A Leauki's Writings
Published on August 5, 2009 By Leauki In International

I don't know if it is a good idea first to call Ahmadinejad the "elected leader of Iran" and then "correcting" that statement.

 

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Wednesday said he had misspoken in calling Mahmoud AhmadinejadIran's elected leader and that Washington will let the Iranian people decide whether Iran's election was fair.

"Let me correct a little bit of what I said yesterday. I denoted that Mr. Ahmadinejad was the elected leader of Iran. I would say that's not for me to pass judgment on," Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090805/pl_nm/us_obama_iran

 

The US' new foreign policy surprises me. Obama promised change. He delivered. But he also promised improved relations with foreign countries, and that he failed to deliver.

Existing allies have been shocked with anti-Semitic statements (a demand that Jews must not live in their old homes in Jerusalem if Arabs expelled them and took over the houses; and a general demand that Jews not build houses in disputed territories with no similar demand of Arabs) and an apparent change of opinion regarding the value of NATO and the new eastern-European allies (see the open letter by Lech Walesa and other east-European leaders).

Obama has also ignored Africa. Despite a lot of good will in Africa (because Obama's father is from Kenya), Obama has essentially undone what George Bush had started. During Bush's years US aid for Africa was increased and African states were heard (and despite what many want to believe, Bush and the US were and are popular in sub-Saharan Africa). Since Obama became President, Africa is no longer on the map.

So apart from counting open anti-Semitism, a deterioration of relations with eastern Europe, and ignoring Africa as an "improvement", what really has improved?

 


Comments
on Aug 05, 2009

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on Aug 05, 2009

Our spending habits have improved, if their goal was to spend more. Our relationship with North Korea's leader has improved, not only have we done little against his defiance on missile testing and nuclear testing but we take photo-ops and say we're sorry to liberate 2 Americans who sneaked across the border illegally. Hell, we even defend the President of Iran even when the people of the country believe his recent election win was a fraud to make better relationships with him while believing he has the right to seek nuclear power as well. As far as I can see Obama has made friends with all our enemies, is on his way to make enemies with all our friends, is looking to punish people for disagreeing with him and will pass the healthcare bill even though more and more people (including his own party memberss) are against it. In some peoples eyes this is progress and improvement.

on Aug 06, 2009

What improved? well...

our president has much warmer relationship with terrorists, anti american regeimes, and tyrants.

Is that not worth the cost of alienating our allies and abandoning the good and innocent of the world? [/sarcasm]

on Aug 09, 2009

our president has much warmer relationship with terrorists, anti american regeimes, and tyrants.

And at the same time the terrorists and anti-American regimes have a noticeably worse relationship for the people they rule.

While Obama tries to talk to Ahmadinejad and arrange for co-existence. the Iranians are trying to get rid of Ahmadinejad.

 

on Aug 10, 2009

lets see... he supported ahmadinejad tyranny over irannians who don't want him

He supported the attempted coup by the ex president of honduras (and has defined his arrest and maintaining of democracy as a "coup")

Any other examples I missed?