US Presidential Election 2008

[Rasputin]

After a disappointing debate in Texas on Thursday night, and two mailing ads sent by Obama’s campaign criticizing her health care plan and failure of NAFTA, Hillary Clinton has adopted a harsh tone against her rival Barack Obama. Perhaps her top advisor’s criticized her for her friendly comments towards her rival, particularly when she said: “No matter what happens in this contest, and I am honored to be here with Barack Obama.” At that moment, I truly thought she was acknowledging that she has failed to stop Obama in the primaries and she will end the attack on Obama, his experience and his campaign. For the first time, a Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket seemed possible. But it does matter and, in fact as CNN pointed out in one of its news program, “there will be blood”. My prediction simply didn’t come true.

Hillary’s campaign was hoping that her strength in face-to-face debates would reverse Obama’s momentum in the Democratic presidential contest. Not only it did not help, but it might have further damaged her after her slanderous comment that Obama’s plagiarized words were not “change you can believe in, it's change you can Xerox”, which prompted booing from the audience. On Saturday, she lashed out at Obama: “Shame on you, Barack Obama.”

She also invited Obama to a duel in the next Tuesday’s debate: “Meet me in Ohio. Let’s have a debate about your tactics and your behavior in this campaign.” It appears the current Clinton campaign strategy is to target Obama’s Character to win in Texas and Ohio. To do this she also compares him with President Bush. “Do you think people voting in 2000 knew what they were getting?” she said, referring to Bush’s first-term bid for the presidency as a governor of Texas. “People thought they were getting a compassionate conservative. It turned out he was neither. We’ve been living with the consequences of those mistakes.” She accused Obama of questioning her health care plan, which no other democrat had done before, and at the same time compared him with an unpopular republican President, something which no other candidate has done.

Clinton’s do-or-die strategy and attacks on Obama are very unlikely to succeed. She has been going downhill since the New Hampshire primaries, and the same message week after week is failing to bring her new supporter. Pressure to keep her White House hopes alive by winning the Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4th has pushed her campaign to attack Obama rather than redrafting her message to bring new ideas to the race, and attempt to change the course.

The truth is that Obama and Clinton’s policies are not very different for ordinary people, whom are not likely to digest the detail policy sheets of each candidate. Therefore, fighting with Obama’s message of hope and change is an uphill battle for Clinton particularly since thousands of people have found their voice in Obama; l Clinton’s effort to discredit Obama’s message will only deepen the divide and polarize the democratic party further, and possibly help Republicans in the general elections.

[Rasputin]

امسال برای نخستين بار در طول تاريخ آمريکا يک زن (سناتور هيلاری کلينتون) و يک مرد (سناتور باراک اوباما) به عنوان دو کانديدای رياست جمهوری از حزب دمکرات در انتخابات آن کشور شرکت کرده اند.

در حالي که مرزهای جنسيت در رابطه با مقام رياست جمهوری در بسياری از کشورهای جهان از بين رفته است، اما در آمريکا تا به حال هيچ زنی به عنوان کانديدای رياست جمهوری در رقابت ها شرکت نکرده بود .

با اينکه جنبش حقوق مدنی دهه ها پيش به تبعيض قانونی در آمريکا خاتمه داد اما مسئله نژاد در آمريکا همچنان موضوعی حساس به شمار می آيد و چشم انداز داشتن يک رییس جمهوری سياه پوست آفريقايی تبار در آن کشور بسيار دور می نمود.

حال سئوال اين است که حضور دو کانديدای زن و سياه پوست در اين رقابت ها چه پيامی را درباره تغيير ديدگاه مردم آمريکا نسبت به جنسيت و نژاد در بر دارد؟

هدر ماهر، خبرنگار راديو اروپای آزاد- راديو آزادی اين موضوع را بررسی می کند که آيا هم اکنون با يک نقطه تحول در تاريخ آمريکا روبرو هستيم يا نه.


کاخ همیشه «سفید»

آمريکا ممکن است به کشوری متشکل از انواع اقوام و نژادهای جهان معروف باشد، اما کاخ سفيد همچنان «سفيد» بوده است.

از زمان رياست جمهوری جرج واشینگتن در سال ۱۷۸۹ تا کنون، تمامی ۴۳ رییس جمهوری آمريکا را مردان سفيد پوست تشکيل داده اند. اما در انتخابات پاييز امسال ممکن است آمريکايي ها اين سنت ديرینه را بشکنند.
از زمان رياست جمهوری جرج واشینگتن در سال ۱۷۸۹ تا کنون، تمامی ۴۳ رییس جمهوری آمريکا را مردان سفيد پوست تشکيل داده اند. اما در انتخابات پاييز امسال ممکن است آمريکايي ها اين سنت ديرینه را بشکنند.

حزب جمهوريخواه از پيش تعداد کانديداهای خود را به يک نفر رسانده است. سناتور جان مک کين، کانديدای حزب جمهوريخواه بر اساس استدانداردهای پيشين هم مرد و هم سفيد پوست است.

اما طرفداران حزب دمکرات با هيجان در انتظارند تا ببيند سرانجام کداميک از دو کانديدای باقی مانده، يعنی کلينتون يا اوباما آراء کافی را جهت رقابت با سناتور مک کين در ماه نوامبر کسب خواهد کرد.

انتظار می رود که جواب اين سئوال پس از رقابت های گسترده در ايالات بزرگ تگزاس و اوهايو در روز چهارم مارس روشن شود.

در هر صورت اين رويداد به عنوان يک تغيير رفتارعظيم از سوی مردم آمريکا در تاريخ آن کشور به ثبت خواهد رسيد. اما ريشه اين تغيير رفتار چيست؟

جيمز ماندرل، از برنامه مطالعات جنسيت از دانشگاه برنديس در ايالات ماساچوست می گويد که معتقد است اين مسئله آنقدر به تغيير تفکر مردم مربوط نيست که به تغيير زمان ربط دارد.

وی می گوید: ما اکنون در سياست های آمريکا از لحاظ زمانی به مقطعی رسيده ايم که نياز شديد نسبت به ايجاد تغيير و تحول احساس می شود و اين نياز، افرادی نظير هيلاری کلينتون و باراک اوباما را می طلبد. با توجه به اينکه يکی از اين دو کانديدا در رقابت با يک جمهوریخواه سفيد پوست قرار خواهد گرفت، جالب خواهد بود تا ببينيم رای دهندگان آمريکايی تا چه اندازه می توانند بر تعصبات و تفکرهای پيشين خود غالب شوند.

بدون ترديد هر دو کانديدا حس هيجان و مشارکت جديدی را وارد روند دمکراتيک آمريکا کرده اند. اوباما نخستين آمريکايی آفريقايی تبار نيست که به عنوان کانديدا در رقابت های رياست جمهوری آمريکا شرکت می کند.


طرفداران حزب دمکرات با هيجان در انتظارند تا ببيند سرانجام کداميک از دو کانديدای باقی مانده، يعنی کلينتون يا اوباما آراء کافی را جهت رقابت با سناتور مک کين در ماه نوامبر کسب خواهد کرد. جسی جکسون تا به حال دو بار در مبارزات انتخاباتی آمريکا شرکت کرده است. اما اوباما نخستين آمريکايی سياه پوستی است که واقعا ممکن است در اين انتخابات پيروز شود. تاکنون هيچ زنی نيز به عنوان کانديدا در رقابت ها شرکت نکرده بود.

رای دهندگان مشخص

اوباما و کلينتون هر دو از سوی گروه های رای دهنده مشخصی حمايت می شوند. کلينتون در ميان زنان از حمايت قوی برخوردار است، در حالی که اوباما با حمايت بسياری از سياه پوستان کشور روبروست.

با اين حال آنها همچنان حمايت اقشار ديگر جامعه را نيز کسب کرده اند. کلينتون در ميان گروه های آمريکای لاتين محبوب است و اوباما درميان مردان سفيد پوست.

ماندرل می گويد: اين مسئله نشان می دهد که آمريکايي ها ديدگاه شخصی خود نسبت به زن و اقليت های نژادی در قدرت را به چالش گرفته اند.

وی می گوید: نامزدی هيلاری کلينتون و باراک اوباما در اين انتخابات ما را با دقت و صراحت با پرسش هايی در زمينه جنسيت و نژاد مواجه کرده است. من فکر می کنم امسال سال حساسی است زيرا سئوالی که بلافاصله مطرح می شود اين است که سياست های انتخاب شدن در آمريکا تا چه اندازه به هويت مربوط می شود؟ آيا مردم صرفا به خاطر زن بودن به هيلاری رای می دهند يا نه؟ و همين سئوال را می توان نسبت به اوباما نيز مطرح کرد. بنابر اين من تصور می کنم ما صرفنظر از يافتن جواب اين سئوال ها با اين احتمالات روبرو هستيم.

خانم پائولا مک کلين، مدير مرکز مطالعات قومی، نژادی و جنسيتی در بخش علوم اجتماعی دانشگاه دوک، در جواب به اين سئوال که آيا اوباما با توجه به سياه پوست بودن خود مي تواند در انتخابات عمومی پيروز شود يا نه، گفت: من می خواهم با احتياط اظهار خوشبينی کنم که تغييرات در آمريکا تا حدی بوده است که بسياری از رای دهندگان سفيد پوست يا آمريکای لاتين به يک مرد سياه پوست به عنوان رییس جمهوری کشور رای می دهند. اما نتايج هنوز نامعلوم است.

«بسياری از مشکلاتی که به خاطر زن بودن برای يک کانديدای رياست جمهوری مطرح می شود به نتايج دراز مدت اجتماعی کردن اين مسئله برای فرهنگی باز می گردد که ديدگاه مشخصی را نسبت به زن دارد و اين مسئله در عرض يک شب عوض نخواهد شد. اما فکر می کنم نامزدی خانم کلينتون، نامزدی زنان ديگر در انتخابات را ساده تر خواهد کرد.»
جيل گرينلی، متخصص در زمينه جنسيت و سياست

خانم مک کلين فکر نمی کند که رياست جمهوری اوباما بتواند بلافاصله اختلافات نژادی ميان سياهان و سفيدپوستان را که همچنان در برخی از مناطق آمريکا، بويژه در مناطق دورافتاده جنوبی کشور وجود دارد حل کند.
اما او معتقد است که چنين مسئله ای مي تواند نشانگر يک پیشرفت سمبليک بسيار قوی در جامعه باشد.

وی می گوید: تاثيری که من فکر می کنم چنين انتخابی می تواند بر جامعه داشته باشد اين است که چهره ايالات متحده آمريکا چه در داخل کشور و چه در برابر جهانيان متحول خواهد شد. زيرا فردی به نمايندگی از گروهی که به طور تاريخی در ايالات متحده آمريکا تحت ظلم و ستم واقع شده است، ممکن است به عنوان رییس جمهوری آن کشور برگزيده شود. اين تصوير سمبليک می تواند در راستای انجام يک جستجوی روحی معنوی، به مردم آمريکا کمک کند و بسياری از تعصبات نژادی ما را به مرور از بين ببرد.

جيل گرينلی، يک متخصص در زمينه جنسيت و سياست از دانشگاه کاليفرنيا در رابطه با تعصبات مردم نسبت به يک رییس جمهوری زن و اينکه آيا آمريکا عملا آمادگی پذيرش يک رییس جمهوری زن را دارد يا نه، به سخنگوی فعلی مجلس نمايندگان و دوازده شهردار زنی که از سال ۲۰۰۰ تا کنون

انتخاب شده اند اشاره کرد. گرينلی گفت: آمريکا آمادگی پذيرش يک خانم رییس جمهور را دارد .
اما هيلاری کلينتون عليرغم مقام قبلی خود به عنوان کانديدای حزب دمکرات، مسيری ساده و هموار را پشت سر نگذاشته است.

او بارها مورد انتقادات سخت قرارگرفته است و به داشتن رفتاری بی احساس و خشن، و برعکس در برخی موارد به احساساتی بودن بيش از حد متهم شده است. البته همتای مرد او نيز کرارا مورد انتقادات سخت از سوی رسانه ها قرار گرفته است.

اين حقيقت که رسانه های آمريکايی تا به حال با مبارزات انتخاباتی يک زن با چنين قدرت سياسی که کلينتون از آن برخوردار است مواجه نبوده اند نيز در بعضی موارد عواقب دردناکی را برای خانم کلينتون به دنبال داشته است .

گرينلی می گويد: اما راه برای کانديدای زن بعدی که بخواهند در انتخابات آمريکا شرکت کند به اين دشواری نخواهد بود .

وی می افزاید: من فکر می کنم خانم کلينتون به گونه ای راه را برای کانديدای زن بعدی هموار می کند. بسياری از مشکلاتی که به خاطر زن بودن برای يک کانديدای رياست جمهوری مطرح می شود به نتايج دراز مدت اجتماعی کردن اين مسئله برای فرهنگی باز می گردد که ديدگاه مشخصی را نسبت به زن دارد و اين مسئله درعرض يک شب عوض نخواهد شد. اما من فکر می کنم نامزدی خانم کلينتون، نامزدی زنان ديگر در انتخابات را ساده تر خواهد کرد.

اوباما نيز به نوبه خود راه را برای افراد بعدی هموار می کند. همان گونه که يک ناظر انتخاباتی اظهار داشت، ریيس جمهور شدن اوباما به اين معناست که مادران سياه پوست برای اولين بار در تاريخ آمريکا می توانند به فرزندانشان وعده دهند که آنها نيز ممکن است روزی بتوانند رییس جمهور شوند و آنگاه اين وعده حقيقت خواهد داشت.

[Rasputin]

Mr Patraeus, and Mr Crocker, top US men in Iraq, were complaining about Iranian troublemakers; special groups, as they were calling them. They separated Muqtada Al Sadr's men from those who are even more directly linked to Iran. Watching democracy's works in the US, where commander of the US army in Iraq and an ambassador, answer to the questions of the elected officials for 9 hours, makes you wonder when this kind of a scene may be possible in a country like Iran, where not only the people do not have access to the information (for instance why is Iranian money and man-power is engaged in creating chaos in a neighbouring country) but even many of the high-ranking officials are kept in the dark by those who are operating behind the scenes.

I listened to the senators’ speeches, Obama, Clinton and McCain. I agree with Mr McCain's assertions on Iraq; they seemed courageous and noble. I do not agree with bombing Iranian nuclear sites (McCain was once singing, serious or not, about this) because I think that would rather create more public support for the Iranian regime, but I do agree with dealing with the Iranian regime in an intelligent and productive, also serious, manner in order to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, which it does pursue, with the cost of poverty and isolation for the Iranians. Going back to the Iraq issue, I noticed that in the Senate hearing, both Hillary Clinton (who has voted for the war authorisation) and Barack Obama, wanted to retreat from Iraq as soon as possible.

I could not exactly grasp the point why! It all seemed to me as lack of leadership and definitely pure and poor populism, which I think will be the losing ticket for both (whoever gets the Democratic nomination, likely Obama) of them in the presidential elections. I do not believe that the American electorate is going to waste more than 4,000 American dead soldiers, and tens of thousands of American wounded, and about one trillion US dollars of tax-payers money to be forgotten just when the hardest part of the work was already behind. It is also very difficult for them, Clinton and Obama, to back away from their original campaign promises (ill-devised) when things were somehow different. I think they are both doomed.

How can America leave Iraq before things are done, and done well? Yes, that would save some extra American taxpayer dollars, but what about much greater sums that have already been spent? Do Muslim masses who hate America (instead of hating their own regimes) know that it is not the Iraqi oil money that is paying the US expenses in Iraq? The US is losing vast amounts of money in its operations in Iraq and it is actually paying for most of the Iraqi reconstruction, while Iraq is selling its oil in the free market and the money is not being spent properly because Al Qaeda terrorists, and the Iranian-backed groups, are disrupting the reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.

I know that it was the US who invaded Iraq in the first place and I know that it was the US whose huge mistakes in Iraq caused the deaths of many innocent Iraqis (far fewer than those killed because of Muslim extremists), but this is also another reason why the US has the moral obligation to stay in Iraq and create a stable democracy and a prosperous society. It can be done, but it may take time. It can be done because also Iraq has oil. It is as simple as that. But without the US keeping the thugs, terrorists, and foreign troublemakers at bay, it is very possible for all the losses that have occurred so far to be in vain. Without the US, Iraq will be the battleground of both Iraqi factions and also foreign meddlers, for years and years to come. And the Iranian regime, while calmly developing nuclear weapons, will use Iraq as the symbol of failure of democracy, and American moral standing, for the intimidation of its own population and other peoples of the Middle East who are struggling with their own ruthless regimes.

Iran will be no friend of a free Iraq if the Americans will retreat. The Iranian regime will not want a democratic, even a Shia-dominated one, to do well. They may have the same faith, but Iranian mullahs prefer power. A neighbouring Shia prosperous Iraq will become a rival for the Shia Iranian regime and that would be undesirable for a non-democratic leadership. Iran does not have Iraq's oil compared to the population (it has much less oil per capita), and the more Iran's neighbours prosper the more the Iranian regime fears for its survival, as it finds itself facing a population making comparisons, eventually losing appetite for defending the regime against possible threats, from inside or outside.

Many American politicians, mostly left-leaning, say that America must focus on Afghanistan, rather than Iraq. That would probably be a good option if there were already a stable Iraq in place, or at least Saddam was in power. But that is not the case now. Afghanistan is a primitive country, with extremely poor infrastructure and no easy access to any sort of communication with the outside world, a very difficult and hostile landscape and terribly scarce resources of any kind. Afghanistan will not become a seriously prosperous country for a very long time to come. It simple lacks the basic necessities of becoming a prosperous country. Afghanistan does not look good, and it never did ever since its creation. Afghanistan can do well, but it cannot become something like the UAE. But Iraq can. That is why America needs to focus on Iraq more. Will Al Qaeda continue to use Afghanistan as one of its land bases? Possibly! But as far as we know Al Qaeda is based in Pakistan, rather than Afghanistan.

Actually Al Qaeda does not necessarily need such a base. Al Qaeda is more like a state of mind, and it can stay alive and well in the minds of ordinary dissatisfied Sunni Muslims, especially young and naive ones, as long as there are serious reasons for their being so. Al Qaeda can do quite well in the cyber-space, as it already is doing. The best way to tackle Al Qaeda is to tackle its foundation where it attracts its followers, by proving it wrong, through the promotion of prosperity and democracy in Iraq, where the only serious chance of having some sort of a success story (as senator McCain was also saying) exists. A free and prosperous Iraq will do the greatest damage to Islamic extremism. And this will also be a huge blow for the Iranian fundamentalist regime, and definitely good for the Iranian people and their future.

[Rasputin]

Obama: I will be the Democratic nominee

In what he called a "defining moment for our nation," Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday became the first African-American to head the ticket of a major political party.

Obama's steady stream of superdelegate endorsements, combined with the delegates he received from Tuesday's primaries, put him past the 2,118 threshold, CNN projects.

"Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another -- a journey that will bring a new and better day to America," he said.

"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States."

Obama's rally was at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota -- the same arena which will house the 2008 Republican National Convention in September.

Speaking in New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton, congratulated Obama for his campaign, but she did not concede the race nor discuss the possibility of running as vice president.

"This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight," she said.

Obama praised Clinton's campaign. He has been speaking favorably of the New York senator as his focus has turned toward the general election and his battle against John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

"Sen. Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign not just because she's a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she's a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight," he said.

Diving into general election mode, Obama turned his attacks to McCain, saying it's "time to turn the page on the policies of the past."

"While John McCain can legitimately tout moments of independence from his party in the past, such independence has not been the hallmark of his presidential campaign," he said.

"It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year."

[Rasputin]

The Next President Of U.S.A

John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the senior United States Senator from Arizona and presumptive Republican Party nominee for President of the United States in the upcoming 2008 election.



McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958 and became a naval aviator, flying attack aircraft from carriers. During the Vietnam War, he nearly lost his life in the 1967 USS Forrestal fire. Later that year while on a bombing mission over North Vietnam, he was shot down, badly injured, and captured as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese. He spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war, experiencing episodes of torture.

McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982. After serving two terms, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, winning re-election in 1992, 1998, and 2004. While generally adhering to conservative principles, McCain established a reputation as a political maverick for disagreeing with his party on several key issues. Surviving the Keating Five scandal of the 1980s, he made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns, eventually co-sponsoring the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002.

McCain lost the Republican nomination in the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush. He ran again for Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and gained enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee in March 2008.

[Rasputin]

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2008 presidential election. He is the first African American to win enough support for the nomination of any major American political party.

Born to a Kenyan father and an American mother, he spent most of his childhood and adolescent years in Honolulu, Hawaii. At age six, he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where he lived with his mother and Indonesian stepfather for four years. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, university professor,political activist, and lawyer before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.

Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in January 2003. After winning a landslide primary victory in March 2004 to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Obama delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he cosponsored legislation to control conventional weapons and to promote greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the current 110th Congress, he has sponsored legislation regarding lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq war, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as top national priorities.

[Rasputin]

انتخابات مقدماتی برای انتخاب نامزدهای ریاست جمهوری آمریکا پایان یافته است و در حالیکه حزب جمهوریخواه، مدتی است نامزد خود را معرفی کرده است، هنوز مشخص نیست چه کسی، باراک اوباما یا هیلاری کلینتون، نامزد حزب دموکرات خواهد بود.
اما باراک اوباما احتمالا به قدر کافی از رقیبش هیلاری کلینتون پیشی گرفته است که کاندیداتوری حزب دموکرات را از آن خود کند.

آمریکا در چهل سال گذشته چنین انتخابات مقدماتی پر فراز و نشیب و نمایشی را به خود ندیده است.

در ابتدا به نظر می رسید که پیروزی هیلاری کلینتون در کسب نامزدی حزب دموکرات حتمی است. باراک اوباما، رقیب او، هر چند کاندیدایی مجذوب کننده اما کم تجربه به شمار می آمد.

این واقعیت که نامزد ریاست جمهوری حزب دموکرات یا اولین زن یا اولین مرد سیاه پوست کاندیدای ریاست جمهوری آمریکا خواهد بود، خود به تنهایی موضوعی جالب توجه است.


پیشتاز بودن در رقابت ها همیشه نتیجه خوبی برای کاندیداها ندارد

اما طنین پیام سناتور اوباما که "آمریکایی ها را تغییر خواهد داد" از پیام سناتور کلینتون که "آمریکا را تغییر خواهد داد" رساتر بوده است.

مبارزات انتخاباتی خانم کلینتون در ابتدا ضعیف بود و خیلی ها با توجه نتیجه آن مطمئن هستند که رقیبش پیروز شده است.

انتخاب کاندیدای ریاست جمهوری در جبهه جمهوریخواهان هم بی هیجان نبوده است. سناتور جان مک کین، که مبارزات انتخاباتی او حدود شش ماه پیش تقریبا به بن بست رسیده بود، دوباره احیا شد و نامزدی حزبش را کسب کرد.

انتخابات مقدماتی آمریکا بسیار متفاوت از سال های اخیر بود اما خارق العاده تر از آن، انتخاباتی خواهد بود که در ماه نوامبر برگزار خواهد شد.

به نظر می رسد که مبارزه ای تن به تن میان یک جمهوریخواه به اصطلاح تک رو با اولین کاندیدای سیاه پوست ریاست جمهوری آمریکا را شاهد خواهیم بود. سلاح سناتور مک کین تجربه ای است که با سن کسب کرده است و سلاح سناتور اوباما جوانی نسبی اوست و پیامش برای تغییر مردم آمریکا.


سلاح سناتور مک کین تجربه ای است که با سن کسب کرده است

همه نظرسنجی ها حاکی بوده است که رقابت این دو نفر تنگاتنگ خواهد بود. این نیز به خودی خود جالب توجه است چون کار دولت جمهوریخواه فعلی در حالی به پایان می رسد که با انتقادات زیای، از جمله در ارتباط با جنگ در عراق و بی کفایتیش در واکنش به سیل در نیواورلئان، روبرو بوده است.

قاعدتا جمهوریخواهان نباید شانس زیادی برای پیروزی داشته باشند. اما جان مک کین رقیب قدرتمندی در مسابقه انتخابات ریاست جمهوری آمریکا قلمداد می شود.

البته با توجه به این که شمار رای دهندگانی که خود را دموکرات یا متمایل به تفکرات حزب دموکرات می دانند، رو به افزایش بوده است، رسیدن به قله ریاست جمهوری برای آقای مک کین آسان نخواهد بود.

در همین حال، نحوه برخورد اعضای حزب دموکرات با کشمکش هایی که اکنون در درون حزب در جریان است، نیز تعیین کننده است.

انتخابات مقدماتی تا چه حد شانس پیروزی دموکرات ها در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری را تقویت کرده است؟ یا اینکه تا چه حد رقابت کلینتون-اوباما به آن ضربه زده است؟

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

باراك اوباما، نماينده*ي منتخب دموكرات*ها در انتخابات رياست جمهوري آمريكا در يك پيش*بيني خودخواهانه اظهار داشت كه وي تا سال 2016 رييس جمهور آمريكا خواهد بود.

به گزارش خبرگزاري دانشجويان ايران (ايسنا) به نقل از خبرگزاري فرانسه، باراك اوباما كه به سختي توانست در رقابت*هاي مقدماتي حزب دموكرات* برابر هيلاري كلينتون، ديگر كانديداي سرسخت اين حزب پيروز شود، گفت: بايد به اطلاع شما برسانم كه من در سال 2016 دومين دوره*ي رياست جمهوري*ام را به اتمام خواهم رساند.

اوباما در يك حضور از قبل تعيين نشده در مراسم جشن انتخاب شهر شيكاگو به عنوان فيناليست ميزباني المپيك سال 2016 اظهار داشت: من بجز اينكه به عنوان رييس جمهور آمريكا راهي پارك واشنگتن شوم و آغاز بازي*ها را اعلام كنم، راه ديگري پيش رو ندارم.

اوباما به حالت شوخي در جمع حاضرين در مراسم گفت، اگر شيكاگو ميزبان المپيك 2016 شود، وي احتمالا براي به دست آوردن يك سود كلان خانه*اش را در آنجا به اجاره خواهد گذاشت!

اوباما طي سخناني كه باعث تهييج جمعيت چند صد نفري حاضر كه عمدتا كارمند بودند شد، اضافه كرد: احتمالا من خانه*ام را به اجاره خواهم گذاشت. نمي*دانم كه در آن زمان خانه*ي من چقدر ارزش خواهد داشت.

باراك اوباما سرانجام پس از كش*وقوس*هاي فراوان در رقابت*هاي انتخاباتي رياست*جمهوري آمريكا توانست روز سه*شنبه*ي گذشته به عنوان كانديداي دموكرات*ها در انتخابات رياست* جمهوري 2008 اين كشور معرفي شود. با انجام انتخابات روز سه*شنبه در داكوتاي جنوبي و مونتانا وي توانست در مجموع 2118 نماينده را از خود كند و حد نصاب لازم دموكرات*ها براي انتخابات را كه 2026 نماينده است، به دست آورد.

سناتور اوباما از ايلات ايلينويز پس از اين پيروزي و انتخاب*شدن به عنوان اولين سياه*پوست دموكرات*ها در انتخابات رياست*جمهوري آمريكا گفت: امروز اين ماراتن سخت به پايان رسيده است و ما دوران جديدي را شروع مي*كنيم.

هيلاري كلينتون نيز پس از شكست در اين انتخابا*ت*هاي مقدماتي به اوباما تبريك گفت و اظهار كرد: رقابت بسيارسختي بود و در تعيين نتيجه* نهايي اين ماراتن هيچ نقشي نداشتم.

در همين*حال جان مك كين كانديداي اصلي جمهوري*خواهان در انتخابات رياست*جمهوري 2008 آمريكا پس از پيروزي اوباما خاطرنشان كرد: انتظار داشتم كه اوباما در اين رقابت بر هيلاري كلينتون غلبه كند.

وي تصريح كرد: رقابت سختي براي حضور در انتخابات رياست*جمهوري آمريكا با اوباما خواهيم داشت.

از سوي ديگر باراك اوباما و هيلاري كلينتون پنجشنبه شب به منظور طرح*ريزي راه*كار همكاري با يكديگر براي شكست دادن جان مك كين، كانديداي جمهوري خواهان در انتخابات نهايي رياست*جمهوري با هم به طور محرمانه ديدار كردند.

اين ديدار گمانه*زني*ها را مبني بر حضور كلينتون در سمت معاون اولي اوباما مجددا بر سر زبان*ها انداخت.

اوباما و كلينتون بدون حضور مشاورانشان در ديدار يك ساعته خود درباره*ي مبارزه انتخاباتي پيش روي دموكرات*ها در برابر جمهوري خواهان گفت*وگو كردند.

دو سناتور دموكرات هيچ كدام جزييات اين ديدار را كه در خانه سناتور دايان فين*اشتين برگزار شد، فاش نكردند.

اما سناتور فين*اشتين روز جمعه در جمع خبرنگاران گفت كه كلينتون روز چهارشنبه با وي تماس گرفته و خواستار انجام يك ديدار با اوباما در خانه*ي وي شده است.

اين سناتور دموكرات افزود، اين دو رقيب سابق آمدند و هنگام گفت*وگو هيچ يك از مشاورانشان حضور نداشتند.

وي اظهار داشت: هر دو طرف مايل به انجام يك گفت*وگوي خصوصي و محرمانه بودند.

جناح حامي كلينتون اعلام كرد كه وي امروز (شنبه) در يك گردهم*آيي در ساختمان موزه*ي ملي حمايت رسمي خود را از اوباما اعلام خواهد كرد و از دموكرات*ها خواهد خواست تا از كانديداتوري اوباما حمايت كنند.

[Rasputin]

Hillary Rodham Clinton says she will consult with party leaders and supporters to determine her next steps now that Barack Obama has enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination.

In a speech in New York, Clinton told supporters that: "This has been a long campaign and I will be making no decisions tonight." As she spoke, supporters chanted "Denver, Denver," thinking ahead to the site of the party's convention in August.

According to the latest CBS News estimates, Obama secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination on Tuesday.

Obama declared victory at a rally in St. Paul, Minn. "Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States of America," Obama said.

But Clinton did not concede the race in her remarks.

"A lot of people are asking, 'What does Hillary want?"' Clinton said at a rally in New York. "I want what I have always fought for: I want the nearly 18 million people who voted for me to be respected and heard."

Earlier in the day, Clinton told congressional colleagues she would be open to joining Obama's ticket as his vice presidential nominee. But in her speech, the former first lady stopped short of ending or suspending her campaign. She did say she was committed to a united Democratic Party moving forward.

On a conference call with other New York lawmakers, Clinton, a New York senator, said she was willing to become Obama's vice presidential nominee if it would help Democrats win the White House, according to a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak for Clinton.

Clinton's remarks came in response to a question from Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who said she believed the best way for Obama to win key voting blocs, including Hispanics, would be for him to choose Clinton as his running mate.

"I am open to it," Clinton replied, if it would help the party's prospects in November.

Clinton also told colleagues the delegate math was not there for her to overtake Obama, but that she wanted to take time to determine how to leave the race in a way that would best help Democrats.

"I deserve some time to get this right," she said, even as the other lawmakers forcefully argued for her to press Obama to choose her as his running mate.

Aides to the Illinois senator said he and Clinton had not spoken about the prospects of her joining the ticket.

"Certainly there'll be some plusses and minuses," said CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer. "The plusses are obvious. She can help him bring women to support him. She can help him with blue-collar workers. But there are some minuses, and the main minus is Bill Clinton himself. Does Obama want to bring on the questions that will be asked about his personal life?"

Many of her top supporters spoke openly of Clinton's potential vice presidential prospects. Lanny Davis, a former White House special counsel under President Clinton, said he told the former first lady Tuesday that he was initiating a petition to press Obama to select her for the second spot on the ticket. He said Clinton did not encourage or discourage the step.

"If he doesn't have her, I think he can still win. With her on the ticket, he can't be beat," Davis said.

Clinton's national finance chairman, Hassan Nemazee, said he was also pushing an Obama-Clinton ticket, claiming that together they would be able to raise $200 million to $250 million for the general election.

Joseph Crowley, a Queens Democrat who participated in the call, said her answer "left open the possibility that she would do anything that she can to contribute toward a Democratic victory in November. There was no hedging on that. Whatever she can do to contribute, she was willing to do."

Another person on the call, Rep. Jose Serrano of New York City, said her answer was "just what I was hoping to hear. ... Of course she was interested in being president, but she's just as interested in making sure Democrats get elected in November."

Rep. Charles Rangel, a devoted booster of Clinton who helped pave the way for her successful Senate campaign, said he spoke to her Tuesday and got much the same answer.

"She's run a great campaign and even though she'll be a great senator, she has a lot of followers that obviously Obama doesn't have, and clearly the numbers are against her and so I think they bring all parts of the Democratic Party together and then some," Rangel said.

Other names have been floated as possible running mates for Obama, including former rivals New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, and governors including Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Tim Kaine of Virginia. Also mentioned are foreign policy experts including former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, and other senators such as Missouri's Claire McCaskill and Virginia's Jim Webb.

Obama could also look outside the party to people such as anti-war Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska or independent New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Or he could look to one of his prominent supporters such as former Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota or try to bring on a Clinton supporter, such as Indiana's Sen. Evan Bayh or retired Gen. Wesley Clark.

[Rasputin]

As Barack Obama basks in his historic accomplishment as the first black U.S. presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton ends her groundbreaking effort as the first woman to go as far as she did in the quest for the White House.

Clinton plans to host a rally for supporters on Saturday where she will formally drop out of the contest and throw her support behind her rival of the last 16 months.

Obama, the senator from Illinois, clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday when a number of superdelegates, who can back any candidate, flocked to his camp.

"On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy," Clinton said in an e-mail to supporters.

"This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans," she said. "I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama."

Obama is not slated to appear at the rally at noon in Washington, but the extent of Clinton's endorsement will be of keen interest to the Obama camp. She won more than 17 million voters during the Democratic battle, and Obama will need many of those to defeat Republican John McCain in November.

DELAYED DECISION

For some Democrats, Clinton's decision to drop out comes later than they would have liked. They would have preferred her to end her bid on Tuesday, when it became clear that Obama had enough delegate support to win the race.
As Barack Obama basks in his historic accomplishment as the first black U.S. presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton ends her groundbreaking effort as the first woman to go as far as she did in the quest for the White House.

Clinton plans to host a rally for supporters on Saturday where she will formally drop out of the contest and throw her support behind her rival of the last 16 months.

Obama, the senator from Illinois, clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday when a number of superdelegates, who can back any candidate, flocked to his camp.

"On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy," Clinton said in an e-mail to supporters.

"This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans," she said. "I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama."

Obama is not slated to appear at the rally at noon in Washington, but the extent of Clinton's endorsement will be of keen interest to the Obama camp. She won more than 17 million voters during the Democratic battle, and Obama will need many of those to defeat Republican John McCain in November.

DELAYED DECISION

For some Democrats, Clinton's decision to drop out comes later than they would have liked. They would have preferred her to end her bid on Tuesday, when it became clear that Obama had enough delegate support to win the race.

[Rasputin]

Shortly after securing the Republican nomination, John McCain journeyed to the White House for the ritualistic laying on of hands by President George W. Bush.

He kept Bush waiting so long that the president launched into an impromptu tap-dance for assembled reporters. McCain repeatedly stressed the president's heavy schedule makes it hard to campaign with him, and the two didn't meet again for 83 days when they moved a fundraising event to a private home away from the cameras.

The Arizona senator says he's not running from Bush, but in reality he must conduct two parallel campaigns to win election in November – one against Democrat Barack Obama, the other against the record of a discredited president who is a dead weight to the Republican brand.

He will win in November because he will convince voters he is not Bush, and will win independents who've always found him appealing by taking what he calls "Reagan Democrats,'' but who are this year better known as Hillary Clinton Democrats.

"I'm not trying to separate myself (from Bush),'' McCain told USA Today this week. "I'm trying to point out my own record and my own plan of action to solve our housing, energy, economic and national security challenges.''

But his recent campaign pronouncements indicate otherwise.

"I have worked with the president to keep our nation safe,'' McCain said in a speech timed to compete with Obama's Democratic victory Tuesday.

"But he and I have not seen eye to eye on many issues. We've disagreed over the conduct of the war in Iraq and the treatment of detainees; over out of control government spending and budget gimmicks; over energy policy and climate change; over defence spending that favoured defence contractors over the public good."

During a tour of New Orleans, he called the relief efforts after 2005's Hurricane Katrina a failure to respond at the most elemental level.

"Our disgraceful failure to do so here in New Orleans exposed the incompetence of government at all levels to meet even its most basic responsibilities,'' he said.

McCain will win because he will paint Obama as inexperienced and naive, the type of neophyte who would meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the misguided belief he can somehow sweet-talk tyrants into accepting American positions.

He will win because he will continue to hammer home a vote analysis from the respected National Journal that found Obama was the most liberal senator last year, and he will also emphasize that his opponent is an elitist from Chicago, the type of man who mixes easily with intellectuals and academics but is out of touch with working American men and women.

He will define Obama as arrogant.

"I don't seek the presidency on the presumption I'm blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save my country in its hour of need,'' McCain says.

He will remind voters Obama can be condescending to those who, as the Illinois senator once said, "cling to their guns and religion." He will subtly play the patriotism card, reminding voters of his compelling life story and his 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war and wonder why the Democratic nominee didn't wear a flag lapel pin until he realized its absence was a political liability.

And voters have certainly not heard the last of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. As well, the Republican National Committee and other McCain surrogates will continue to stir the pot with suggestions there are other explosive videos or words from a candidate who is little known to Americans.

Already, Obama has chastised reporters over questions about an alleged explosive video from Michelle Obama.

McCain, 71, will face the age issue head on – he really has no choice – and use a combination of self-deprecating humour and claims of level-headedness that comes with experience to try to turn it to his advantage.

"I have a few years on my opponent, so I am surprised that a young man has bought in to so many failed ideas,'' McCain said on Tuesday.

But most of all, McCain will tie his hopes to a war that most Americans want ended.

"Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war,'' he says in an ad that began airing in major U.S. markets yesterday.

He reminds voters of his time as a PoW and families and friends who died in war.

"I hate war,'' McCain says.

"And I know how terrible its costs are. I'm running for president to keep the country I love safe."

He says the troop surge is leading to stability in Iraq and tells voters an Obama-style withdrawal would lead to chaos, genocide and the need for Americans to return.

If he can convince voters the tide has turned and he can bring troops home in victory – not, as he will continually remind voters, in defeat and surrender as Obama would – McCain will become the 44th, and oldest U.S. president.

[Rasputin]

Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign said she would formally end her bid for the White House and endorse Barack Obama on Saturday, offering a show of support many Democrats hope will help reunite the party fractured by a divisive and bitter battle for the presidential nomination.
Clinton is to make the endorsement in a speech in Washington, four days after Obama clinched the nomination following a tight race in which she resolutely refused to back down, even as it appeared her rival had reached the necessary delegates to face off against Republican John McCain.

She spent much of Friday working on her concession speech. Aides described the process as painstaking and emotional but said there was no question Clinton would enthusiastically endorse Obama. Unqualified support from Clinton could help Obama win over her ardent working class and older female supporters.

The two met privately on Thursday evening, though neither campaign has given details on their discussion. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told reporters Friday that Clinton called her in the afternoon and asked if she and Obama could meet at her home.

The two former rivals arrived and left separately, Feinstein said, and had no staff in the room with them as they talked. Feinstein showed them into her living room, then left them alone and went upstairs to do her own work.

[Rasputin]

What next in the US elections?

It's been over a month since the American presidential election became a two-man race. The official party nominees, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, have spent the past five weeks sparring with each other about the country's hot election topics: its wobbly economy, its national security and its involvement in the ongoing war in Iraq. Newsbeat's been taking a look at the how the presidential hopefuls have so far dealt with the big challenges they face.

JOHN McCAIN
One of the main tasks for the Vietnam war veteran has been divorcing himself from President Bush's politics.

Seventy-one per cent of Americans disapprove of the way George W Bush is handling his job as president.

As McCain is from the same party, he's got the tough job of convincing voters that he's different from the current, unpopular leader.


John McCain and his wife Cindy visit a sandwich shop in Pittsburgh
But many Americans view them in the same light - after all they're from the same party.

For example, both of them wanted the war in Iraq and show no urgency to withdraw troops.

McCain's economic policies are a continuation of Bush's.

He says he'll apply and make permanent President Bush's tax cuts that benefit high earners.

The pair also oppose gay marriage which is a controversial subject in America at the moment after California recently legalised it.

So has John McCain managed to sell himself as a separate commodity?

Well, he's stopped mentioning George Bush as much as he used to when making speeches.

He's also not seen with him very often.

There are rumours that the two of them haven't always got on and that McCain's famous temper has flared on a numerous occasions when they've not been in agreement.

John McCain has openly fought against a small number of conservative issues showing voters he's not always on President Bush's side.

He hasn't supported his view on stem cell research or immigration.

However, John McCain's popularity has sunk since May.

He was ahead of his opponent Barack Obama in the polls but now is a few points behind.

Experts say he's got to continue distancing himself from President Bush who is linked by the majority to America's recession and its growing 'feel bad' factor.


BARACK OBAMA
Barack Obama has faced the mammoth task of uniting the Democratic party.

After a highly competitive race with Hillary Clinton where their rivalry at times got vicious, the party was looking more divided than united.

Many Americans saw cracks in the team.


Barack Obama and family celebrate Independence Day
After all, two Democrats spent months highlighting their different stances on key party issues rather than telling the nation they were on the same side.

But Mr Obama has done a lot to show that he and the Clintons are on the same page.

A couple of weeks ago, he and Hillary Clinton addressed an audience in New Hampshire where they complimented each other, and put their arms around one another.

Hillary Clinton reiterated her endorsement for Barack Obama to be the next president.

Days later, Barack Obama had a 20-minute phone conversation with former president, Bill Clinton.

The papers reported the pair spoke about how they could work together to ensure the Democrats get back into the White House.

It's no secret that Bill Clinton and Barack Obama aren't best friends.


Hillary Clinton conceded defeat to Barack Obama last month
Bill Clinton openly criticised Obama on various issues during the primary season.

Barack Obama's team often told him to keep his nose out and let his wife do the debating.

But it would be fair to say the tear in the Democratic party isn't as apparent as it was when Hillary Clinton quit the race.

They seem to have "smoothed things over".

The question is, can the new found love between Barack Obama and the Clintons bring the Clinton supporters to Barack Obama's side?

The Democratic nominee needs to keep the Clintons onside to make sure he gets the 18 million who voted for Hillary in the primaries to vote for him.


NEW CHALLENGES FOR COMING MONTHS
Now the main challenges which lie ahead for John McCain include convincing Americans he can handle the nation's vulnerable economy.

After saying he wasn't an expert on Wall Street, he received criticism from the Democrats who say he's not experienced in financial matters and therefore will struggle dealing with the country in its current economic state.


John McCain was captured in Vietnam after crashing into a lake
He's got to pull himself out of that rut and prove he's got the know how to deal with it.

And Barack Obama needs to show he can be a leader and handle the war in Iraq.

He's been getting flack about his lack of visits to war zones.

Later this month, he'll be on an important trip to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Europe.

As John McCain is a war veteran, he's seen by many as an authority on military matters.

Barack Obama must convince voters he's capable of making the right decision about withdrawal of troops or his plans to start taking them out in 60 days could be seen as inexperienced ones.

Americans love their Presidents to look like big players on the world stage so on both this issue and the all important economy the battle for the White House will rest or fall.

[Rasputin]

Obama and McCain debate ways to deal with Iran

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Wednesday Iran's missile tests proved a need for direct U.S. talks with Tehran while Republican John McCain emphasized sanctions and an anti-missile shield.

Iran's launching of nine long-range and medium-range missiles reverberated across the U.S. campaign trail and both candidates were quick to offer their ideas on forcing Tehran to back down while questioning each other's tactics.

The United States suspects Tehran is developing a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies. Neither Obama nor McCain discussed a military option against Iran, emphasizing diplomatic activity instead.

But only Obama saw the need for direct talks with the Iranian leadership, an option for which he was hotly criticized during the Democratic primary campaign by vanquished rival Hillary Clinton as well as by McCain.

"As these tests have reaffirmed, the threat from Iran's nuclear program is real and it is grave. As president, I will do everything in my power to eliminate that threat, and that must begin with direct, aggressive and sustained diplomacy," Illinois Sen. Obama said in a statement.

McCain, who in the past has criticized Obama's pursuit of direct talks with Iran as naive, told reporters in South Park, Pennsylvania, that the United States already has ways to communicate its views to Tehran.

"We have lines of communications with the Iranians and they are many," McCain said. "Their behavior ... has obviously not changed."

REVOLUTIONARY GUARD

McCain, whose is trailing Obama in national opinion polls and in surveys of voters in several key battleground states ahead of the November 4 election, attacked Obama for having refused to vote in favor of a Senate resolution that recommended the U.S. State Department declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

The Revolutionary Guard was the organization that launched the missiles, and the United States accuses it of having supplied Iraqi militants with explosive devices used to kill U.S. and Iraqi troops.

"Senator Obama refused to vote. He called it provocative, called it a provocative step. The fact is, this is a terrorist organization and it should have been branded as such," McCain said.

But Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan said Obama has always supported declaring the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

He said Obama had opposed last year's Senate resolution because its language said the U.S. military in Iraq should be used to counter Iran, "while in fact it has strengthened Iran."

Iran bubbled to the surface of the U.S. presidential campaign as the candidates have been locked in a debate over the sagging U.S. economy and how to proceed in Iraq.

The United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany offered Iran a revised incentives package last month, including assistance to help Tehran develop a civilian nuclear program, in exchange for Iran giving up its nuclear efforts.

The U.N. Security Council has already imposed three rounds of sanctions on Iran for ignoring its demands to suspend uranium enrichment and other activities.

Obama said diplomacy should be backed by "tougher unilateral and multilateral sanctions."

"It's time to offer the Iranians a clear choice between increased costs for continuing their troubling behavior, and concrete incentives that would come if they change course," Obama said.

Arizona Sen. McCain said he believes the governments of France, Britain, Germany and others in Europe are prepared to impose meaningful sanctions against Iran and suggested it was time to proceed on that course without China and Russia, which have blocked stronger U.N. sanctions.

He also vowed to go ahead with an anti-missile defense shield based in Europe.

The United States on Tuesday signed a pact to build part of the missile shield in the Czech Republic. The Bush administration also wants to install facilities in Poland, although talks have stalled.