Obama already mired on Middle East road

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http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JF06Ak02.html


Senator Barack Obama has finally clinched the Democratic party's nomination for the United States presidency, and already the intense pressures on him to tame broad calls for "change" in the US's domestic and external policies have chewed away a good deal of his initial sound and fury, already making him look like a business-as-usual candidate.

Speaking before the powerful Jewish lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in Washington on Wednesday, Obama did his best to assure his audience that they could count on his solid support for the state of Israel as well as his determination to "do everything in my power" to prevent Iran from "gaining nuclear capability".

Put on the defensive by his Republican rival, Senator John McCain, who has questioned Obama's "wisdom" on a range of foreign policy issues, including Iran, in light of Obama's declared willingness to negotiate directly with the Iranian leaders, Obama has now clipped his own wings with so many qualifiers that in effect render meaningless his pretentions to a "different foreign policy approach for America", to paraphrase one of his earlier speeches.

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He continued that the choice offered Iran is as follows: "abandon its dangerous nuclear program, support for terrorism and threats to Israel" in exchange for "meaningful incentives, including the lifting of the sanctions, and political and economic integration with the international community."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has termed as "pointless" any direct talks with Iran as long as Tehran refuses to suspend its controversial nuclear activities. Obama has now put himself one tiny step below this bar, irrespective of his earlier insistence on dialogue without preconditions.

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(While Jews account for only 3% of the population, they are concentrated in such key swing states as Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. And financial contributions from Jewish donors account for as much as 20% of Republican campaign funds and as much as 40% of Democratic funds, according to a recent article by the Forward, the largest nationally circulated Jewish newspaper in the US, Inter Press Service reports.)

-snip-

By boxing himself into set positions on the Middle East peace process, Obama may have enhanced his election chances. Yet he has undermined global confidence in his ability to introduce meaningful change in the hitherto intrusive and hegemonic predilections of US foreign policy.
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tell me the Israeli lobby isn't powerfull

[grantcart]

1. It is powerful and he made a great speech at AIPAC but you have cherry picked it well

[Imagevision]

2. "mires?" oh poleeeze....!

[cali]

3. In what universe is CA or NJ a swing state? ridiculous.

and the Jewish population of PA is what exactly?

[newmajority]

11. Ed Rendell

But he controls the DIEBOLD machines, so he can add a few, if he wants. :rofl:

[Dhalgren]

4. And in truth, he didn't have to do it.

He didn't have to go to his knees at the AIPAC, but he did it anyway. That is how skewed our political world is. AIPAC is just one stop along the corporate highway to the White House...

Yeah team! Fired up! Ready to obey!

[MarjorieG]

9. He did fine. AIPAC uses money and support as leverage, but Obama is independent in both.

Israel wants diplomacy and negotiation, and that's key. Bush played mostly to fundies and hardliners.

Defense of Israel and the suport of our only real democracy is necessary, and in writing.

[Dhalgren]

14. I disagree with you, but that's ok.

In the "New America" lying about the Middle East is required. Calling Israel "our only real democracy" is just an example of how the US owns everything - how the US is above all others. It is really sad that this is how everyone has come to "think" (if that word can even be used). Oh, and legal slavery also used to be "in writing", so things can change from wrong to right...sometimes...

[uponit7771]

5. I heard the speech and thought this was a mistake & could give the Bush admin an excuse to bomb Iran

...and they'd do it too.

They would use Obama's words to launch an attack and could care less how many people they killed.

[lumpy]

7. Reading the transcript of Obama's speech to AIPAC

one can only draw the conclusion that he would be following the Bush administration's policy regarding Iran and Israel. He is perfectly willing to use the pressuring tools of military threat/sanctions, non-concession, use any and all means to prevent Iran from nuclear development, protect/side with Israel at all costs. More of the same-same Bush/McCain/Iran policy. The only idea Obama has thrown into the mix is his concept of using diplomatic means with Iran; water and oil doesn't mix well.

[MarjorieG]

12. Posture and US law to protect Israel, but how he power brokes and negotiates key.

Use trust here. There is a huge difference in fundie Bush policy and what Obama would ultimately do. I think he carries some trust initially going to negotiate with the Arab world, who is also at fault. We progressives are the hurt-wing of the party, and only see them victim in the Palestinian/Arab world problem.

It's confusing and not easy.

[TooBigaTent]

6. As the GE gets closer, I fully expect Obama to move even further to the right to

attract those swing voters, repugs, and conservatives he covets so highly.

I really do not look forward to his pandering and selling out on the issues, but it is inevitable. Just because he is not as right-wing as McSame does not make him a liberal and his kow-towing to the Israel lobby is a perfect example. The Senator does not have the courage to truly challenge the status quo that runs Amerika. He will mouth cosmetic "changes" at best. What a disappointment.

[lumpy]

10. It is a disappointment to realize that Obama will take the easy

road to 'solving' the middle east problems. As I suspected he will follow the established policies set in concrete by previous administrations. I really don't believe he has any plans/ideas how to change direction concerning any foreign policies whether it be the mid east or Cuban/So.American relations. He has been astute in pointing out the problems the US faces but that's about it. Like Tom Sawyer maybe he can only depend on others to run the show.

[LSK]

13. you don't know if any of that is true

That is just your narcissistic gut feeling. What if Obama panders a little to the right for the general, wins in a landslide then says fuck you status quo, I have the power, I have the Congress, I have the mandate and this is what we are doing?

You are just guessing like I am guessing. Lets not get disappointed until we actually have something to be disappointed about.

[lumpy]

15. Obama has stated his stance on the Israel/ Iran problem

quite clearly, if you read the transcript of his speech to AIPAC. No guessing about it. Not a great idea to pander to win votes and then do a turnabout, not that I believe Obama intends to do so. I really think he will continue to rely on the mideast policies already in place. The quickest way for voters to lose trust is for a candidate to go against his/her stated concepts. This is exactly what Bush has done and look at the results of his waffling. This country needs truthful representation.

[Alter Ego]

8. Since when is CA or PA a "swing state"?

And Jersey's the biggest Republican tease ever--it gets close enough for them to blow gazillions of dollars in the state every cycle in the hope of winning it, then they go "Ha ha, fuck you" and go Dem.