Obama to Arabs: US Isn't Your Enemy

Obama to Arabs: US Isn't Your Enemy

www.military.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Well this is interesting. President Obama according to this Associated Press article is communicating his common ties to the Muslim world and a direct understanding that U.S. relations with the Arab World were much stronger and healthier decades ago and could be again.

So far President Obama has not done anything concrete to alter the depth of our ties with Israel and U.S. support for their policies which is causing the Arabs to be lukewarm in reveiving his Presidency as opposed to much of Europe, Africa and Latin America whose enthusiasm and optimism is significant and notable.

It will be interesting to see if President Obama can walk that thin and challenging line of meeting the American Jewish Lobby's expectations while offering something tangible enough to overcome Arab skepticism.

I for one will be impressed if he can.

www.military.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Well this is very encouraging, and I don't doubt that Obama is very committed to diplomacy, peace and better ties with the Middle east. However i'm worried that Israel shall do something hasty and America will be pressured into helping them and thereby further alienate the progressive countries in the middle east, or Iran and Saudi Arabia will try to 'push their luck' and see what they can get from a more permissive president.

Now i truly hope his stance will work, and i'm sure it will, but just the fact that Iran has now demanded an apology from the United States over the past relations and actions of America lends weight to my fears that the U.S is going to be 'tested'.

Actually the sucking sound that I am hearing coming from him, as he kisses up to the aribic/muslum community is sickening to me.

reply to post by KnowMore

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No doubt. Let's just nuke 'em, right? Screw talking. Maybe we can just water board the entire race.

Why shouldn't he reach out? If you're going to victimise a whole religion just because of a few people that twist doctrine then we could go against Christianity or Judaism. Every culture, every religion, every ideology has it's bad eggs. Unless we reach out then the violence will continue, more young people WILL get radicalised and hatred will continue - on both sides.

reply to post by Venit

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It is kind of encouraging and I have to admitt it makes me want to hold my breath for fear like you point out anything might disturb or disrupt those efforts. I can only hope the effort on Obama's part is genuine and one he is resolved towards.




As difficult as it is to admitt Iran isn't far off base in some of it's accusations or demands. It's hard not to reject them simply because of the source and if you are an American like I am it's human nature to want to defend mistakes and thinking to justify them rather than accept criticism that might make you want to rectify them.

reply to post by Irish M1ck

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I couldn't quite tell if you were being serious or sarcastic! I am guessing the latter and starred you for the humor. I think we need to put more emphassis on diplomacy.

maybe a bit off topic but mitchell was fairly involved in the Northern Ireland peace process, i think, a good guy for the position if you want to try to broker peace. nice appointment.

reply to post by pieman

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No doubt. An ingenious appointment. Back to the roots of skillful diplomacy.

[edit on 1/28/2009 by Irish M1ck]

Dont worry, Im sure you will find someone else to join in the hate against something. There are always more people wanting more wars out there, you'll find someone. Maybe you can have a war against people who wear blue shirts.



[edit on 28-1-2009 by Copernicus]

Let's just see if Obama is action, and not just talk.

Personally, I wouldn't hold my breath.

reply to post by pieman

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Actually the article mentions that Arabs are somewhat encouraged by the appointment of Mitchell to the region as a peace negotiator.

It all in part is going to boil down to how anxious and desirous the opposing factions are for peace. True peace and not just a battle victory in the propoganda wars while behind the scenes everyone and their brother tries to undermine it or disparage it.

reply to post by Daystar

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I truly have my own reservations about this too. I am unsure whether things like this are genuine overtures or simply ploys to disarm people and grant more time and patience while the status quo stays the same or worsens along the way.

reply to post by Daystar

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We can only wait and see. I wouldn't recommend holding your breath either. This mess is going to take a long time to clean it up, if he even can.

a lesson learned from northern ireland is that the people, the ordinary person on the street, is always, always very anxious and desirous for a just peace.

the challange, i believe, is not to convince the normal joe soap that they should accept peace but to convince them that you can deliver a just peace.

this is a really, really great first step in climbing that mountain.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

At last a President who seems to understand.

reply to post by Skyfloating

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Another very wise observation, thanks!

reply to post by pieman

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I have to admitt I am pleasantly surprised. It would have been political suicide for him to openly stress his Muslim roots during the campaign for the White House. It took some real courage to come out and stress them during his satellite address.

It is ARABIC and Muslim(American Spelling)/ Moslem(English Spelling).
KnowMore your ignorance shows. And no one will accept lectures from one whose ignorance is pervasive. People with your views don't solve problems. They complain and ridicule and offer nothing in the way of solutions. If you have a better way then pipe up, spreading hate and ignorance like this is no way to solve our problem in the MUSLIM world.