We need a president who can face the threats of the future,not keep grasping at the idea of the past. MEANING?

Question

The above statement is taken from Barack Obama's convention address-Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_obama_text

Answer 1

My thoughts are this, in the past our first reaction to any threat was a military one. This cannot go on. With the world getting smaller and smaller due to technology and computers we are going to have to find other solutions to problems in this world. Other countries are getting the same military might we claim to have. We are going to have to work and live with the rest of the world weather we agree with their politics or not. As we have seen lately the threats to us and others are not necessarly military such as a chemical threat, anthrax, killer virus.

Answer 2

It is another shot at the Bush Doctrine intended to show that McCain is not planning to fight the right battle. In this case Iraq versus Afghanistan and the hunt for Bin Laden. I think Obama made a huge tactical mistake attacking in this way in his speech. He should have stuck to what he plans to do only because in any political battle regarding national defense it is never good strategy to attack someone who is not only perceived as stronger on the subject, but also has served honorably when you have not. I am sure his supporters ate it up though.