Missing Republican opposition will help Obama look presidential, win another election
Shoula Romano Horing, YNET
Making Barack Obama a one term president should be the main goal of the Republicans. At the corresponding time in this election cycle, four years ago, the Democrats relentlessly criticized President George W. Bush’s foreign policy concerning the war in Iraq. But it seems that after winning the midterm elections so overwhelmingly, the Republicans have concentrated only on the economy and abortion, leaving the stage of US foreign policy to Obama’s naive agenda.
But much worse, the Republican leadership was even supportive of Obama as the US turned against a longtime ally like Egypt’s Mubarak, even though it carried the risk of weakening American influence and national interests in the Middle East for a long time to come.
The Republicans must be aware that under Obama, the US is losing the Middle East to Iran and Islamic radicals and endangering its main strategic ally, Israel, in the process. If they want to win and protect US interests, the Republicans must behave like an opposition and not give ground to Obama on any front. Otherwise as was the case during Carter’s term in office, the damage to US interests and Israel will be irreversible for many decades to come.
House Speaker John Boehner said after Mubarak stepped down that ”the Obama administration handled what is a very difficult situation in Egypt about as well as it could be handled.” The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, said during the crisis that “America ought to speak with one voice, and we have one president” while McCain praised Obama‘s handling of the situation and called on Mubarak to step down.
It is natural for Americans and Republicans to side with those who wish to have democratic reforms but a country should not sacrifice its national interests for idealistic dreams. If the Republican leadership talked to US allies in the Middle East like Israel and Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Gulf states, they would have realized the sense of betrayal and abandonment they felt after Obama’s actions.
When Obama turned against Mubarak, a long time US ally, so quickly and publicly by supporting his ouster when political winds turned against his iron fisted rule, every US friend was reminded again that the US president is weak and courteous to America’s enemies but treacherous and confrontational with its allies.
For two years Obama has had many public and humiliating confrontations with Israel, despite its being the only democracy in the Middle East, concerning a non-issue over the natural growth in Jewish settlements. This past week when Israel felt alone and fearful of losing another moderate ally to Islamic radicals, like it did with Iran and Turkey, it was informed that the US offered a deal to Arab governments whereby it would support a UN Security Council presidential statement rebuking Israel for “its continued settlement activity” in exchange for Arabs agreeing to withdraw their demand for a binding resolution.
It seems that the Middle East is changing but Obama has stayed the same, by betraying Israel again.
Just last week, after thousands of opposition protesters turned out again in Iran, Obama expressed sympathy with their yearnings but explained that there are limits to US Influence in regard to sovereign regimes like Iran, because “America cannot dictate what happens.” Such philosophy may further send a message to many leaders that it safer for them to be US enemies and join the axis of evil.
After two years of “engaging” Iran and imposing economic sanctions, Tehran continues its buildup of enriched uranium. Moreover, Obama helped the West lose Lebanon. Just in December, Obama increased Syria influence and stature by sending the US ambassador back to Damascus despite the fact it has been rearming Hezbollah and helped bring down the pro US government in Beirut. Now, Hezbollah, with the help of Syria and Iran, will probably form the new government in Lebanon.
Now the enemies of Israel and the US seem emboldened. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah stated this past Wednesday that “Hezbollah will conquer the Galilee if there is war with Israel” adding that Israel is afraid and lost its confidence due to Mideast turmoil.
The true damage of Obama’s foreign policy may not be realized for the next two years, but if the Republican opposition is missing, it helps Obama looks presidential and worldly enough to win another four years.
Shoula Romano Horing is an Israeli born and raised attorney in Kansas City, Missouri and a national speaker; Her blog: www.shoularomanohoring.com
From what I could find online, I see nothing that implicates the U.S. in the overthrow of Mubarak. I see a cable where the U.S. was in touch with Egyptians who wanted democracy, I see an Egyptian complaining that the U.S. did not mention support of the democracy effort in Egypt when Obama gave his State of the Union speech. I see nothing where the U.S. advocated the overthrow of Mubarak.
At age 83 Mubarak’s days as President were limited. If there were efforts a foot by the U.S. to push Egypt toward democracy, it was for after the fact of Mubarak’s leaving. Maybe Mubarak’s angry at the U.S. for not pushing for him to last it out until September. That was not our right to do. I do think the U.S. didn’t want Mubarak’s son to take over. I bet there were a myriad of various countries involved in the politicing leading up to the demonstrations, maybe even Mossad.
I can’t agree the U.S. gave any material support to bring down Mubarak. Maybe if we could see the wording of the actual cables…
WIKILEAKS Says US is Behind Egyptian Overthrow. US Secretly Backed Plans for Rebellion in Egypt
Be Careful What You Wish For!!
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/142023”
Did the U.S. turn its back on Mubarak? What? From thousands of miles away it’s no doubt the U.S. calls the shots in Egypt and decided, hell let Mubarak sink? I don’t think so. What the U.S. did not do is tell the Egyptian people how to handle this situation. We might give money for the benefit of Egypt, but we do not tell the Egyptian people how to think or act.
To say we turned our back on Mubarak sounds like pinko commie obfuscation.
It’s not the right-wing that cozies up to Obama, but Ehud Barak of the Labor party in Israel. Tzipi Livni and Barak are Obama’s weapons to destabilize, undermine and ultimately bring down the Likud and the Netanyahu government. Those of you that call for a coup may be unaware of the introduction of a bill to the Knesset to legitimize the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria by extending Israeli sovereignty over that area. National Union party chairman Yaakov (Ketzaleh) Katz proposed that bill. It would replace the military authority now existing and commanded by Barak as Defense Minister, allowing him (Barak) to impose a de facto building freeze on Jewish construction in Yesha. Isn’t that what Obama wants? If you want a coup, heed the words of Shoula Horing, and support the conservative opposition in the U.S. to make Obama a one-term president.
I agree even if you were not serious, I am.
Julia says,
Obama would love a coup. He’ll even have the CIA lead it. You’ll have to wait a few weeks, though — most of his thugs are tied up right now in Wisconsin.
protesters.
Shoula is Israeli-born, so it is understandable that she is intensely interested in Israel and in the events in Egypt. I don’t believe the average American shares her interest, though Americans in general, and Republicans especially, are supportive of the Jewish cause in Israel. The Republicans are right: it is economic issues which will spell victory or defeat in the 2012 elections.
If you want to take a pulse of where the American vote is going, look at the states which are largely identified with German immigrants: Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. Anyone following Presidential elections knows that these are swing-states, a majority of which have voted with the winner for time immemorial. Right now, the burning issue in that area is not foreign policy: It is the protests by state and municipal workers in Madison, Wisconsin. That is a conflict between Republican legislators, who want to help the sick economy recover by balancing the budget, and the workers who would immediately bear the brunt of spending cuts. About the only thing those people know about the Middle East that matters right now, is that people in the ME are protesting in large numbers because they are educated and can’t find jobs, and because it is getting increasingly hard for them to feed their families. Americans can identify with those problems, so they identify with the protestors. It’s gut emotion. Understanding ME politics, on the other hand, with so much disinformation being so expertly disseminated by our government, press and education institutions, is complex and far from home.
I agree with Shoula, on the other hand, that dumping Obama ought to be a major priority for all who love Israel, and who love peace.
PS. The Israpundit spellchecker flagged “protestors” as incorrect. Was the software engineered in Israel? Japan?