Comments on: Obama Helps Tilt Lebanon

By: Neurotic Dem

Neurotic Dem — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:21:21 +0000

Loyal,
Changing the atmosphere is key.
But I know that the administration is engaging in the Middle East — at the same time — through all the normal back-channels, and through envoys, equally important.
-ND

By: Loyal

Loyal — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:33:48 +0000

Guys,
I think it was even broader act of ledership than that. What Obama did in Cairo was to provide a framework – a road map if you will- for Arabs to find common ground with Israel or the US without giving up any policy for negotiations. By calling out Holcaust demial and antisemitism, Obama distinguished hate speech from policy.

Inthe past, seriousness of purpose or signals of interest had to be shown in one of two ways– a policy concession, or entering into a serious negotioation on issues of policy. Here, Obama showed that a way to show yourself as a moderate player was to acknowledge historical fact and to reject antisemitism, rather than to concede policy, or to engage in politically difficult negotiations. This represents many opportunities, including an opportunitiy to change the atmosphere in both camps.

Let’s see what happens.

Loyal

By: neurotic democrat

neurotic democrat — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:00:21 +0000

G, A really interesting point. The more you look at Obama’s speech –
in particular the timing – the more it seems obvious that they had Lebanon
and Iran in mind. I hadn’t realized that anti-holocaust denial had become a
Populist cause in Iran. That’s pretty incredible – and encouaraging! Nd

By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:17:45 +0000

You know what’s also very interesting? I’m beginning to think that Buchenwald trip wasn’t as much for the Jewish community as it was for the Iranian electorate. In recent days, Madinthehead’s challengers have been specifically calling him out on his Holocaust denial, which they say has subjected Iran to ridicule. Obama made a very strong statement at Buchenwald about Holocaust denial, as he did in his Cairo speech.

In fact, I would be happier if the Buchenwald trip was more for the Iranians, because, as an appeal to Jews, I thought it was ham-handed (no pun intended). Can Jews possibly be allayed on the troubling aspects of Obama’s Mideast policy by a visit to a concentration camp? I sure hope not. Let’s see what happens in Tehran. Cheers,