thrown an unexpected question from an ordinary american. >> this is the cnn youtube debate. >> would he meet without preconditions with the leaders of iran, syria, venezuela, cuba and north korea? >> i would. and the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them, which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration is ridiculous. >> thanks very much, everyone. good night. >> viewed today, the statement might not seem extraordinary, but in 2007, it was practically revolutionary to say an american president would speak to strongmen like iran's ahmadinejad and north korea's kim. >> constitute an axis of evil. >> two-thirds of president bush's axis of evil. >> we're not going to have our president meet with --