The Obama campaign assembled a panel of prominent experts and one local politician at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana on Wednesday to showcase Senator Barack Obama’s concern about emerging national security threats from the proliferation of nuclear materials to cyber terrorism.
Obama addressed the panel discussion, along with two potential running mates, Sen. Evan Bayh Indiana and former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia.
Obama warned about the danger of narrow focus of “fighting the last war”. "It's time to break out of Washington's conventional thinking that has failed to keep pace with unconventional threats," he said.
This event was an ongoing ramp on terrorism and foreign policy prior to Obama’s upcoming trip to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, Britain, Germany and France.
"It's time to update our national security strategy to stay one step ahead of the terrorists -- to see clearly the emerging threats of our young century and to take action to make the American people more safe and secure” said Obama.
He promised to focus on emerging nuclear, biological and cyber threats if elected president. He said President George W. Bush’s preoccupation with Iraq lead to a negligence of these issues during past eight years.
Obama had indicated that the goals of his administration will be to secure loose nuclear material and seek to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide and this will be his central part of his security strategy.
He reiterated” As long as nuclear weapons exist, we'll retain a strong deterrent. We will make the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons a central element in our nuclear policy.”
He indicated that, it is his priority that he would seek to rally international support to place increased pressure on Iran and North Korea over their nuclear ambitions.
"Both of these nations have a history of support for terror," he said. "Both should face strong and increasing sanctions if they refuse to verifiably abandon their illicit nuclear programs. And both demand sustained, aggressive and direct diplomatic attention from the United States, and that's what I'll provide as president."
It seems now that Obama seeks to gain traction on national security issues. The recent speeches indicate that Obama is trying to counter, criticism from John McCain his Republic rival that Obama lacks the foreign policy seasoning to serve as commander-in-chief.
Many analysts opine that it would make sense for Obama to pick a running mate who is good at national security experience. Both Nunn and Bayh are respected for their views on national security issues. Nunn, 69, served as former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Bayh, 52, had experience of member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, both vouched for Obama's national security credentials.
When asked about their possible selection for no.2 slot both of them have masked their ambition.
Nuun replied “It's always nice to have your name mentioned. I would talk to Sen. Obama, if he wanted to talk about it. But I think the chances of an offer are pretty slim ... I'm not pining to go back into public office.
"Any questions about the vice presidential thing are understandable, and it's good for my ego," Bayh responded to a question. "But I should probably let Sen. Obama and his campaign addresses those kinds of questions."
But the body language of Bayh seemed to suggest that, he is more interested in Veep. Bayh, campaigned for Obama's former rival, Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton, during their race for the party's nomination now thrown his support to Obama.
When asked, if he had Sen. Bayh on his short list of potential running mates ,Obama said "I have said that I will not talk about my vice presidential process until I'm introducing the person who, I believe, will be the next vice president. But I can say that Evan Bayh is one of the most gifted public servants we have. He's done an extraordinary job as senator...and he's somebody who, I think, would be a great asset to any Democratic administration."
When asked about whether it was important that Mr. Obama chooses a running mate with national security credentials. Both Bayh and Nunn said Obama was a quick learner and had showed good judgment by opposing the war in Iraq and calling for increased attention to Afghanistan.
“I personally think his credentials on that are pretty strong on his own,” said Mr. Bayh. “He thinks strategically as well as tactically.”
Mr. Nunn said, “I think he’s right on the button in terms of his approach to national security and foreign policy.”
Obama’s campaign unveiled an ad that stresses his understanding of ongoing terrorism threats which will start running on cable television nationwide on Thursday. The campaign also said Obama will seek to secure all nuclear weapons materials in four years and to increase funding by $1 billion a year to make sure nuclear weapons are removed from vulnerable sites around the world.
