Clinton and Obama have dramatically different visions for American foreign policy. One of the key policy distinctions between the two candidates is their differing views on the issue of negotiating with unsavory foreign leaders. Clinton has argued for a policy of continuity with the current administration — that it is a mistake to sit down, without preconditions, with the likes of Hugo Chavez, Bashar al-Assad, or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Obama, for his part, believes that establishing preconditions is like putting the cart before the horse.
Analyst Matt Eckel, over at his blog, makes one of the clearest arguments I’ve read in support of Obama’s position. Check it out.