, any soldiers who are killed may be counted as non-hostile. Any of the soldiers killed by electrocution in the showers may not be counted as "hostile" casualties, but every single American soldier in Iraq is there at great personal risk and any who die deserve the same respect. Their deaths are equally tragic whether hostile or not. Even the pentagon uses the total casualty numbers unless they are trying to pull a fast one because the movement of those numbers of soldiers and all the weapons and equipment for them will cost lives. If a helicopter pilot goes down because of the sand, his or her death is as meaningful as the unfortunate soldier who is shot.

If one had all the raw data, a case could be made for lower casualty numbers. If you count only right-handed soldiers the numbers will drop a bit. The numbers could be further lowered by eliminating blue-eyed soldiers. These are as arbitrary as eliminating "non-hostile" casualties. If you disagree, ask the non-hostile victims mother, brother, wife or husband.

[zerato-2009]

Give it up everyone. Rowdy WellHell lives in her own world where facts don''''t matter, official body count numbers lie, sources and links don''''t exist, and Bush is brilliant. LOL

Posted by nanc12

That is so true.

[nanc12]

Give it up everyone. Rowdy WellHell lives in her own world where facts don''t matter, official body count numbers lie, sources and links don''t exist, and Bush is brilliant. LOL

[zerato-2009]

Sorry, but you haven''''t proved ***** to anybody!

Actually firstate gave me a site that proved I''''m RIGHT!
Posted by WellHell3

What reality do you exist. Deny the facts and impose your skewed view of the world. Sounds like you and dubya have a lot in common

[firststate]

WellHell3

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM MILITARY DEATHS
March 19, 2003 Through July 5, 2008
CASUALTY TYPE
Hostile 3,345
Nonhostile 761
Total 4,106
The number killed in Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan through 07/05 is 538, all these numbers are according to the DoD.
Your corrected numbers still omit about 650 Americans killed in Iraq and about 200 killed in Afghanistan through July 5.

I don''t want to get into the name calling, but we ought to get our numbers right. Sometimes so-called facts are debatable, but the number of Americans who have been killed fighting for us is too important to try to fudge those numbers. Every single American soldier who is killed deserves acknowledgement and their families deserve out thanks and sympathy.

[zerato-2009]

Oh really?

However, the word on the ground from the TROOPS is that it was a brilliant maneuver to lure the terrorists out of the mountains of Afghanistan into the open desert to fight! They were getting picked off like turkeys in a shoot in Afghanistan. And they predict it saved thousands of lives by doing so.

Posted by WellHell3

We covered this luring al qaeda into the desert yesterday and proved you a liar. Today you give me a source that proves you a liar for the second day in a row. Give up on it. Just tell the truth

[armydog2]

before you start trying to insult me wellhell3, My son is serving in Iraq for his second tour of duty. Number one these kids would be in DEEP S_H_I_T for sharing any type of information that you are claiming to be privy too. Number 2 the Commanders over there probably woild not even share this type of info with their Soldiers. Give it up you are full of poopy!