not going to speculate?

Obama Ducks Question on Israeli Nukes

The veteran correspondent Helen Thomas was also able to ask her first question of Obama’s presidency. In a clear reference to Israel, Thomas pressed Obama on nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Obama tried to ignore that part of her question.
President Obama: “All right. Helen? This is my inaugural moment here. I’m really excited."

Helen Thomas: "Mr. President, do you think that Pakistan and—are maintaining the safe havens in Afghanistan for these so-called terrorists? And also, do you know of any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?”

President Obama: “Well, I think that Pakistan—there is no doubt that in the FATA region of Pakistan, in the mountainous regions along the border of Afghanistan, that there are safe havens where terrorists are operating. And one of the goals of Ambassador Holbrooke, as he is traveling throughout the region, is to deliver a message to Pakistan that they are endangered as much as we are by the continuation of those operations and that we’ve got to work in a regional fashion to root out those safe havens…With respect to nuclear weapons, you know, I don’t want to speculate. What I know is this: that if we see a nuclear arms race in a region as volatile as the Middle East, everybody will be in danger. And one of my goals is to prevent nuclear proliferation generally. I think that it’s important for the United States, in concert with Russia, to lead the way on this.”

"i don't want to speculate?" well, first of all, it's not speculation when you know something for a fact. we know that israel has nuclear weapons, so where does the speculation part come in? and speaking of speculating, is that really something that obama doesn't want to do? if so, why does he "speculate" that venezuela has a "rogue" government? why does he "speculate" that all options are on the table in regards to iran, including the use of nuclear weapons? why does he "speculate" that the real war on terror is to be waged in afghanistan and pakistan, regardless of how many people we have to terrorize in the process? why does he "speculate" that "israel has the right to defend itself?" why does he "speculate" that we need to spend trillions on the economy?

so, of course, obama is not opposed to "speculating" on various subjects. rather, it was the nature of the question that silenced him. that question said a lot; we hear that iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons; well, what of israel's? for that matter, what of our own? if you notice, after refusing to acknowledge that israel is the only nation in the middle east to have nuclear weapons, obama escaped into vague platitudes that we can all agree on. such rhetoric appears progressive on the surface, but in truth, doesn't do anything for anybody. obama's response really says it all; we will speak in a vague manner about peace, but we will never acknowledge the true causes of violence in the world. of course, we can not do that, because that would implicate our own nation as the most violent on earth.

and that, we will never do.

whether we have changed or not.