This is for the extremely dense, Iran is a terrorist state that has proxy's army's fighting throughout the world. Israel does not. I would rather have Israel as an ally than most of your weak goverments. They will fight
Excluding:
Canada
UK
Australia
and a few other "REAL" allies
Thank you

Tyler, Republic, USA

I wonder if like Jesus Christ or Peter Seller's character Chance in 'Being There', Obama can walk on water?
It obviously matters not that he says things one way one minute and changes it the next.
Very reminiscent of George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'.
When the veil finally drops, heaven help us!

Prudence Eely Bond McGuire, London, England, UK.

@ William Belgium - I don't believe he is "changing his tune"... it is just plain and simple "common sense" to 'prepare' for everything, enabling a better chance at success. This, amongst other things, only proves he has the qualities of a leader... deserving of the Presidency...

Lisa , London,

The USA is always acting evehandedly with Israel and it's Arab neighbours.
Hamas and the Palestinians will have to recognise Israel.We will never budge.

Magdalen, EILAT, ISRAEL

Changing his tune already.

William D H Carey, Schoten, Belgium

Ms Elson, what creds qualify one to be US President? Carter was a farmer, Reagan an actor, Bush Mk I an FBI Director and VP, Clinton a Governor, Bush Mk II a (sorta) businessman and Obama a community organiser and Senator. Seems qualified enough. BO offers hope and +vity even to a cynic like me.

Chris, London, England,

Bad start for the rest of the world when Obama clearly signals support for Israel in this way. Now how many UN resolutions will the US and Israel continue to ignore? USA, the worlds biggest fundamentalist state, will continue to prefer dependent dictators over independent democracies

Michael, Sunshine Coast, Australia

Quote "And it was pretty much like any other morning in America. The farmer did his chores, the milkman made his deliveries; the president bombed another country whose name we couldn't pronounce."

RONNIE, PARIS, FRANCE

Obama is not black: he is of mixed race. In South Africa the new government still differentiates this especially with affirmative action policies. JOBS: - Blacks yes, Indian, mixed, Chinese, maybe or no. Whites- NO! And the country is sinking ... Many more power cuts announced for many years.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

The speech shows that Obama is as cynical as he needs to be, but the signs were there during the campaign He is ambition personified, without any particular credentials to back it up.

Brigid Elson, Toronto, Canada

As a jewess living in Israel, I think obama 's speech lacked
deciciveness. I feel more secure about Hillary Clinton's no nonsense approach, that should Iran step one foot inside Israel, they will be bomed for sure.

Magdalen, EILAT, ISRAEL

Iran has not started a war for over a thousand years. It has signed the NNP and abides by its terms, which allow peaceful use of nuclear power. By doing so it, will use less oil - isn't that good? Iran has no nuclear weapons, unlike Israel, Pakistan, and India - which the USA treats as friends.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

An american republican acusing someone “very bad judgment on national security issues” ??? ROFLOL

Rui, Lisbon, Portugal

'Obama should take a sensible, responsible, constructive & peaceful approach'
Yes, Pushpa, as one who has had the luxury of watching just about everything during the primaries, I believe this is the man, this is what he is, this is what we will get.
It is the most exciting time in world affairs.

Bryan Stanion, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece

Mearsheimer and Walt's book is only remarkable for it's many half truths and not so subtle racist overrtones.

Some of these comments are also equally remarkable for their racist overtones.

beth, sydney, australia

Sam from Dallas has said it all. Mearsheimer and Walt have shown how US foriegn and defense policy is shaped by Israel, to America's detriment. A great read.
How much of the upsurge in terrorism has been brought on by blind support for the Israelis? Nukes. Settlements. Assasinations. Invasions.

John, Cleggan, Eire

Did anyone really believe "its time for change"? Barack Obama has about as much chance of changing Americas internal or external policies as fly in the sky. He will be told what to do by corporate business!

Graham, Brighton, UK

It was most instructive to compare yesterday's abysmal BBC TV coverage with Channel 4's newsworthy coverage - which also included Obama;s reference to Jerusalem being the undivided capital of Israel. This last, by the way, is strangely lacking from your own story.

Dov, Chertsey, U.K.

The USA cannot hope to broker a Mid East peace deal between Israel and the various Arab States, if it consistently backs Israel to the hilt no matter what. Of course the Zionist lobby in Washington is very strong, but only by listening to both sides and avoiding another NI, will success be in reach

Alexander Fraser, Tayport, Scotland

He says he is fresh new start for American politics. Doesnt look like anything has changed with regards to The Israel lobby. America should not be involved in brokering the peace.

a sab, london, ul

I am far away from all this but I have always been interested in the presidential race. Clinton would be a very destructive force as Obama's sidekick. She represents everything that a new beginning does not. Obama should pick someone with ideologies similar to his even if it costs him the election.

Jay, Chennai, India

It is quite possible - and sensible - to want to have dialogue whilst opposing a position of another country.

I think that Obama is a breath of fresh air and that he is the best choice

Merseymike, Liverpool,

The Palestinian 'problem' will never be solved until USA acts even handedly between Israel and Palestine which will not happen given Obama's speech to AIPAC yet there are 9 million Muslims in the USA and 8 million Jews. The major impediment to progress is neither Israel nor Palestine but the USA.

Garth Wiseman, london, england

i think even one sees that a black man always has to do extra. even if u win you cannot be recognised. How bad this is. It shows that race discrimination is still alive. Then even why is he forced to give such a person a vice presidential slot. Let her rot in the senate instead.

tim, liverpool, uk

As someone who has supported Obama from day 1, I am disappointed that he has allowed himself so quickly to be collared by the Israeli lobby. The world has its eyes fixed on this election because it believes he offers a genuine chance for an honest resolution. Equally worrying are his remarks on Iran

LAKSHMAN PARDHANANI, GOA, India

This position he takes is reminiscent of his statement regarding Rev Wright. Can any sane person accept as truth what he says? "I can not give up Rev Wright" ... THEN HE DID "I cannot give up my church". THEN HE DID. Sounds like politics to me, in other words, OBAMA WILL SAY WHAT HE HAS TO

john walls, Lancaster, U.S.A. CALIFORNIA

As a Hillary Clinton supporter the news is definatly not what we wanted to hear! But I think we are all now willing to back Obama.

R Young, Sussex, United Kingdom

Come of it Mary, Europe just like the US, is politically, culturally and economically developed. Muslims are not the threat. extremists are. The good news is that in Iran and Israel, moderates are slowly gaining ground on the extremists who have had control for too long. Less fear more dialogue.

Matthew, Adelaide, South Australia,

The US is NOT pushed around by Israel. They are an ally; get it? You should worry about the Muslims pushing around Europe! Check out the worldwide Muslim pop. and Jewish pop. and see who is pushing whom around.

Luke from Perth; your comment is so ridiculous it speaks for itself.

Mary Catherine, Elmhurst, USA

His first speech after being nominated is infront of the israeli likud lobby in favour of the likud lobby.
Why was it not in front of the American public in favour of the American public.
Is only corperate usa and the likud lobby being represented in the next election?

john, buenos aires, argentina

Obama should not easily succumb to the political pressures around him with regards to Middle East situation, he must not make the similar serious strategic blunders made by the Bush Administration in the Middle East. Obama should take a sensible, responsible, constructive & peaceful approach.

Pushpa, Brisbane, Australia

He has promised is to not let Iran threaten the US and Israel with nukes and to protect Israel from attack. It is mark of the discourse that these can would considered to be pandering .

In fact both of these have broad support in US

(Of course Americans can be assumed to be stupid and ignorant)

David Summers, Menlo Park, CA, USA

You say, "Sombre Barack Obama aims opening salvo at Iran."

But on television last summer, Mr Obama said he be willing to meet the leaders Iran and Cuba "without preconditions" during his first year in office.

Will the REAL Senator Obama please stand up And explain the sudden about face?

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

There are more muslims in America than jews! why doesn't each president give free nuclear bombs and financial support to muslim countries like it does to israel?The way israel is conducting itself at the moment it will self destruct in a generation.

Luke, perth, australia

US foriegn policy is heavily influenced by Israel and this also showed how weak the position of american presidency can be. US calls itself a superpower yet is being pushed around by a tiny country half-way around the world!

Cyrus Marcus, Cambridge, UK

Of-course,he and McCain have to make the pilgrimage to the AIPAC convention, and speak tough ,and show their loyalty to Israel and the important Jewish vote.The whole thing is explained in the remarkable book:"the Israel lobby and US foreign policy",by professors John Mearsheimer,and Stephen Walt.

Sam, Dallas, USA