Prez poll tip of broader iceberg of 'dysfunction': Obama

The ongoing US presidential election is "the tip of a broader iceberg of dysfunction" that the country has seen, President Barack Obama said today, observing that this is the single most important thing he is being asked during his meetings with global leaders.
"A couple of things could stop us. No 1 is if our political system continues to be dysfunctional," he said.
"It's fascinating the degree to which the single most important question I'm asked these days from other world leaders is, what's going on with your elections? The current presidential election just is the tip of a broader iceberg of dysfunction that we've seen," Obama was quoted as saying by the CBS News.

Obama said one thing he has learned during his presidency is that the big breakthroughs are typically the result of just a lot of grunt work.
"There's a lot of just blocking and tackling. What is important is making sure that you've got an organisation that has integrity, that is clear about its mission, that is doing things the right way and not taking shortcuts, that you're not thinking in terms of short-term politics or PR, but you're in for the long haul and when you do that, then ultimately you're going to get the good outcome," he said.
Responding to a question on his "Obama doctrine", the President said he has always shied away from labeling his foreign policy.

"What I believe is that the United States, as the world's singular superpower, has an obligation in all areas of the world where there's mayhem and war and conflict for us to try to be a positive force. But that does not mean that we should be deploying troops everywhere where a crisis is taking place. That we have to be judicious about how we use military power," he said.

Obama said he has shown no hesitance to use of US military where necessary to protect American lives, American interests.
On Syria, he said there's no doubt that there are many in the Middle East who would have preferred him taking a shot at Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian ruler.

"But the reason is not because of some abstract notions of redlines. Assad is a horrible leader, a horrible dictator who has shattered his country. It continues to be our position that we need to get him out of there," he said.
A day earlier he called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, during which he indicates that they starting to see it fray more rapidly.
"And if the United States and Russia are not in sync about maintaining it and getting a political track and transition moving, then we could be back in a situation we were three, four weeks ago. And that would serve neither of our interests," he said.

"I think they're also very much committed to maintaining the structure of the Syrian state, which in theory we don't object to either. Where we have continually butted heads, and this has been true for six years now, is his insistence that he cannot back unilaterally the removal of Assad. That's a decision that Assad and the Syrians have to make," Obama said.