Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

Obama Avoids Hot Falafels
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

If a heated conversation I had over the weekend in Central Park is any indication, Barack Obama's chief problem is still his lack of experience, and his lack of specific ideas beyond his message of hope. Well, message to certain friends: He's beginning a set of three policy speeches to begin filling in the details. First up, foreign policy. How'd he do? Safe, I'd say, but at least no whoppers. I think he did a good job of weaving a few details into his larger theme of taking back leadership in the world with a message of hope to overlooked corners. But hard to see how he can bring that much hope. Are Americans in that generous a mood after Iraq. I doubt it.

For what it's worth, he didn't follow Bob Wright's advice and say that living in Indonesia, a Muslim country, makes him better prepared. As I predicted, he's staying away from that hot falafel. Here's what he said about the Middle East beyond Iraq:

Moreover, until we change our approach in Iraq, it will be increasingly difficult to refocus our efforts on the challenges in the wider region – on the conflict in the Middle East, where Hamas and Hezbollah feel emboldened and Israel’s prospects for a secure peace seem uncertain; on Iran, which has been strengthened by the war in Iraq; and on Afghanistan, where more American forces are needed to battle al Qaeda, track down Osama bin Laden, and stop that country from backsliding toward instability.

Burdened by Iraq, our lackluster diplomatic efforts leave a huge void. Our interests are best served when people and governments from Jerusalem and Amman to Damascus and Tehran understand that America will stand with our friends, work hard to build a peaceful Middle East, and refuse to cede the future of the region to those who seek perpetual conflict and instability. Such effective diplomacy cannot be done on the cheap, nor can it be warped by an ongoing occupation of Iraq. Instead, it will require patient, sustained effort, and the personal commitment of the President of the United States. That is a commitment I intend to make.

Read the full speech here.

Labels: Middle East, Politics in America

Posted by B Feiler at 8:05 AM
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1 Comments:

Jb1125 said...: Samantha Power helped Obama craft this foreign policy proposal. See this article to understand the fundemental ideas behind Obama's speech:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0704.hirsh.html; April 24, 2007 5:03:00 AM EDT