Obama failed to back up tough talk in Middle East
Back in May, the Obama administration set explicit conditions for a resumption of peace talks in the Middle East. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sternly laid them out:
“He wants to see a stop to settlements — not some settlements, not outposts, not ‘natural growth’ exceptions. We think it is in the best interests [of the peace process] that settlement expansion cease. That is our position. That is what we have communicated very clearly. … And we intend to press that point.”
If the administration pressed that point, it certainly didn’t win it. Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu in effect called Obama’s bluff, blithely ignoring the American pressure and continuing to expand settlements. Obama has been powerless to respond.
The Arab world, ever aware of the ebbs and flows of power, noticed Obama’s failure. They now have no faith that the United States will be able to wring concessions from Israel in peace talks, so they see no reason to negotiate. Israel’s continuing expansion is, in their eyes, an aggressive act from an opponent with no real interest in talking, and that conclusion is sadly correct.
In truth, there hasn’t been much realistic hope of progress toward peace in the Middle East since the end of the Clinton administration, when the late Yasser Arafat walked away from the best deal the Palestinians were ever likely to see. But Obama’s decision to draw a line in the sand over settlements and then fail to back it up was a major mistake that set the cause of peace back even further.
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339 comments Add your comment
jt
November 9th, 2009
7:43 am
“Obama failed”
Nuff said.
Get used to it.
Finn McCool
November 9th, 2009
7:44 am
Off Topic:
And if Tea Party Republicans do win big next year, what has already happened in California could happen at the national level. In California, the G.O.P. has essentially shrunk down to a rump party with no interest in actually governing — but that rump remains big enough to prevent anyone else from dealing with the state’s fiscal crisis. If this happens to America as a whole, as it all too easily could, the country could become effectively ungovernable in the midst of an ongoing economic disaster.
Paul Krugman, NYTIMES.COM
Normal
November 9th, 2009
7:47 am
I think now would be a good time to cut aid to Isreal…just supposin’
Peadawg
November 9th, 2009
7:49 am
Like jt said…get used to it.
Gale
November 9th, 2009
7:51 am
Agree with Normal. We send a lot of aid to Israel. They don’t wamt to simply live peacefully, they want to crowd out their neighbors because they feel they have a right to their land. That is not a peaceful position and America should withdraw support. They are strong enough to stand on their own now.
Doggone/GA
November 9th, 2009
7:53 am
“now would be a good time to cut aid to Isreal”
I’ve thought that for a long time.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 9th, 2009
7:54 am
Well, I’m with the rest of the people on here. Only I’ll come right out and say it. I won’t pussyfoot around like this Normal and jt and the others on here. I don’t want my tax money going to a bunch of Jews. We got a right to run Israel and tell them what to do with their land. Anyhow, it’s only a matter of time till what the Bible says comes true. The ragheads will attack Israel and Israel will attack back and sooner or later A-bombs will be used and it will be the End of Times and us beleivers will get took up in the Rapture. The rest of you sinners can just stay here and sweat it out.
That’s my opinion and it’s very true. Have a good day everybody.
Kamchak
November 9th, 2009
7:55 am
Like jt said…get used to it.
After thirty years of trickle-down, supply side I’m used to failed ideas.
Less than a year into this administration and the hand-wringing drama queens of the talk-radio audience are already building their bunk-bed forts.
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2009
7:56 am
Jay, was there one particular settlement, one particular phase of construction, some particular news story, which could even be linked to by one of those fancy you-are-ells, that could give us some insight into just what the heck triggered your morning verdict of “failure” that you speak of?
Nothing Is Free
November 9th, 2009
7:56 am
Jay
So how did concessions to the Palestinians work out before?
Did it bring peace in the middle east?
Benjamin Netanyahu apparently has this magical unique ability that few liberals possess: he is able to see past the promises and LOOK AT THE ACTUAL RESULTS.
Here’s some crazy talk, but maybe we should start looking to someone besides Israel to start making concessions.
And has anyone figured out why the Palestinian land that was given to Jordan is never in question? AND has anyone figured out why the Middle eastern Arabs that are some of the richest people in the world can’t help their fellow Palestinians?
Why is it the responsibility of Israelis and Americans to help the Palestinians, considering how much they hate both countries.
I know. Waaaay too logical to even consider. American and Israel are just plain eeeeeevil.
Road Scholar
November 9th, 2009
7:59 am
Why does the US continue to reward bad behavior? Stop/reduce aid to Isreal. It will help our bottom line!
Nothing Is Free
November 9th, 2009
8:04 am
Cut Aid to Israel.
Sure. Let’s abandon our Allies for promises of peace from people who have never stood by their promises. I think we are really onto something. Let’s take missile defense out of Poland so that Russia will feel better. Let’s cut funding and demand that Israel be nice to the people who launch rockets into neighborhoods, and let’s set down and discuss nuclear arms with Iran. They certainly like to take Obama by the back of his head and rub his nose in the smell of this administration’s incompetence.
The masses of clueless Europeans are quick to march with lit candles about the wonderfulness of the fact that we have a president that apologizes for his own country.
2012 cannot get here fast enough.
jt
November 9th, 2009
8:05 am
“that could give us some insight into just what the heck triggered your morning verdict of “failure” that you speak of?”
It is obvious that Jay went fishing this weekend.
It always triggers the repressed lucidity lurking in every statist.
Curious Observer
November 9th, 2009
8:05 am
So we have about seven countries over there plus the Palestinians who will settle for no less than the destruction of Israel and its people. And what’s the solution proposed by some of the geniuses on this blog? Why, it’s to cut off U.S. aid to Israel and thereby help these countries and the Palestinians destroy Israel.
It’s time to face the facts. Most Arab countries do not want peace with Israel. They want it eradicated from the face of the earth. It wouldn’t matter if the government of Israel completely eradicated all the settlements now existing. The goal of Israel’s enemies would remain the same.
So why are we so anxious to aid in the destruction of our only real friend in the Middle East?
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:09 am
Lets cut power/aid to the kenyans teleprompter. The kenyan is such a loser, such a weakling, such a johnny milktoast. The Israelis have no respect for him and neither do the leaders of any other Country. The kenyan is a coward, a punk, a prize-winner…lol.
kayaker 71
November 9th, 2009
8:11 am
Road Scholar,
If we ceased aid to all of the countries who displayed “bad behavior” we could pay off the national debt. Israel is a country that is only 48 miles wide at it’s widest point, surrounded by mountains on three sides and by the sea on the other. They fight every day for their survival. They are one of the few voices of reason in the Middle East and a good ally, if not provoked by someone like Bozo who is in so far over his head in foreign policy that he might well not even voice an opinion. If a friend like Netanyahu can call his bluff, just think what is in store for us in his future negotiations with Putin, North Korea and Iran.
Joey
November 9th, 2009
8:15 am
Let’s see. Do I have this right?
If Israel would do what President Obama ordered; that is, stop building new settlements and abandon any recently constructed settlements (no exceptions); then peace talks could begin and move forward.
Damn. It’s that simple? President Obama is brilliant. Wonder why no one else has ever tried this approach? How can Israel be so hard headed? What could go wrong?
joe matarotz
November 9th, 2009
8:16 am
The point is underscored once again that it is much easier to run for president than to actually be president.
jt
November 9th, 2009
8:17 am
Considering the 7:44 post.
“In 1999 Krugman was part of an Enron Corporation board that paid him $50,000. In 1999, as journalist Andrew Sullivan has reported, Krugman wrote an article praising Enron’s free-wheeling entrepreneurial structure.”
Why would anyone listen to this man, other than to know what NOT to do or is NOT happening?
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:17 am
With bush we had soldiers overseas being killed.
With the kenyan we have soldiers on US soil being killed.
The kenyan lied and our soldiers died.
Nothing Is Free
November 9th, 2009
8:18 am
TF
Maybe they will send the real power from the US to negotiate with the Iranians. I think Pelosi is ready to go. There is a small problem. She got so excited of the passing of the worst bill in history that she actually blinked. It will take a while for the surgeons to reassemble her face, but it’s not like they haven’t reassembled it before.
Lloyd Braun
November 9th, 2009
8:20 am
The arrogant militant Jews making claims and building housing in occupied territories are nothing other than greedy land thieves working under the ruse of righteousness. They show all of the compassion and logic of 17th century European colonialist.
And yet the Jewish lobby is still able to win support from congress. It’s shameful and is not in our best interest or our strategic interest.
No action against Israel’s illegal and immoral expansion in Palestine insures more terrorist attacks against the US. Support should be ceased and action should be taken against these radicals.
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:21 am
The kenyan should just phone Netanyahu arrange a visit and fly over. Since the kenyan can speak without his teleprompter he might arrive and just begin waving his nobel prize around.
We all know what a wonderful guy the kenyan is and he should only need wave of his magic nobel prize and make it all better.
kayaker 71
November 9th, 2009
8:22 am
Is Bookman having second thoughts about Bozo and his gang? Nah……
Marsh
November 9th, 2009
8:22 am
Peace between Israel and Palestine will not happen in my lifetime. Only when they are tired of killing each other over dirt should the US intervene and mediate. Until then President Obama should concentrate on home and getting our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible.
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2009
8:23 am
Dang. Well, I guess that settles it. jt has pointed out from an unsourced story that Andrew Sullivan says that Enron might’ve influenced an article Krugman might’ve written ten years ago.
You’re now officially Dead To Me, Paul.
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:23 am
NIF,
Ya…hopefully the Iranians will hold her hostage for an indefinite period. Then again once she opens that big yapper they would probably send her back via overnight FedEx.
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:24 am
Peloshyt needs to meet the “pear of anguish”.
Marsh
November 9th, 2009
8:25 am
Fact: President Obama has kept us safe longer than Shrub did.
Normal
November 9th, 2009
8:25 am
Isreal, friend? I still remember the U.S.S. Liberty incident. I lost shipmates there. Isreal accepts our aid knowing there is a tremendous Jewish voting bloc here that will stop any attempt to remove aid. Isreal will, first and formost, be for Isreal. Period.
But Jay is right, Isreal called the Presidents bluff and he has no cards to back his play inless he removes aid…any bets he will?
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:26 am
It would appear the kenyas is growing younger. YES!! Yet again I notice, the kenyans hair is turning from a salt/pepper to a much younger dark brown/black.
Oh wait…its time for the decievers “wash that gray right into his hair”.
AmVet
November 9th, 2009
8:27 am
The problem among the reality averse, rationally challenged, sound bite, War First gang is that cutting the staggering amount of giveaways to Israel is equivalent to abandoning her.
The vast majorities of people in Israel and Palestine want a two state peace.
Two thirds of Americans believe the amount of “aid” given to Israel, with a per capital income rivaling those of Europeans, is excessive.
Since 1948 the US has given over a BILLION dollars (not adjusted for inflation and not including loan guarantees) to Israel. Over $500 per Israeli compared to 45 cents per Ethiopian for example.
And the people who prosper the most? OF COURSE, the thousands of DoD contractrors…
And the wall builders in Israel.
But NO, this has NOTHING to do with the Middle East animostiy towards the United States. NOTHING whatsoever.
They hate us for our freedoms, doncha know…
Doggone/GA
November 9th, 2009
8:27 am
“And yet the Jewish lobby is still able to win support from congress”
Actually, I think this is the real issue. I’m not sure the President even has the power to stop the support money from flowing to Israel. If it’s allocated by Congress, only Congress can stop it.
Turd Ferguson
November 9th, 2009
8:27 am
The kenyan lied and Ft Hood soldiers died.
jt
November 9th, 2009
8:30 am
Fact: Only women and pansies rely on government for safety.
@@
November 9th, 2009
8:30 am
Obama’s failing on a lot of fronts, jay. His supporters just don’t wanna face the facts.
So….is Morris still a democrat, or is he just smarter than the average?
Obamacare Endorsements: What the Bribe Was
So these endorsements are not freely given, but bought and paid for by an administration that is intent on passing its program at any cost.
Bibi won’t bend.
Obama, on the other hand, has asked his supporters and the American taxpayer to bend over time and time again. His supporters oblige unquestioningly.
Kamchak
November 9th, 2009
8:32 am
The turd flowered and the lemonade soured.
kayaker 71
November 9th, 2009
8:35 am
Let’s just send McKinney over there and straighten out this whole thing. She can take her buddy Bed Wet with her and maybe, just maybe, Netanyahu will keep them both. Combined with Pelosi,…. what a team!
Huckabee The Next POTUS 2012
November 9th, 2009
8:36 am
re: gale- “They don’t want to simply live peacefully, they want to crowd out their neighbors because they feel they have a right to their land.”
Guess maybe they understand God’s Word. His chosen people on His chosen land. Sorry, they don’t subscribe to the dumpocrap mantra of sharing for the benifit of all, regardless of how hard one works, the lazy, the worthless and the bullies should get their fair share of everyones pie. After all, thats what the bedwetters are doing every day in the good ol United States of America. obozo and his crowd hear the footsteps of 2010 and 2012 louder everyday.
bob
November 9th, 2009
8:38 am
Jt, consider the source of the post, Finn is at least consistant. I am surprised Finn did not blame repubs for detroit, dems have run it into the ground and it is repubs fault because they have not run good enough candidates. Yasser Arafat won a nobel peace prize and he wanted peace as much as his people want pork chops. Now we have another Nobel winner that really does not care either.
Angry Black Man
November 9th, 2009
8:41 am
Guess it’s time for the early am bashing of the POTUS, Congress, and anything remotely associated with the Democratic Party. Then there will be the return lobbing of the Bush Grenade, the Cheney Bomb, and all things associated with Conservatives and/or Republicans.
Thru all this Bookman’s blog will once again be one of the busiest and generate traffic for ajc.com.
Hooray for Bookman.
Carry on everyone. Let the beatings begin!!!
Belinda
November 9th, 2009
8:46 am
jt, 8:30,
Please provide us with a source to back up your “fact”.
Thank you in advance.
Taxpayer
November 9th, 2009
8:47 am
I think the more cost effective and peaceful solution would be to establish Florida as the new state of Israel.
N-GA
November 9th, 2009
8:47 am
Israel exists because the United Nations created it. However, Israel literally ignores every UN resolution that directs Israel to act differently. The US enables this behavior by vetoing Security Council resolutions criticizing/affecting Israel.
Israel took the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights in 1967. An entire generation of Palestinians has grown up in squalid refugee camps while the world has allowed Israel to deny these people their homes, farms, and lives. The Palestinians don’t have any real weapons with which to fight the Israeli military, so they use terror tactics to try to keep the situation on the world stage. If this land grab had happened to Americans, they would quickly turn into terrorists to try to reclaim their lost lands.
The Israelis used the threat of war with the Arab states as a excuse to take territory from the Palestinians. After 42 years of occupation, it is well past time for the Israelis to return ALL the territory they took. And as long as the US supports Israel while these territories are occupied, much of the Arab world will consider the US an enemy.
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2009
8:48 am
The kenyan lied and Ft Hood soldiers died.
Oddly enough, this is actually Joe Lieberman’s working title for his upcoming Senate committee report.
RW-(the original)
November 9th, 2009
8:48 am
When I saw this headline I had some hope for a reasoned article. I should have known it was just another lib bashing of Israel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Off topic
RIP Senorita SweeTee
Later y’all
GoingBroke
November 9th, 2009
8:49 am
You gotta have to know how to lead something other than a “community” for this job. That being said.. What’s worse, the settlements or Iran tossing nuclear weapons our way?
Taxpayer
November 9th, 2009
8:50 am
Angry Black Man
November 9th, 2009
8:41 am
You make a good point. Jay should show more gratitude and treat us to virtual coffee and doughnuts. It’s the least he could do.
Nothing Is Free
November 9th, 2009
8:50 am
ABM
Congrats on the win. Looks like it will be decided on Dec. 5
This isn’t an early bashing of the POTUS. he has been in office for 1/4 of his term and we are spiraling into a big hole. They passed the health bill in the dark of night on a saturday night at the low ebb of the news cycle. The bill doesn’t go into effect until after the next Potus election. Doesn’t those two facts tell you something?
Normal
November 9th, 2009
8:51 am
@@, your statement:
Obama, on the other hand, has asked his supporters and the American taxpayer to bend over time and time again. His supporters oblige unquestioningly.
You could change Obama for Bush or Cheney and it would still be true. That’s what Parties in Power, either side, do …screw us.
It’s just politics as usual…