By Daniel Pipes
Why, just two weeks into a 209-week term, assess a new American president’s record on so esoteric a subject as the Middle East and Islam? In Barack Obama’s case, because of:
Afghanistan and Iraq: No surprises – more emphasis on the former and less on the latter {“you’re going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq”). Read more ...
Why, just two weeks into a 209-week term, assess a new American president’s record on so esoteric a subject as the Middle East and Islam? In Barack Obama’s case, because of:
(1) A contradictory record: His background brims over with wild-eyed anti-Zionist radicals such as Ali Abunimah, Rashid Khalidi, and Edward Said, with Islamists, the Nation of Islam, and the Saddam Hussein regime; but since being elected he has made predominantly center-left appointments and his statements resemble those of his Oval Office predecessors.What to make of this whirlwind?
(2) The outsized role of the Middle East and Islam: His first fortnight in office witnessed an inaugural address that mentioned them prominently, a first diplomatic telephone call to Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, the appointment of two high-profile envoys, and the first interview granted to Al-Arabiya television channel.
Afghanistan and Iraq: No surprises – more emphasis on the former and less on the latter {“you’re going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq”). Read more ...
Source: FrontPage Magazine
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