Obama Says No to Nukes (in Afghanistan, Pakistan)

when it comes to nuclear weapons, about the only thing those on both sides of the political aisle seem to agree on is that we don't have a clear strategy (notwithstanding the administration's three-page white paper). So, in that context, it's perhaps not surprising that Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama also seems a little, well, confused on the issue in an interview with the Associated Press:

"I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance," Obama said, with a pause, "involving civilians." Then he quickly added, "Let me scratch that. There's been no discussion of nuclear weapons. That's not on the table."

Sen. Hillary Clinton pounced on this issue, implying that ruling out the use of nuclear weapons undercuts deterrence. Not that any of this provides any clarity about what the U.S. nuclear strategy should be.

Update:

While some have pointed to Obama's remarks as a blanket statement, the updated AP story notes that he was referring to strikes against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.