Immediately after inauguration, Obama to appoint team to deal with Middle East troubles

[babylonsister]

President-elect prepares diplomatic offensive
Right after inauguration, team to be appointed to deal with Middle East troubles

By Susan Page, David Jackson and Mimi Hall
USA TODAY


WASHINGTON: President-elect Barack Obama says he will appoint a team immediately after his inauguration Tuesday to address "on Day One" the crisis in Gaza and brewing troubles across the Middle East.

"We've got a regional set of problems," Obama said in a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY, noting challenges in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as between Israelis and Palestinians. "They're not going to be solved in isolation. And we've got to be active in all these areas in order for us to be successful in any of these areas."

The diplomatic offensive, which could include the appointment of special envoys, contrasts sharply with President Bush's approach to the volatile region. Bush put less emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict early in his tenure and tended to deal with Middle East problems separately.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090116/1aobama16_st.art.htm

[European Socialist]

1. If it's all AIPAC stooges--forget it.

[babylonsister]

3. Nice assumption. Guess we won't find out til next week.

I hope you're surprised.

[European Socialist]

2. If it's all AIPAC stooges--forget it.