President Obama proclaimed that reaching out to enemies of the United States “strengthens our hand” and ensures our nation is a leader — not a lecturer — of democracy.

Obama said: “The whole notion was that if we showed courtesy or opened up dialogue with governments that had previously been hostile to us, that that somehow would be a sign of weakness…  There’s a good reason the American people didn’t buy it — because it doesn’t make sense.”

Read More

President Obama made good on his promise by announcing his plans to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of August 2010.

Between 35,000 to 50,000 troops will remain in Iraq for training and logistical support.  They will withdraw gradually until all U.S. forces are out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, the deadline set in the agreement the Bush administration signed with the Iraqi government last year.

Read More