Obama's UN Debacle - The Nation

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

So much for "support" of The Arab Spring.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/163567/obamas-un-debacle

Barack Obama’s appearance at the United Nations was an unmitigated disaster.

Like a slow-motion train wreck, one that everyone knew was coming months ago, the president succumbed shamelessly to the domestic political pressure from the Israel lobby, its Republican party allies, and the menacing Benjamin Netanyahu, the thuggish prime minister of Israel. In one speech, Obama smashed to pieces every hopeful speech, false-start peace initiative, and half-hearted initiative he’s tried since taking office. The appointment of George Mitchell as Middle East peace envoy? Dead. The June, 2009, speech in Cairo aimed at rebuilding ties to the Arab and Muslim world? Dead. His feckless call for Israel to stop building illegal settlements on Palestinian land under occupation by Israel’s brutish army and a vast militia of armed, fanatical settlers? Dead. His weak-kneed call for a deal between Israel and Palestine based on the 1967 borders? Dead as a doornail.

It’s impossible to say, at this stage, how bad the damage will be. At the very least, the United States has ceded all leadership in the peace process. The impact in the Middle East will be enormous, not least among the Egyptian revolutionaries and other leaders of the Arab Spring who, already cynical and hostile to American policy on Israel, will now write off Washington completely, and turn to Europe, Russia, and China. Saudi Arabia, whose former ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki, has been increasingly vocal in warning the United States that the Saudis will break with Washington, will step in to pick up the pieces now if the craven members of the U.S. Congress cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu, the boorish piece of muscle who runs Israel, called Obama’s speech a “badge of honor.” According to news reports, though, the entire UN General Assembly sat on its hands during Obama’s speech, not applauding once. Mahmoud Abbas, the PA president, watched glumly, his head in his hands.

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Kolesar]

2. "Saudis will break with Washington"--the country that defends them?

Their petro-customer??

"Benjamin Netanyahu, the thuggish prime minister of Israel" -- no kidding

[Bandit]

3. Defends them from what?

How on earth did they EVER manage before the USA came into existence?

[markpkessinger]

10. For starters . . .

. . . from everyone in Saudi Arabia who was not so lucky as to be born into the royal family.

[Kolesar]

11. Iran could blockade their trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz

the US Navy had to patrol the strait in the 1980s.

[hifiguy]

4. The tail wags the dog

when it comes to ME policy. And Obama is no exception to that rule.

[Bragi]

5. Obama is now an extremist

Obama is now aligned with Canadian Prime Minister Harper in his support for Israel's right-wing government.

Seriously, as a Canadian I know you can't get more imbalanced against the Palestinians than Harper, and Obama is now right there with him, approving of whatever the Likud wants to do.

This is pathetic. Obama should at least have the integrity to send his Nobel Peace Prize back to Sweden.

[Bigmack]

8. "...send his Nobel Peace Prize back to Sweden."

Yes. Ms Bigmack

[DrDan]

6. "ceded all leadership" - yep

[Bluebear]

7. Give that man a Nobel peace prize!

[azul]

9. Shameful.

Time to get the hell out of the ME. It's killing US.

[SidDithers]

12. unrecommend

Sid

[blindpig]

13. Ah, the seal of approval...

must be doing something right.