Obama's learning curve
The Obama Administration appears to be undergoing a change, from the idealistic "yes, we can" beginning, when they had a plan for everything, to a more realistic "maybe, we might be able too."
They made serious mistakes in their Mid-East policy, in their approach to Iran, and in their domestic policy, particularly the Health Care Plan.
Their initial approach to the Mid-East was to declare that the Israel-Palestine dispute was the cause of all other problems, and in order to gain points with the Arabs, they took essentially the Palestinian/ Arab line, that Israel must be pressured to make concessions. But, in a way Obama was unlucky, if he had come to power while Olmert was still there or even Sharon, he might have been able to achieve his goal. But, he came to power simultaneously with Bibi Netanyahu who was riding a right-wing wave of the Israeli electorate against Israeli concessions without Arab reponses. So after months of negotiations with Netanyahu, Obama did get a partial freeze, or actually a complete freeze on settlement building, excluding Jerusalem, since Jerusalem is not a "settlement" but has been annexed to Israel. But, this was not enough to satisfy the Arabs, they thought that Obama would be able to deliver Israel, and since he could not they refused to make any reciprocal concessions, no recognition of Israel and no compromise whatsoever., Further the Palestinians have made a complete building freeze a precondition for the restarting of any negotiations. So Obama was stymied. In order to restart negotitions he is having to make a fresh start with both sides.
With Iran he wanted to try his "engagement" policy. Any reasonably intelligent person could have told him it wouldn't work! It is clear that the Iranian regime has set its heart on being the hegemonic power in the Middle East, and this requires them to develop nuclear weapons, which they are rapidly trying to do. So while Obama was being nice to the Iranians, showing them "respect" they were building a new secret uranium enrichment site in a Revolutionary Guard facility (nothing peaceful about it). Further, while the Iranian people were demonstrating and rioting against the regime after the stolen election, Obama did nothing. Only now that the Iranians have made him look foolish with their admission of the secret facility (and what else?) and the Iranian opposition continues to demonstrate and riot, has he finally decided that his policy is a failure and so after the New Year he is going to bring serious sanctions against Iran (!).
In Health Care, he expected to be able to introduce his own bill and push it through Congress. No chance! Not only did the Democrats make their own bills, but the Republicans resisted fiercely, and finally the Bill that is coming out is a far cry from what Obama initially wanted. Yes, it extends basic health care to millions of poor Americans, but how this is all going to work out, in terms of the economics and the coverage, remains to be seen.
This is what you get when you elect a young, idealistic President, who is learning on the job. In 2010 we expect to see a different Obama, less overtly ambitious and more pragmatic. His acceptance address to the Nobel Prize Committee was already expressing that mode, admitting that in some cases military action is necessary and there are "Just" wars. In the wake of the failed attempt to blow up a US airplane he may even admit that the "violent extremists" are actually Islamic terrorists.
Happy New Year to all my readers!
They made serious mistakes in their Mid-East policy, in their approach to Iran, and in their domestic policy, particularly the Health Care Plan.
Their initial approach to the Mid-East was to declare that the Israel-Palestine dispute was the cause of all other problems, and in order to gain points with the Arabs, they took essentially the Palestinian/ Arab line, that Israel must be pressured to make concessions. But, in a way Obama was unlucky, if he had come to power while Olmert was still there or even Sharon, he might have been able to achieve his goal. But, he came to power simultaneously with Bibi Netanyahu who was riding a right-wing wave of the Israeli electorate against Israeli concessions without Arab reponses. So after months of negotiations with Netanyahu, Obama did get a partial freeze, or actually a complete freeze on settlement building, excluding Jerusalem, since Jerusalem is not a "settlement" but has been annexed to Israel. But, this was not enough to satisfy the Arabs, they thought that Obama would be able to deliver Israel, and since he could not they refused to make any reciprocal concessions, no recognition of Israel and no compromise whatsoever., Further the Palestinians have made a complete building freeze a precondition for the restarting of any negotiations. So Obama was stymied. In order to restart negotitions he is having to make a fresh start with both sides.
With Iran he wanted to try his "engagement" policy. Any reasonably intelligent person could have told him it wouldn't work! It is clear that the Iranian regime has set its heart on being the hegemonic power in the Middle East, and this requires them to develop nuclear weapons, which they are rapidly trying to do. So while Obama was being nice to the Iranians, showing them "respect" they were building a new secret uranium enrichment site in a Revolutionary Guard facility (nothing peaceful about it). Further, while the Iranian people were demonstrating and rioting against the regime after the stolen election, Obama did nothing. Only now that the Iranians have made him look foolish with their admission of the secret facility (and what else?) and the Iranian opposition continues to demonstrate and riot, has he finally decided that his policy is a failure and so after the New Year he is going to bring serious sanctions against Iran (!).
In Health Care, he expected to be able to introduce his own bill and push it through Congress. No chance! Not only did the Democrats make their own bills, but the Republicans resisted fiercely, and finally the Bill that is coming out is a far cry from what Obama initially wanted. Yes, it extends basic health care to millions of poor Americans, but how this is all going to work out, in terms of the economics and the coverage, remains to be seen.
This is what you get when you elect a young, idealistic President, who is learning on the job. In 2010 we expect to see a different Obama, less overtly ambitious and more pragmatic. His acceptance address to the Nobel Prize Committee was already expressing that mode, admitting that in some cases military action is necessary and there are "Just" wars. In the wake of the failed attempt to blow up a US airplane he may even admit that the "violent extremists" are actually Islamic terrorists.
Happy New Year to all my readers!
posted by Jack Cohen at 7:06 PM
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