Obama wants nuclear free world

Obama wants nuclear free world
Pledges to thrash out agreements face-to-face with sworn foes

US Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama on Tuesday called for the elimination of all the world's nuclear weapons, and pledged to thrash out agreements, face-to-face with sworn US foes.
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Obama marked the fifth anniversary of a speech he gave opposing the Iraq war, to launch his latest bid to chase down Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, reigniting their simmering row on foreign policy.

With first party nominating contests only three months away, the Illinois Senator has scheduled a string of foreign policy addresses, apparently intended to deflect Clinton campaign claims he is too inexperienced to be president.

"We need to change our nuclear policy and our posture, which is still focused on deterring the Soviet Union -- a country that doesn't exist," Obama said, in remarks released by his campaign.

"India and Pakistan and North Korea have joined the club of nuclear-armed nations, and Iran is knocking on the door. More nuclear weapons and more nuclear-armed nations mean more danger to us all.

"Here's what I'll say as president: America seeks a world in which there are no nuclear weapons."

Obama stressed he would not direct unilateral nuclear disarmament, and would back a strong US deterrent while nuclear weapons existed.

"We'll be in a better position to lead," he said, adding that under his presidency, the United States would adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"It's time to stop giving countries like Iran and North Korea an excuse. It's time for America to lead."

Obama also promised a "new era" of American diplomacy, and pledged to be a president willing to talk to all nations friend or foe.

"I'm not afraid that America will lose a propaganda battle with a petty tyrant -- we need to go before the world and win those battles.

In July, Clinton branded Obama "irresponsible" and "naive" after he said at a campaign debate he would be willing to meet leaders of Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela and Syria as president.

In response, Obama mocked Clinton as "Bush-Cheney Lite" claiming she shared the views of the current White House, which sees talks with US enemies as a reward for bad behavior.

Obama, though not in the Senate at the time opposed the Iraq war, while Clinton voted in 2002 to authorize it, though now is a fierce critic of US Iraq strategy.

He has been trying to make the argument that Clinton's vote raises doubts about her judgement on foreign policy issues.