generalspeaking

American Credibility

Under the new American administration, the country's new direction in a search to ingratiate itself with the countries from which it has become estranged over the course of previous administration's directions, choices and occasional interferences of gross disproportions on the world stage, is turning in a strange way against it. In a bid to be all things kind and gentle to all administrations sere and cruel, Barack Obama, hoping to have his overtures for friendliness met with a like response is proving problematical for him.

It's hard to believe that this man, holding out so much hope for Americans, let alone the rest of the world, is so naive that he truly does believe that open-mindedness and goodness of intent is contagious. That if behaves in a respectful and just manner to others they will return the compliment. That does work, true enough, on some occasions, with some people and some administrations, but it is absurd to believe that this is a fail-safe position to take in any and all circumstances.

Furthermore, in his desire to ingratiate himself with the worst proponents of human-rights abuses, whose transgressions against their own people, let alone threats redolent of intent against others, has the ultimate result of abandoning those whose interests and values intersect with America's own, what exactly will have been accomplished? Honduras is the most recent case in point, where the country's Supreme Court and its democratically elected parliament has taken steps to unseat a demagogue threatening its constitution.

And simply because President Obama wishes to restore an element of reasonable relations with South and Central America, it appears that he is prepared to abandon the one nation in the geography whose dedication to the principles of democracy are far in advance of those nations, like Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, which have deliberately chosen to subvert democracy for their own singular, and self-availing purposes.

Speaking in Turkey and in Egypt, Barack Obama has entreated Arab and Muslim countries to come to a peace agreement with their neighbour in the Middle East. With respect to the sticking point of Jerusalem - the ancient city claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians/Arab countries as integral to the nascent Palestinian state as its capital - the response has been instructive. Mr. Obama contends that dividing Jerusalem will solve the problem.

Yet a newly-released poll of enquiry demonstrates that Arabs in the Palestinian Authority are not prepared to permit either Jews or Christians access to areas demanded for a PA state. The Arab World for Research and Development survey found that Arab residents of the West Bank and Gaza would not agree to share Jerusalem with Jews and with Christians. Asked directly whether they would agree with President Obama's statement that Jerusalem should present as "a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims", fewer than 17% agreed.

While Barak Obama and much of the reset of the world excoriates tiny impoverished Honduras for refusing to permit their country's democratic commitment to be eroded the way of Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, the far more dire problem of confronting Iran's faux democratic elections have received little overt censure. The United States was to proffer a hand of open opportunity and potential friendship to Iran, in the hopes of gentle 'suasion becoming more influential than confrontational denunciation.

In light of recent events in Iran, where the fanatical theocracy has employed brutality to quell a popular protest against the illegality of the presidential vote outcome, how can the United States even begin to contemplate pursuing its oft-repeated determination to a quiet and less-than-remonstrative dialogue with the country? If, as the United Nations, the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea are as determined as they claim to ensure that North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear-tipped long-range missile never reaches maturity, how can Iran's agenda be overlooked?

For that matter, recently warming relationships with Syria presents another conundrum. Closer relations with a country that has consistently collaborated with Iran to arm and recruit for proxy terror militias. With a country whose aspiration to absorb Lebanon remains unfulfilled but still on the agenda. With a country whose illicitly stealthy maneuverings with North Korea to enable it to join the nuclear club poses yet another threat to world stability.

How now, President Obama?

Labels: Political Realities, United States, World Crises

posted by Pieface @ Friday, July 03, 2009