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What Obama's Mideast Trip Says About The U.S.--American respect is heading for a devaluation.
Forbes ^ | 06.04.09 | Claudia Rosett

Posted on 06/04/2009 8:25:52 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah

Edited on 06/04/2009 8:40:21 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

Americans woke up this week to news that President Obama is now describing the U.S. as--if you take into account the number of Muslim Americans--"one of the largest Muslim countries in the world."

Going strictly by the numbers, President Obama is wrong. America's Muslim population is variously estimated at somewhere in the range of about 3 million to a high-end guess of 6 million, which puts it way below not only all major Muslim states, but below Russia, China and--as my colleague Andrew McCarthy points out--Burkina Faso.

But Obama clearly wasn't much interested in the actual numbers. He was setting the stage for his speech in Cairo today, part of his attempt to retool America's image abroad and reach out to "the Muslim world." ...

...

To me, the most troubling question by now is not how Muslims, in whatever array of world-spanning variety, regard America. Nor is it whether the world in general--whether Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Taoist or Animist--might approve of the United States.

The looming question, as this administration rolls ahead with "change," is: What is America itself? What is this country for which Obama seeks approval? What is it becoming, in that process?

...

Obama's administration is still in its early days. And America is built on a bedrock of sound ideas and decent national character, which may yet carry the day. But I keep thinking of the clear and admirable American identity summed up in Ronald Reagan's demand during the Cold War: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." The Obama version would more likely be: "Let's talk about this wall." I wish I could say that as he wades into the Middle East, that fills me with hope. It does not.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: america; americaunderthebus; apologytour; bho44; bhoegypt; bhomiddleeast; bhovisit; muslimworld; obama; obamaapologytour; underthebus; usaunderthebus

1 posted on 06/04/2009 8:25:52 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah
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To: Ooh-Ah
...Ronald Reagan's demand during the Cold War: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." The Obama version would more likely be: "Let's talk about this wall."
2 posted on 06/04/2009 8:28:38 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah
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To: Ooh-Ah

If Obama is traveling with no legitmate passport; perfect opportunity to not allow him back in our country until he proves who he really is.


3 posted on 06/04/2009 8:29:17 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: Ooh-Ah
What Obama's Mideast Trip Says About The U.S.--American respect is heading for a devaluation.

Well, he's not helping.

4 posted on 06/04/2009 8:35:40 AM PDT by pray4liberty (http://www.foundersvalues.com/)
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To: Ooh-Ah

Devaluating respect for America - just saw him say goodbye and board AFI in SWEATPANTS and a t-shirt. All the dignitaries were in their suits and uniforms. Obama is so FULL OF HIMSELF.


5 posted on 06/04/2009 8:37:14 AM PDT by noexcuses
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To: Ooh-Ah

Forbes is partially to blame. One of Obama’s closest and wealthiest supporters who backed him when no one else would is a columnist for Forbes. One of the reasons i cancelled the mag after 2 decades.


6 posted on 06/04/2009 8:38:02 AM PDT by Frantzie
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To: Ooh-Ah
The Saudi King got a nice present from Obama.


7 posted on 06/04/2009 8:38:27 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Frantzie
Forbes is partially to blame. One of Obama’s closest and wealthiest supporters who backed him when no one else would is a columnist for Forbes. One of the reasons i cancelled the mag after 2 decades.

Precisely the reason I stopped buying and subscribing to the Economist.
They came out in favor of this Socialist... In the back of my mind I always had my doubts about The Economist, but this cover cleared it all up for me.

Obama fools!

NEVER AGAIN!
Now they are having second thoughts...
Too late idiots!

8 posted on 06/04/2009 8:42:46 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: noexcuses

Ooops just saw another clip - it wasn’t sweatpants but khaki’s. Still pretty casual for a head of state’s departure in front of dignitaries.


9 posted on 06/04/2009 8:44:07 AM PDT by noexcuses
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To: Ooh-Ah
What respect?

Living in the last century...

10 posted on 06/04/2009 8:49:02 AM PDT by JasonC
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To: noexcuses

“SWEATPANTS and a t-shirt. All the dignitaries were in their suits and uniforms.”

Gasping for air here in flyover country. Strange how fury brings tears to your eyes.


11 posted on 06/04/2009 8:59:06 AM PDT by combat_boots (The 5 Stages of Collapse: http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47157)
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To: Ooh-Ah
The Obama version would more likely be: "Let's talk about this wall."

Soon to be followed by, "I have a wall just like that."

12 posted on 06/04/2009 9:32:38 AM PDT by bgill (The evidence simply does not support the official position of the Obama administration)
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To: Bon mots
Obama likes some royals better than others.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

13 posted on 06/04/2009 10:02:52 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Bon mots
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

14 posted on 06/04/2009 10:11:10 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Bon mots

Good God. I cannot believe that America allowed herself to be sucked in to vote for such a wicked man. And frankly besides being a complete FRAUD, he’s no longer a closet Muslim either, he’s come out!!

America is in very deep trouble and I predict she will not recover from this Presidency. The only recovery possible is the removal of this “destroyer” almost immediately!! CO


15 posted on 06/04/2009 10:54:22 AM PDT by Canadian Outrage (Conservatism is to a country what an antibiotic is to an infection - Healing!!!!)
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