Bush, Obama trade blows over 'Nazi' accusation
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Barack Obama has lashed out a George Bush for comparing his willingless to talk with US foes to Nazi appeasement. (File photo) (AFP: Emmanuel Dunand)
US President George W Bush has ignited a heated political row with Democratic White House hopeful Senator Barack Obama, by implying that Senator Obama's pledge to talk to the leaders of Iran and Syria is like the appeasement policies towards the Nazis before World War II.
A furious Senator Obama has hit back, accusing Mr Bush of launching a "false political attack", in the most direct clash yet between the President and the likely Democratic nominee who is vying to succeed him.
It began when Mr Bush told the Israeli Parliament it is foolishly disillusioned to negotiate with terrorists.
"As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared 'Lord if we could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided'," he said.
"We have an obligation to call this what it is. The false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."
Mr Bush did not mention Senator Obama by name and the White House denies the remarks were aimed at him. But Senator Obama, who is taking a day off from the campaign trail, has issued a statement, hitting back.
In it he says it is "sad" that Mr Bush has used a speech to mark Israel's 60th anniversary to launch "a false political attack".
He adds, "George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists and the President's extraordinary politicalisation of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people".
Senator Obama has said he would be willing to hold talks, without preconditions, with the leaders of US foes, like Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba.
But he has also stressed that he would not take any options off the table, for example, when it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Travelling on his campaign bus, Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain has joined the fray saying that Senator Obama's willingness to talk with potential enemies is naive and shows his lack of experience.
"It does bring up an issue we'll be discussing with the American people and that is, 'why does Barack Obama, Senator Obama want to sit down with a state sponsor of terrorism?'," he said.
Meanwhile, Senator McCain has for the first time laid out a timetable to end the Iraq war, arguing he would have most US troops home by 2013 if elected president.
"The Iraq war has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy. Violence still occurs but it is spasmodic and much reduced," he said.
And in a "crystal ball" style speech, he has also predicted that Osama bin Laden would be killed or captured during his first term and there will not be another major terrorist attack on US soil.
