Obama said U.S. needed “change” and he is doing It!
He Changes His U.S. Foreign Policy by Trial and Error,
As do all Novices with big mouths and No Experience!
July 22, 2010
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
When Obama says something like: “I was very clear in my original statement to the American people,” I know from experience one can count on his original statement being
one where he left himself a lot of wiggle room. He is like the man who could speak 43 different languages – None of which could be understood.
Begin Two Excerpts from Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs/Daily alert
July 21, 2010
Excerpt 1 – Ha’aretz
Obama’s Turnabout
Aluf Benn
President Barack Obama’s campaign of wooing Israel reflects a fundamental about-face in U.S. policy in the Middle East.
U.S. priorities have changed: At the top are the intensifying problem of Iran
and concerns about the change of leadership in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Under such circumstances, Israel is perceived as a vital ally, and not an obstacle to warmer ties between the U.S. and the Muslim world, as was the view at the start of Obama’s tenure.
When Obama came into office he hoped to reach an agreement on sharing influence with the regional power, Iran.
So he cooled toward Israel and pulled out of the closet the well-worn club called “settlements.” But that didn’t work. The Iranians waved off Obama’s goodwill gesture, and the Arab states ignored the Palestinian issue and made it clear that blocking Iran was more important. This is the reason for the turnabout in Obama’s approach. (Ha’aretz)
Excerpt 2 – The Australian
U.S. Rethinks Tactics for Middle East
Ehud Yaari
President Obama’s foreign policy team have reached the conclusion that picking unnecessary fights with Israel was not going to advance the peace process. They are not getting anything in return from the Arab world. There has also been a change of heart in Washington concerning Iran.
I have solid information that the top echelons of the administration have concluded that the U.S. cannot adopt the option of containing a nuclear Iran.
There is an understanding that in no way can Iran be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
How do we know this
? Among other things, because this is what the Americans have been telling Arab leaders over recent weeks.
I believe Obama and some of the people around him are reaching the conclusion that a policy based on engagement doesn’t really work. They got a “no” for an answer from the Syrians, they repeatedly get a “no” from the Iranians, and they get slapped back all over the place.
They are saying to themselves, “That’s about as much as we are prepared to take.” The writer is Lafer International Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Middle East commentator for Channel 2 news in Israel. (The Australian)
Begin Excerpt 3 from THE JERUSALEM POST
Abbas: Obama is being unclear
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
07/21/2010
PA leader confirms US pressuring him for direct talks.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday criticized US President Barack Obama for failing to provide him with clear answers to a number of questions regarding the future of peace talks with Israel.
Abbas also confirmed that Obama has been exerting pressure on him to enter direct negotiations with Israel.
Abbas was speaking during a closed meeting of members of the Fatah Revolutionary Council in Ramallah.
Abbas was quoted by some Fatah operatives as saying that Egypt and Jordan supported the PA’s refusal to move to direct talks unless progress is first achieved on the issues of security and the future borders of a Palestinian state.
“We can’t go to direct negotiations like blind people,” Abbas was quoted as saying.
“We can’t enter direct negotiations without clarity.”
Abbas complained that Obama recently sent him an oral message urging him to launch direct negotiations with Israel unconditionally.
According to the PA president, Obama’s message was “unclear and ambiguous.”
Abbas was quoted as saying: “With all due respect to the American president, his message was not clear. We want to clear answers to questions we presented to the Americans, especially regarding security, borders and the status of Jerusalem.
We continue to insist that any negotiations with Israel be based on recognition of 1967 as the future borders of the Palestinian state.”
Abbas said that the US administration has also failed to give the Palestinians a clear answer with regard to Israel’s policy of settlement construction.
“Before we go to the negotiations, we want clear answers on the borders and settlements,” Abbas stressed.
He is also under pressure from Fatah to reshuffle the cabinet of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad so that it would include more ministers from Fatah.
Some of the Fatah operatives at the meeting attacked Fayyad and accused him of “marginalizing” their faction and denying their supporters key jobs.
Muhammad Taha, a member of the Revolutionary Council, said he expected a cabinet reshuffle within two weeks. He said that the discussions also focused on
the severe financial crisis in Fatah.
Another council member, Sabri Saidam, said Abbas asked the Fatah council to present him with a name of candidates for ministerial posts in a new cabinet.
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