How do you rate Obama’s excellent adventure? What do you think were the most and least successful parts of it?
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BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
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This Obama Photo Album should be sent to McCain. …Sums it up.
Why is it framed that Obama has to defend the tour?
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Hey, Obama: There’s Bratwurst in Ohio, Too (but No Cheering Masses)
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."the jealous, moaning McCain – depending on the hour he shifts gears
Just call him McWhiner. And why Obama has to defend his trip is another fucking media creation to give them something to talk about all week. They don’t even know how to ask real questions anymore.
Just like Brian Williams asking Obama after berlin speech what did he want the public to take away from his speech..what soundbite basically like ‘tear down this wall’ etc and that sums of the great thinking of the news media-did we get a good soundbite or not.
Or Mayor McCheese.
First, John McCain “double-dog dared him” to go overseas.
Then the media thought Obama may not know what to do and basically trip on his $%#!.
He then exceeds all their BS and/or low expectations. They couldn’t trip him up.
McLame, when he’s not being driven around by Poppy in a golf cart or knocking over apple sauce, whines that he won’t be ignored! as he continues to get a free pass on getting basic facts wrong.
Media falls back in line, tries to pretend that CBS edit of McLame’s interview didn’t deserve more condemnation and ponders if Obama’s been “too successful” during his trip.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Great, great photo album. Thanks a bunch, Idredit.
Ignod = Dongi = Daredevil Don
Follow your bliss.
just imagine, his campaign made all the arrangements without any help from Condi, who gave strict hands-off orders not to help – exception “you can tell them where to rent a bus”
I think the overall picture of how a President Obama would approach the world stage was very impressive. Dare I say, hopeful…
As far as the Middle East goes, and especially the Palestinian-Israel situation, it was horrible, just horrible. He spent the overwhelming bulk of his time shmoozing and pandering with the Israelis, and pretty much blew off the Palestinians. His only mention of the hell-world Palestinians are living in under the boot of Israel was to dismiss it as “difficulties” – and this from a man who once upon a time before he decided he wanted to be President, acted almost like he got it, and was an advocate of Palestinian rights.
As for Iraq, he did get a bit more specific about his non-withdrawal plan, saying he would leave a “large force” there after the 16-month non-withdrawal, and keep a major combat force in Kuwait to rush into Iraq any time he decided it was suitable.
For Afghanistan, he plans to try to decrease the violence there by increasing the violence – a favourite technique of Israel and the U.S., and one that never works unless you commit enough violence to kill off virtually the entire population (and even then it does not always work, since it looks like they are ramping up to destroy what little they left intact and alive in Falluja in 2004). It hasn’t worked for the Israelis after 60 years. It didn’t work for the Spanish in their conflict with the Basques (the Spanish, unlike the Israelis and the Americans finally got smart and tried something else – diplomacy – and guess what? That worked!). Of course, common sense should tell you that increasing your violence does not result in an overall decrease in violence.
So, although it sounds like Obama will do what he can to mend things with Europe, which is good, as far as the Middle East and South Asia are concerned, looks like it will be business as usual.
I think he was under a lot of pressure not to give an official foreign policy type speech as it would rightly be seen as presumptuous for him to do that.
Sorry, I am not sure what in my comment this pertains to.
Yes, Hurria, all too true. The word for his cold, calculating approach to the Israeli oppression of Palestine is despicable. A small detail: the Europeans are happier to see Bush go than to see Obama come. He’s apparently ready to open his shop for business as usual. The question is if the rest of the world is willing to go along with it and buy his goods.
People in the Middle East – those who entertained any illusions in the first place (which I did not) – received an important wake-up call last week. Palestinians, especially, are horribly disappointed after he virtually kicked them in the face. He spent all of about 45 minutes in Ramallah schmoozing with the collaborators there, did not even give a nod of acknowledgment to Hamas, democratically elected by the Palestinian people. And after accepting an invitation to dine with Mahmoud Abbas, et al., he decided at the last minute, after the food had been prepared, to have dinner with his Israeli buddies instead – in other words, he openly and very rudely dissed the only Palestinians deemed worthy of even saying hello to.
This article from the Guardian is more than worth reading – it is a must-read for anyone who gives a damn about the Middle East:
“When I and other Palestinian-Americans first knew Barack Obama in Chicago in the 1990s, he grasped the oppression faced by Palestinians under Israeli occupation. He understood that an honest broker cannot simultaneously be the main cheerleader, financier and arms supplier for one side in a conflict.“
……….
“Every aspect of Obama’s visit to Palestine-Israel this week has seemed designed to further appease pro-Israel groups. Typically for an American aspirant to high office, he visited the Israeli Holocaust memorial and the Western Wall. He met the full spectrum of Israeli Jewish (though not Israeli Arab) political leaders. He travelled to the Israeli Jewish town of Sderot, which until last month’s ceasefire, frequently experienced rockets from the Gaza Strip. At every step, Obama warmly professed his support for Israel and condemned Palestinian violence.
“Other than a cursory 45-minute visit to occupied Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinians got little.“
……………
“But Obama missed the opportunity to visit Palestinian refugee camps, schools and even shopping malls to witness first-hand the devastation caused by the Israeli army and settlers, or to see how Palestinians cope under what many call “apartheid”. This year alone, almost 500 Palestinians, including over 70 children, have been killed by the Israeli army – exceeding the total for 2007 and dwarfing the two-dozen Israelis killed in conflict-related violence.
“Obama said nothing about Israel’s relentless expansion of colonies on occupied land.”
did you really expect him to cuddle up to Palestinians when he’s being smeared a Muslim by everyone who gets their fake news from scary Fox?
I guess I would like to see him at least pretend to be a bit more even handed, but I am rather glad to see him show his true colours now so it is clear to us all what we can expect.
all those expecting change from Obama will be sadly disappointed. If you read up on his background, his books and views he’s a very cautious individual…center and right of center on a majority of issues and values.
caution in your makeup means you don’t take risks, sloooooow to change.
That’s why I never had any illusions to begin with – you see, I based my decisions about the candidate on real things, not on their P.R. material.
However, his treatment of the Palestinians, and his slavering obsequiousness toward the Israelis IS a change for him. He actually used to act as if he cared about the Palestinians and understood the hell life they are living under Israeli occupation. So, it seems his comfort with change depends on opportunism, not caution, and that makes him just another politician.
beg to disagree with you on the Palestinian Israel stance.
this article has Obama’s neighbor of over 10 years – Rabbi Wolf he had this to say:
Perhaps s/he’s cautious because s/he’s tired of being burned by appeasers and collaborators who pretend themselves evenhanded torchbearers of social justice and peace. Those who have taken risks with their votes for this particular liar aren’t particularly wise in my opinion. Caution in this case is wise.
your choice then is McCain the mother of all liars who forgets from minute to minute what he said in the last second. Put your trust in him?
This is not a serious reply and therefore doesn’t deserve a serious answer. Too bad.
PS A significant percentage of Palestinians are Christians, and they are every bit as oppressed as the Muslim Palestinians are. And, in fact, they have been as active in the liberation movements and resistance, but violent and non-violent as their Muslim brothers and sisters have been. It might surprise many people to know that some of the most infamous Palestinian “terrorists” and terrorists were and are Christians.
Correction: Make that BOTH violent and non-violent.
I suspect that the warmth of Obama’s welcome had as much to do with the prospect of relief from “yeehaw” foreign policy as it did with Obama.
Most and least successful to my mind or the general public? I think the most successful had to be meeting with Maliki and that coinciding with Maliki’s announcement of timetable withdrawal agreeing with Obama’s. Anyone who thinks that was ‘luck’ on Obama’s part isn’t too bright. Maliki knew Obama was coming and him giving that interview to Der Speigal had to be a perfect plant.
Least successful-ignoring Palestinians.
I do think the juxtaposition of pictures from Obama’s speech in Berlin in contrast with McLamo’s in a grocery aisle will stick in publics mind. And Grandpa didn’t do himself any favors when talking about 4 dollars for gallon of milk and had to look down at his notes especially as he was standing in front of milk case.
“Maliki’s announcement of timetable withdrawal agreeing with Obama’s.“
Those of us who understand that in this context “withdrawal” does not really mean ending the occupation, but rather reconfiguring it, were not as impressed as those who still entertain the delusion that they are actually talking about ending the occupation. Those of us who have been paying attention to Iraq’s internal politics are even less impressed.
PS Obama did not just ignore the Palestinians, he dissed them.
But of course, our oh so very Librul Media has come away from this week with the lesson that poor McCain just can’t get a fair shake.
expect to see more push back from surrogates such as richardson. from a visit to denver today:
Richardson hits McCain’s “sour grapes”
McCain has been knee-capped by Bush and today, from Senators Hagel and Reed:
Hagel says judgment more important than experience