Barack Obama will mark a radical break in American foreign policy this week by unveiling a team of diplomats tasked with ushering in a new era of dialogue with enemies abroad.As Hillary Clinton prepares for Senate confirmation hearings this week, she will head a group of advisers who are virtual opposites to the appointees made by President George W Bush. While Bush favoured aggressive neoconservative ideologues, Obama has selected people whose doveish credentials seem impeccable.They will be responsible for reversing the political unilateralism of the Bush years and opening direct negotiations with hostile states, potentially ranging from Syria to Cuba and Venezuela and maybe including Iran and even Islamic militant group Hamas.
Barack Obama will mark a radical break in American foreign policy this week by unveiling a team of diplomats tasked with ushering in a new era of dialogue with enemies abroad.
As Hillary Clinton prepares for Senate confirmation hearings this week, she will head a group of advisers who are virtual opposites to the appointees made by President George W Bush. While Bush favoured aggressive neoconservative ideologues, Obama has selected people whose doveish credentials seem impeccable.
They will be responsible for reversing the political unilateralism of the Bush years and opening direct negotiations with hostile states, potentially ranging from Syria to Cuba and Venezuela and maybe including Iran and even Islamic militant group Hamas.
President-elect Barack Obama says the US will take a new approach to dealings with Iran under his leadership. Mr Obama said in a US TV interview screened on Sunday that "Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges". He said he was concerned about Iran's support for Lebanese Shia party Hezbollah and Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme. In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Obama also said he planned a special team to deal with conflict in the Middle East. The president-elect said he was not ruling out prosecution for possible crimes committed by Bush administration officials. And he repeated his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, but suggested it might not happen within his first 100 days in office.
President-elect Barack Obama says the US will take a new approach to dealings with Iran under his leadership.
Mr Obama said in a US TV interview screened on Sunday that "Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges".
He said he was concerned about Iran's support for Lebanese Shia party Hezbollah and Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme.
In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Obama also said he planned a special team to deal with conflict in the Middle East.
The president-elect said he was not ruling out prosecution for possible crimes committed by Bush administration officials.
And he repeated his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, but suggested it might not happen within his first 100 days in office.
