Obama's speech of a new policy in the Mideast

[Samoray 165]

The only three things he said he's gonna do is eliminate 1 billion of the Egyptian debt and loan Egypt 1 billion in the shape of Investments, and he won't allow the PLO to take the Palestinian case to the UN in September in an effort to recognize a Palestinian state.

Everything else he said is no news but lots of shoulds

Syria should not kill it's people

Iran should stop it's nuclear dream

Israel should not build settlements and stop the repressing occupation

Hamas should recognize Israel and refrain from violence

Bahrain should give Shia freedom as Sunni

Egyptian copts should practice freedom of speech and faith

Washington (CNN) -- The United States will support efforts for reform across the Middle East and North Africa, including "transitions toward democracy," President Barack Obama said Thursday

In a speech at the U.S. State Department laying out his policies toward the region, the president said he is marking "a new chapter in American diplomacy."

He pointed to recent popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere. "The events of the past six months show us that strategies of oppression and strategies of diversion will not work anymore," Obama said.

People in parts of the region "have seized control of their own destiny," he said.

The "shouts of human dignity are being heard," Obama said.

But the president emphasized that the changes under way will take time. "It will be years before this story reaches its end," he said.

Obama said there is a "deepening spiral of division between the United States and the Arab world" that needs to be reversed.

He also accused Iran of hypocrisy for publicly supporting protests in parts of the Arab world after violently cracking down on protests at home.

http://edition.cnn.c...dex.html?hpt=C1

[slim 1,533]

Why doesn't he just give the whole country away already?

[Samoray 165]

Why doesn't he just give the whole country away already?

Maybe he would've offered solutions to the other issues instead of giving the whole country away

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Maybe he would've offered solutions to the other issues instead of giving the whole country away

His "solution" is to make them states (of the US--rather than sovereign nations) so as to bring the total number up to 57.

[slim 1,533]

That way we can grant them citizenship and pay them to reproduce and watch cable. Good plan!

HOPE IS NOT A COURSE OF ACTION.

[Ironman140 45]

Depends if you work or suck on the Government nipple??

Wonder if some in the liberal Jewish community would like the votes back now ????

Edited May 19, 2011 by Ironman140

[scandal 951]

Wonder if some in the liberal Jewish community would like the votes back now ????

No, not really.

Jewish - yup.

Liberal - yessir.

Vote - Obama in 08, Kadimah in 06.

Satisfied? Generally speaking - yes.

Vote intention in '12: Obama.

Views on '67 borders. He said the operative words "basis for negotiation":

From NY Times: "Mr. Obama said that the solution should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps, meaning that if Israel, as expected, held onto some close-in settlements, it would have to yield an equal amount of land to the future state of Palestine from within its borders. "

Sure, the Likud will have a fit over this wording but it's always been obvious from the days of the Allon Plan that this would have to be the ultimate basis for settlement. We keep Maaleh Adumim and Efrat, and give back the "triangle" around Umm-el-Fahm, something along those lines.

That works for me.

[Pooky 3,849]

No, not really.

Jewish - yup.

Liberal - yessir.

Vote - Obama in 08, Kadimah in 06.

Satisfied? Generally speaking - yes.

Vote intention in '12: Obama.

Views on '67 borders. He said the operative words "basis for negotiation":

From NY Times: "Mr. Obama said that the solution should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps, meaning that if Israel, as expected, held onto some close-in settlements, it would have to yield an equal amount of land to the future state of Palestine from within its borders. "

Sure, the Likud will have a fit over this wording but it's always been obvious from the days of the Allon Plan that this would have to be the ultimate basis for settlement. We keep Maaleh Adumim and Efrat, and give back the "triangle" around Umm-el-Fahm, something along those lines.

That works for me.

Without a change in the Syrian government and a change in the goals of Hezbollah, would you be prepared to return the Golan Heights to Syria?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Without a change in the Syrian government and a change in the goals of Hezbollah, would you be prepared to return the Golan Heights to Syria?

This could happen no?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Without a change in the Syrian government and a change in the goals of Hezbollah, would you be prepared to return the Golan Heights to Syria?

Change in Syrian gov = out with old, in with old. Change in Hezb's (proxy of Iran founded by Mousavi--who lost the (s)election in 2009) goals--I'll believe that when I see 6' of snow in Coimbatore.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Everything else he said is no news but lots of shoulds vague and general.

Syria should not kill it's people

Iran should stop it's nuclear dream

Israel should not build settlements and stop the repressing occupation

Hamas should recognize Israel and refrain from violence

Bahrain should give Shia freedom as Sunni

Egyptian copts should practice freedom of speech and faith

Interesting that BH0 used the word " Permanent 0ccupation ". He didn't just say it once, either. Is he is rewarding hamass by using the language of the terrorists which is nothing more than a loaded propaganda term ? How can you negotiate with an organization who is calling for your destruction ? His speech is a victory dance for hamass,IMO.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Maybe he would've offered solutions to the other issues instead of giving the whole country away

Not sure why you hold us to such tasks but what IYO what problems should he of addressed.

[Samoray 165]

Not sure why you hold us to such tasks but what IYO what problems should he of addressed.

It's the US that is in that position of mediator, peace keeper, tyranny remover, nations aid, etc. so it's not me who hold the US to such tasks, the US is involved in everything world wide but i am thinking maybe he should've put a road map to the resolving of Israeli/Palestinian conflict by saying real clear steps so that all parties can follow to reach a resolution, maybe also should've announced that he won't support tyrants and oppressors like the Bahrain government, stuff like that, but most of what he said is just a speech that probably will never be a reality in the near future.

[_Simpson_ 250]

It's the US that is in that position of mediator, peace keeper, tyranny remover, nations aid, etc. so it's not me who hold the US to such tasks, the US is involved in everything world wide but i am thinking maybe he should've put a road map to the resolving of Israeli/Palestinian conflict by saying real clear steps so that all parties can follow to reach a resolution, maybe also should've announced that he won't support tyrants and oppressors like the Bahrain government, stuff like that, but most of what he said is just a speech that probably will never be a reality in the near future.

Yes that has been our position in the world and unfortunately it has done very little to help our image. Take for example the 1 billion dollars you glossed over to inform us that Obama didn't do enough. I mean come on... This is often the attitude we get from the countries we try to help and were always public enemy #1. With that said and considering the problems we have on the home front we shouldn't be giving this money to Eygpt, the same with the money we give to Israel and Palestine.

As far as a road map to peace goes, until Israel withdraws and respects the pre 67 boarders we will have no peace and even then its a uphill battle. I believe that although Hamas wants nothing short of than the destruction of Israel, I know that if Israel wants the support it needs it has to withdraw from the 67 boarders and give Hamas nothing to stand on. For these same reasons I also believe that the land swap idea will not work.

Edited May 20, 2011 by _Simpson_

[^_^ 5,021]

As far as a road map to peace goes, until Israel withdraws and respects the pre 67 boarders we will have no peace and even then its a uphill battle.

There was no peace pre 67. Back then the focus in the Arab world was getting rid of Israel entirely. Right now their focus is on reversing the losses they suffered in their wars with Israel. If Israel reverses those losses for them, then they will just switch gears back to wanting the end of Israel.

Frankly, what Obama has proposed is a win-lose proposition. Win for the Arabs, lose for the Israelis.