Obama isn't saying anything about the conflict because as soon as he "takes sides"

[fed_up_mother]

it will be harder to broker a peace agreement, so it's much better to remain neutral. If this continues into his presidency, he may have to say something, but for the time being, I think he's wise to keep his mouth shut.

[bigtree]

1. he'll eventually have to 'take sides' . . .at least publicly

Support for Israel will likely come first . . . then some 'concern' about Palestinians caught in the crossfire.

[Lost-in-FL]

2. Interesting...

to see if he stays neutral during his presidency but I do not think is possible.

[fed_up_mother]

5. Once he's president he will have to speak up. Right now, he has the luxury of remaining silent

and hoping the fighting ends before he takes office. That puts him in a better position to negotiate, imo.

[Runcible Spoon]

8. there is no way this will be over by the time he takes office

I find Obama's silence to be cold political calculation, which is not exactly comforting right now. I very seriously doubt Obama will eventually come out with anything drastically different than the Bush administration's stance.

[chimpymustgo]

16. That, too is my fear. He needs to show his "new kind of leadership". At least something about

working hard to bring peace to the area after he takes office. That wouldn't be very much at all. But he needs to say SOMETHING!.

[leftofthedial]

3. yeah. isolationism good.

he had no problem taking sides on the executive supply-side bailout of wall street (for it--give the fat cats all the money they want asap).

but he was wisely neutral when it was time to loan money to the employers of one of our last remaining unions. (can't let them fail, bu I'm not exactly in favor of THIS plan, right NOW).

he should remain circumspect regarding wholesale slaughter of civilians because if he had an opinion, which officially, wisely, he does not, it might offend someone, somewhere, somehow.

[backscatter712]

4. I wish he'd at least say he deplores the violence against civilians.

He doesn't have to take sides. I don't think it's too much to make a public statement calling for an end to the bloodshed.

[Chulanowa]

7. But that is of course "taking sides" against Israel

Because the claim is every Palestinian is a terrorist from the moment of birth.

It's a dumb-as-all-shit claim, but for some reason it's very effective at catching the wind.

[Lost-in-FL]

9. Should he take sides...

or not? I would love to see him NOT take sides and see what happens. Don't we want change?

[Chulanowa]

12. I don't think he should "take sides"

but instead approach the two groups on equal ground. Treat them as international conflicts are supposed to be treated - By the UN charter all nations are inherent equals, and UN nations are to deal with non-members as such. It would be nice to see that in practice

[Lost-in-FL]

15. I think so too. nt

[GoesTo11]

10. Link?

I haven't seen the claim tat every Palestinian is a terrorist from the moment of birth.

[Chulanowa]

11. Check the I/P forum

You'll find lots of posts indicating that everyone who's been killed deserved it. Check out the American or Israeli right. Have a look at the constant western media coverage. The overall message? There are no "civilians" in Gaza. The reasons range from the over-the-top claim that they're all terrorists, to the claim that since they voted for Hamas they're terrorist enablers, or that because they live next door to people who voted Hamas they're accomplishes to enablers of terrorism, whatever.

Still a bunch of dead Arabs which makes for a lot of happy assholes

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. It's wise of him to keep his mouth shut

because he is not POTUS yet.

Until then, it's in the Bush camp.

[AtomicKitten]

13. I'm disgusted & ashamed that * nixed a ceasefire & the conflict is televised 24/7 here.

* is obviously giving the wink-wink to Israel to go nuts, again, all the while the PNAC boys are out banging the war drums against Iran.

This next 16 days will be long. Obama has a lot of work to do to turn this freakshow around.

[deaniac21]

14. He has a long history of fence straddling but as president

he will have to lead. This will be escalated by the time he takes office. Somethng will HAVE to be done by the US.