It’s truly amazing that literally every day the Obama administration finds a new way to mess up the Middle East. July 14-15, 2011, is a new record since it damaged Western interests and any hope for a stable future in three countries almost simultaneously!
I noted a few days ago that the Obama government finally seemed to call for the end to Syria’s current regime, but within hours it backtracked. Now the administration favors conciliation talks between the opposition and the Assad dictatorship. They’re still urging the regime to make reforms, they’re just urging it more loudly.
And with whom is the U.S. government coordinating this effort? With the Turkish regime, an ally of Iran and Syria, and specifically with its foreign minister who wrote a book in Turkish calling for all the Muslim-majority states to ally against the West (and now has written a book in English saying that all countries should be good buddies). True, Clinton did urge the Turkish government to allow more free speech.
Generally, though, she praised the regime and its growing role in the region. (Does that include its unbending hostility toward Israel and support for Hamas and Hizballah?) She also said:
“Stability inside Syria is important for Turkey. But the right kind of stability — a transition to democracy — is what would be best for Turkey and even more importantly what would be best for the Syrian people.”
Now let me ask you a question: What kind of stable regime in Syria would a Turkey governed by a stealth Islamist regime allied with Iran like to see? How about either a radical anti-Western regime or, even better, an Islamist regime?
On the same day that Clinton was urging the opposition to conciliate with the Syrian government, reliable opposition sources (though that doesn’t mean their numbers are accurate) reported 41 protesters killed by government forces, many of them in Damascus.
Regarding Libya, the Obama administration recognized the opposition Transitional National Council “as the legitimate governing authority.” Funny, it’s never thought of doing that in Syria!
This is a big step and the next step is to hand over huge amounts of Libyan financial assets frozen in the United States to this opposition group, whose control of the revolution is totally insecure, whose own political composition is unclear, and whose behavior in the field is not so great.
Let’s be clear: Muammar Gaddafi was and is a terrible tyrant. But now that NATO is supporting the “good guys,” we should keep posted on their doings. Remember that Obama era foreign policy is run by people who villify the United States for supporting “bad guys” in the past. But I wonder how the behavior of the Libyan rebels would stack up compared to the Nicaraguan “Contras.” At best the same, or possibly worse?
Shame on you Prof. Rubin, instead of condemning Obama for incompetence you should be congratulating him for consistency.
ROB, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU’RE NOT SERIOUS.
OBAMA IS VERY CONSISTENT , I AGREE : IN TURNING ONCE SUPER POWER TO THE 3rd WORLD COUNTRY.
AND TURNING MIDDLE EAST INTO COMPLETE CHAOS : CONSISTENT AS THEY COME !!!
WAKE UP , LOOK AROUND AND TRY NOT TO AGREE WITH ME !!!
Sarcasm, Elinor, Sarcasm. I, as well as millions of others, had Obama pegged as a fraud from the day one. In fact I wrote a friend that the way you can judge a President’s understanding of world affairs would be by how thoroughly he ignored pointless efforts to make peace between the Arabs and Israelis.
That Obmessiah’s first call to a foreign leader, four days after his inauguration, to Mahmoud Abbas made clear his wit was far inferior to even my meager expectations. Everything he did since indicates his has super powers of idiocy, almost a supernatural ability to do what no living entity who is genetically programed to survive would do. I said this once and I’ll say it again, he is a new species of hominid, one destined for extinction.
Of course in a prefect world the morons who voted this guy into office would also face extinction, unfortunately it looks they may have earned the whole country a Darwin Award.
To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
Senator Graft, how quickly we lose sight that truly brilliant people have walked this Earth and said the things that make it all clear and that such statements are not only timeless, but necessary.
Thanks for the Emerson reference. He was truly one in a million.
“Of course in a prefect world the morons who voted this guy into office would also face extinction…”
Faster, please.
I guess this is what Rodham was talking about when she prattled on about …”smart power..smart diplomacy…” during her SoS confirmation hearing in 2009
I doubt if Hillary Clinton has ever known what she was talking about. She just hobnobs around the world preaching platitudinous nonsense designed to make it look like she is doing something constructive. What else can she do? She works for Obama. It would help if she could figure out from one day to the next what the Obama wants her to say to these Mideastern morons as they push their Islamic caliphate. Of course, she is just as blind as her mentor. Sheesh. When does this nightmare of an excuse for leadership finally end?
No, Hillary doesn’t know, or even care, why she’s doing anything. The Muslim Brotherhood mole in her bedroom tells her everything she needs to know.
Everything this guy touches he destroys, is he cursed?
I don’t know if Barokeydoke is ‘cursed’,but I sure hear a lot of people cussing him these days
Suffice it to say that Obama is the fecal version of King Midas. I would suggest that no one shake hands with him!
D’Sousa’s book, “The Roots of Obama’s Rage” was the result of research that backed the premise that the president is an anti-colonialist, who carries on his father’s war with the Western powers. Since he was elected, before and after the book was published, everything this president has done has been destructive to the U.S. Since the powers of the presidency are those of a dictator, he is moving in many directions concurrently, via exective orders and the many agencies under his command who are warring on the economy, gun rights and the traveling person’s basic human dignity. He is being successful, and no one is stopping him or his minions.
the president has enormous powers that he can use almost invisibly through his 100% control of the federal administrative agencies. he can transform the country through the cfr.
and is. this is a nightmare. i will NEVER vote for a democratic president again.
>>>>>This is a big step and the next step is to hand over huge amounts of Libyan financial assets frozen in the United States to this opposition group, whose control of the revolution is totally insecure, whose own political composition is unclear, and whose behavior in the field is not so great.<<<<<
Here is a thought…. keep it in compensation for our efforts to install a new theocracy in Libya.
“Theocracy” only in the sense that whoever ends up in nominal command will be from one of the hardcore Islamist groups. All things being equal in firepower, whoever is the most determined and ruthless generally wins. This pretty much eliminates the “democracy advocates” and other “moderates”.
Considering the fragmented (and fractious) nature of the anti-Qaddafi groups, and their evident lack of self control (or even much common sense), the most likely outcome will be a “Libyan state” that looks more like Lebanon as a best-case scenario, or Somalia as a worst-case one.
Which oddly enough would bring Libya full circle, back to where it was before King Idriss, the ruler Qaddafi and the “junior officers’” coup overthrew. Back then, Libya was “ruled” (if that’s the word) by squabbling desert clans. In the near future, it is likely to be ruled by squabbling radicals.
Considering events in Egypt, Tunisia, etc., there is a good chance that the North African coastal arm of the “Muslim Crescent” is heading for a combination of Islamist/military dictatorships and outright anarchy.
Anyone who thinks this is either a good thing (in the name of “change”) or largely irrelevant (believing that such states will be less of a threat to their neighbors) should look up the history of the Barbary States those countries used to be. Where, as long as it was done “in the name of Allah”, acting and/or being completely crazy was seen not as a problem, but rather as a sterling merit.
clear ether
eon
Before now, I’ve resisted the urge to imput Obama’s actions to his African heritage, but I do note that in Libya, African blacks are at risk. No such thing in Syria… or Iran.
And this is a man who actually knows next to diddly squat about Africa. Or the Middle East. Or America.
But he knows a lot about Indonesia.
Don’t forget that Obama also knows a lot about Islam.
He certainly does.
He also knows plenty about the corrupt politics of Kenya, and of Chicago.
Greetings:
I look forward to the waves of Muslim gratitude that will issue from this announcement and its ensuing benefits. You’ve heard of Muslim gratitude, haven’t you? Its like a Missouri-Warhol River; a verbal mile wide, an actual inch deep and lasting for about 15 minutes.
When will they ever learn? Read the damn Koran.
He is indeed awesome.
Barry at some point you do have to acknowledge that what obama wants is chaos in the middle east. messing things up implies that wasn’t intentional.
cheers ..my back up plan is to sell prayer rugs.
Ah Mr Rubin, I find your reads profoundly depressing but very realistic. More power to your pen. Nothing good is going to come out of the “arab spring”, unless one’s idea of “good” is the replacement of corrupt and brutal governments with much more corrupt, brutal governments of islamists who have a tribal hatred of those who are different, and in particular indulge a loathing of jews (and Israel) that they believe is sanctioned by scripture.
Was it FDR who said of some grubby pro-western dictator that he may be a son of a bitch but at least he’s OUR son of a bitch? That unworthy sentiment is going to come back and haunt us as the grubs and thugs who are going to to take over in the middle east gain in confidence, and as the grubs and thugs who run Iran cobble together their nukes . . and ponder, as they undoubtedly will, if there is any way they can slip a nuke to one of their proxies, or even to the hated Sunnis like Al Qaeda, and get away with it.
Depressing, but realistic.
One way or another, US policy is bound to impact whatever happens in the ME, so the question of wise policy vs. foolish policy actually determines the fate of several hundred million people in the region, for better or worse.
Whatever the US policy is, it should be self consistent at the minimum, and consistent with American values if possible. GWB pivoted from the quest for stability to the support of individual dignity and freedom. This was well articulated by Dr. Rice “we used to prefer stability over freedom and we got neither” (accuracy of the quote not guaranteed but the main thrust is there). You may agree or disagree with this, but at the minimum it was a principled stance in line with American ideals as well as an earnest attempt not to repeat the mistakes of the past. GWB burned a lot of political capital on this, and his success in 2004 made it possible for the situation in Iraq to steer away from disaster and plant some positive seeds.
The present US policy is justified on shallow arguments of “a duty to protect civilians”, without considering the fact that the only thing that can possibly protect civilians is the rule of law. Anything else is expedient tribal favoritism, which is precisely the opposite because it perpetuates the old tyrannical atavisms.
This president is number one when it comes to the production of entropy, as any self-obsessed individual can only leave in his wake.
Well, hell, Clinton is happy to provide arms to narco-terrorists in Latin America in the hopes of eroding our 2nd amendment rights, what are a few dead Muslims to her? Dozens, thousands, whatever. Mere abstractions on the political chessboard. What matters is advancing the anti-Western, anti-American, anti-Semitic agenda of the Leftist core of the New Democratic party. And that means snuggling up to (fellow) tyrants.
You expected other than incompetence and malfeasance from this crowd? Oh yes, I forgot, utter failure and treason as well. What a legacy.
i too have been one of those voices screaming from the wilderness about this character w/o valid i.d., much less valid credentials for the highest office. isn’t he just soooo great? let’s make up songs about is dope and crack. you thought he said hope and change? breaking the law seems to be about the only thing he knows how to do right. well, that and vacationing on our dime.
cursed? i said from the beginning of his reign he would destroy everything he touched. let me predict one more thing. if he isn’t removed from office pretty dam quick, next year about this time we will yearn for these days.
his time is short now. the whole world is like a lit powder keg, thanks to him. i doubt we will make it to the next election if he is not removed. expect more and more screw-ups as he accelerates his timeline for the destruction of our homeland. just mho.
buy guns, store ammo, food and assorted necessary goods. oh yeah, keep your powder dry.
I’m amused that anyone thinks the U.S. could do anything one way or the other to realistically influence these dysfunctional mafia outfits we loosely refer to as the middle east short of actually holding a gun to their heads.
Bribery works sometimes, sometimes not as these are cultures that will often cut off their nose to spite their face. Their feuds are as ancient as is their attitudes towards governance. Sometimes there is no explanation for stupid.
Generally speaking, they are as addicted to elements of Western civilization as they are fearful of other elements and mixed in with this is the overweening pride of a AAA minor league baseball team that cannot figure out why they’ve been “screwed” out of winning the World Series because liberal theology teaches them they’ve never failed at anything but only been oppressed and exploited by the West. Apparently Western innovations exploded from within some kind of an exploitation-free zone.
Take the oil, leave everything else, stop interacting with these countries and for sure stop letting them immigrate into the U.S.
I suppose we could kill them all, and release the Conestoga wagons to create a US state on the ground previously occupied by Carthage, Rome, the Vandals, Byzantium, the Arab/Berbers, the Italians, and again the Arab/Berbers.
The USA could, if it wanted to do so, invade Libya and defeat Gadhafi in 24 hours. We took Sadam Hussein’s Iraq in less than a month and that army was a magnitude more powerful than Libyan forces.
But we don’t. Instead, the unofficial diplomacy of the USA is Dithering. Call it the “Dithering Doctrine”. It consists of words, not actions and if action is called for, delay any action for as long as possible. Then go golfing.
Heck, the Egyptian army could’ve taken Qadaffi down in short order, given its large army and the billions in advanced weaponry the US has provided them.
As I’d argued early on, Libya was an Arab problem, and one for the Arabs to solve. Yet after the Arab League called for intervention, Egypt sat on the sidelines, even refusing NATO access to its air facilities. That way, when things go awry (civilians killed, etc.) they can blame someone else – the West who, as usual, are bearing the greater part of the cost.
If the war did one thing it made clear the rank hypocrisy of this administration – intervening in Libya but giving Syria a pass. (Its rank incompetence of course has already been well established.) And this is one conflict that can’t be blamed on Bush; this is Obama’s war.
code pink could take out qadaffy duck. the rebels are a bad bunch of thieves and thugs. they only attack when there is no opposition.
nato and the USA should never have intervened. what a stupid mess created by “so called intelligent people. clinton and obama plus cadre of clowns have proven time and time again that they are stupid short sighted idiots. …and I am being kind.
hopefully the secret service people will read their constitution and protect us from the domestic threats.
“Every few minutes, a truck would pass by on the road, headed back toward Zintan loaded with what seemed to be stolen goods. ”
Oh, I’m sure they’re just trying to redistribute a little wealth to achieve economic justice right?
….They’re just taking a more direct approach than our own Dear Leader dares to.
…yet.
Well done Professor. Obama is messing up the three pseudo-democracies of Turkey, Syria and Libya because he just doesn’t know any better. The man actually believes he can take a less sophisticated people ruled by either cruel dictators or Islamists or Islamist-dictators and bring them into the 21st Century by saying “please.” He will continue to mess up in the middle east (with worrisome results imagined) until he is removed from office; hopefully on January 20, 2013.
Is Obama setting the table for WWIII ?
Not everything has to be a lead up to world war, it could escalate to a regional war.
Lefroy, FDR was talking about Trujillo of the Dominican Republic when he said: But he’s our son of a bitch.
Jann, obama is like a reverse King Midas. Everything he touches turns to chaos, blood. and death.
I read a story to back up Barry in the Int’l Herald Tribune. The brave rebels in Benghazi in March raided Chinese workers’ quarters or a Chinese dormitory. They then proceeded to steal money and personal possessions belonging to these most likely poorly paid workers. That used to be called “working class solidarity” [/sarc]. Where are all the brave champions of the exploited wage slaves among Obama’s “Leftists”?? I also read about killings and persecution of Blacks in Libya by the Heroic and Democratic Rebels for the Light. By the way, there was a pogrom in Tripoli about eleven years ago, around the time when the Arafat Intifada started in September [or October?] 2000. This pogrom was an attack by Arabs on Blacks going through Libya to migrate to Europe. It was reported in LeFigaro but I don’t think in the American MSM. Maybe it didn’t get attention because Arabs had to be made to look good eventhough they were attacking Jew –or because they were attacking Jews.
An unanswered question is: Is Obama doing all of these deleterious actions because 1) He, and his administration, are so highly incompetent; or 2) They have a deliberate program to do these deleterious actions.
Here:
1) They are incompetent.
2) They have a deliberate program that they do not think will be deleterious.
3) They are informed by a deleterious world view that they think is truthful and beneficient.
4) They are blind and do not know what they are doing.
So there you have it: A deliberate and bad plan, executed incompetently (with delusions of beneficience) interspersed with periods of blind fumbling and stumbling about. Okay – salted with a small bit of (unrecognized) anti-US hostility.
The Obama Administration is living proof that an entire group of people can be stupid, crazy, AND evil, all at the same time.
That’s all there is and there ain’t no more.
The prince of the fools and his goons certainly have a devilish agenda which is to undermine America but they are so stupid that they don’t even know how to get about it. That is why he panders to every mullah while his Secretary of State makes speeches without saying anything. The hallmarks of obamacrazy are policy somersaults as was seen in Honduras and now North Africa and the Middle East. Let somebody name one thing that Obama has done for three years. In Bill Clinton America had a fun loving president. Now in place is a golf playing president who does not know his left from his right. For his failures Obama is quick to blame his immediate predecessor. It is quite clear that the man had no idea of what being president is all about. The blame is not on him but on the bunch of fools who equated the presidency with playing with toys by electing him.
It seems to me that Obama`s international policy is the combination of the incopetence and his aim to weaken America`s influence that in effect forces him to act contrary to any reason and national political tradition in the sence of Muslim`s saying: listen to womans adwice and act the wrong way.
The current admin is incompetent. You must be kidding. They are lovin’ it. We are making the destruction of the U.S. so easy.
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