by Tina Grazier
UPDATE: This comes under the heading, “do a little dance”:
Facing criticism from Palestinians, Sen. Barack Obama acknowledged yesterday that the status of Jerusalem will need to be negotiated in future peace talks, amending a statement earlier in the week that the city “must remain undivided.” – Glenn Kessler – Washington Post
Barack Obama had made his foreign policy position clear. He had intended to engage the leaders of other countries in dialogue. His initial comments, delivered in that off hand relaxed style, gave the impression that a quick phone invitation was all that was required and, after a meeting was set up, love would be the force that would melt centuries of animosity and grievance, both real and imaginedthe clouds would partyou know the drill. This, he soon discovered, made him look like a little leaguer attemping to play in the pros. He consulted with a few folks and was soon issuing statements that made him sound like he had a clue. Of course he would observe protocols and begin with a plan but he wouldnt continue the failed Bush policies. Uh huhsure.
Yesterday morning Obama had the occasion to address the American Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC) and suddenly, beholdhis ideas regarding Israel, Iran and Hammas have transformed. His soft edges have sharpened a bit. Hes not quite so appeasing. The love fest might have to be put on hold. He needs the Jewish vote.
Feedback from the Middle East should begin to teach him how difficult it is to walk the razor sharp edge of presidential diplomacy. It requires more, much more, than a winning confident smile. The following stories illustrate the point:
Obama pledges support for Israel
Barack Obama has pledged unwavering support for Israel in his first foreign policy speech since declaring himself the Democratic nominee for president. ** He told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a prominent Jewish lobby, Israel’s security was “sacrosanct” and “non-negotiable”. ** He also said he would do “everything” to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon.
Oh boythatll win him a few points with Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs. Perhaps Obama could send a nice text message in the next few days letting them know he didnt really mean it
Palestinians condemn Obama speech, – Correspondents in Gaza City
A SPEECH by US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict drew condemnation from both sides of the Palestinian divide today. ** The Islamist Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip slammed the speech to a powerful US-Israeli lobby group in Washington, saying it confirmed US “hostility” to Arabs and Muslims. ** “We consider the statements of Obama to be further evidence of the hostility of the American administration to Arabs and Muslims,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. ** In the speech, Senator Obama reaffirmed his support for Israel and said Jerusalem should remain Israel’s “undivided” capital. ** Senator Obama’s comments also drew criticism from Mr Abbas. ** “We reject these words,” Mr Abbas said in the Palestinian political capital of Ramallah. “Jerusalem is one of the files under negotiation. The entire world knows perfectly well that we will never accept a state without (east) Jerusalem (as its capital). That should be clear.” ** Earlier top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat also slammed Senator Obama. ** “His remarks on Jerusalem cast doubt over the chances of peace,” Mr Erakat said. “We reject the positions of Barack Obama because they are in contradiction with the traditional positions of the United States which considers that east Jersualem is under occupation.” ** Mr Abu Zuhri said Senator Obama’s statements on Jerusalem “confirm the consensus of the two American political parties on unlimited aid to the (Israeli) occupation at the expense of Palestinians and Arabs”. The speech, he said, “destroys any hope for change in American policies toward the Arab-Israeli conflict”.
Does this mean Obama, who hasnt yet won the presidency, is off to a failed policy start? Hes wont be offering anything new as his former rhetoric claims. In fact his former lofty plans would have taken us back to a time when talk created the free and easy space for terrorist to attack: US Embasseys around the world, the USS Cole, and 911 for instance. “Talk” created the free and easy space for Arab terrorists to engage in terrible destruction without much danger of severe consequences. Thats a trip, dear friends, back to the future; a future wed all soon put behind us and never see again.