Obama Tells Arabia's Despots They're Safe

Wall Street Journal ^ | 01/28/09 | FOUAD AJAMI

[ceoinva]

America's diplomacy of freedom is officially over.

"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," President Barack Obama said in his inaugural. But in truth, the new way forward is a return to realpolitik and business as usual in America's encounter with that Greater Middle East. As the president told Al-Arabiya television Monday, he wants a return to "the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago."

Associated Press/Al-Arabiya Barack Obama is interviewed by Al-Arabiya television on Monday. Say what you will about the style -- and practice -- of the Bush years, the autocracies were on notice for the first five or six years of George. W. Bush's presidency. America had toppled Taliban rule and the tyranny of Saddam Hussein; it had frightened the Libyan ruler that a similar fate lay in store for him. It was not sweet persuasion that drove Syria out of Lebanon in 2005. That dominion of plunder and terror was given up under duress.

[magooey]

I think he’ll jump the shark pretty soon and just go too far, and The Emperor will then “have no clothes”. The honeymoon will be over.

And then what? Has anyone war-gamed this situation? Maybe too many paths end up huge disasters.

[G8 Diplomat]

What partnership with the Muslim world 20 or 30 years ago?? Iran went Islamist and took Americans hostage at around that time. King Faysal of Saudi Arabia pulled the oil sword and triggered the OPEC embargo around that time. Islamofascism was brewing in Afghanistan around that time. Saddam was in power in Iraq, Qadhafi in Libya, Hafiz Assad in Syria, Arafat in the PA, and Hezbollah was killing Americans in Beirut. Seriously, does 0 know any history at all?? (rhetorical question)

The only partnership we had in that area was with the Shah of Iran; a partnership that a DEMOCRAT ruined.

[LeoWindhorse]

we need a President that will openly threaten to nuke Mecca
if they attack us in any major way again .
No further notice should be given.

[SuperLuminal]

bttt

[driftless2]

Obama’s remarks were  cynical, direct slaps in the face to past presidents who kept us safe from the same Islamo-fascists who Obama was groveling before. What a tool.