Today in The Nation: Obama Tears Down the Wall

posted by John Nichols on 07/24/2008 @ 5:36pm Barack Obama had several responsibilities when he embarked on the global tour that John McCain dared him to make. The young senator from Illinois needed to establish himself as a credible world leader by going to Iraq and Afghanistan evidencing both his recognition of George Bush's manifest mistakes and his willingness and ability to wage a functional fight against legitimate terrorist threats. Check! He needed to establish himself as respected commander-in-chief by not just appearing for photo-opportunities with troops in the field but by connecting with soldiers so that that all Americans who recognize their confidence in the man who seeks the authority to send these young men and women into life-and-death battles. Check! He needed to establish himself as a diplomat capable of... [read full story]