Obama's Silence

Back when Barack Obama was a longshot candidate in the Iowa primary, he was morally candid, saying on March 11, 2007, that "nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people." It was one month after the announcement of Obama's campaign, and the last time he would make such a statement. Three days later, at the AIPAC conference in Washington DC, he was hammered as inexperienced by the New York Times reporter, Patrick Healy, on March 14.

"Less experienced than Mrs. Clinton in the thickets of Jewish and Middle Eastern politics, [Obama] became a bit tangled in the eyes of some voters" at the AIPAC event, Healy commented. After calling himself pro-Israel and endorsing a two-state solution, Obama "pointedly" mentioned the Palestinians. He and Senator Clinton sounded the same themes, Healy wrote, "yet Mr. Obama proved more expansive by bringing up the Palestinians and ruminating on the Holocaust and slavery and on cynicism in politics", which caused "murmurs" from the audience.

One AIPAC activist, the son of a rabbi and a Hillary fan, was busily "spreading the word at the conference about Mr. Obama's remarks. 'It's just clumsy of him to say that on the eve of the AIPAC conferences."

While the Obama staff was trying to put up a small speaker's platform, Mrs Clinton "wanted a big moment...to counteract the curiosity factor and showmanship of Mr. Obama...There was Israeli music on the sound system, there was a sign with Mrs. Clinton's name in Hebrew, and there were campaign banners and balloons, and a video showing her at work."

It's possible to defend Obama's retreat to a safe pro-Israel position in 2007, especially if he sat down first with long-time Palestinian friends and supporters in Chicago and explained himself. After all, Bush-Cheney and the neo-conservatives were virtually welded to the Israeli hawks, and Hillary Clinton, who once gave Arafat's wife a kiss on the cheek, was threatening to obliterate Israel's enemies. Obama would be a fresh start.

But Obama must know that his continuing silence today is more than expedient. It is immoral. And if being moral is not the business of statecraft, he must know that his November 4 election helped cause the Israelis to thunder into Gaza and change "the facts on the ground" before his inauguration. They are afraid of his coming.

He must know that this Israeli offensive is the ultimate effort of the neo-conservatives, with consenting Democratic silence, to wrest a victory in the Middle East. It's bad enough that William Kristol has gained a coveted columnist's role at the New York Times; worse is Kristol's propaganda offensive for the Israelis, claiming that Israel will do Obama a favor by knocking off Hamas. Shamelessly, Kristol adds that this victory will come on top of America's "success" in Iraq.

Yes, it is difficult to understand much less endorse the apparent Hamas strategy. Knowing what was ahead, they might have taken a disciplined position from October to November of not giving Israel any excuse, any provocation, that could bring the crisis to boil in the interlude between November and the inauguration. They could have started a diplomatic offensive of their own. Those were their decisions. But it is foolish to ignore and deny, as many do, the deliberate policies of the Israelis and the US to overturn the outcome of the democratic elections that brought Hamas to power. It is immoral to squeeze the whole Gaza population into collective suffering by the blockade. It is impossible to "destroy" Hamas without guaranteeing the rise of another Palestinian resistance movement, just as Hezbollah was born in the ashes of Lebanon in 1982. And it is simply not true that negotiations between implacable adversaries must be considered forever off the table. As a Hamas spokesman wrote this week, discussions with former President Jimmy Carter have been "a refreshing exchange", despite Carter's vocal differences with Hamas. As Obama pointed out in his campaign, it is simple to talk with allies, the point of diplomacy is to talk with enemies or strangers.

Obama is in a process of being cornered, not unlike the efforts to push John Kennedy into the Cuban quagmire in 1961, or the tactics of Richard Nixon to keep Saigon from agreeing to negotiations in 1968.

He is being cornered by his party, too. It is hardly constructive that Sen. Harry Reid said this week that "I think this terrorist organization, Hamas, has got to be put away." Where are the voices of the Progressive Caucus or Out of Iraq Caucus? Is it possible for Obama to take a stronger position than his own party leaders? Not likely, even though a Rasmussen poll shows a large percentage of Democratic voters supporting diplomatic rather than military approaches.

The silence, Obama must know, is extremely costly. As the bombs fall on Gaza children and civilians, his credibility comes under greater question. The bright promise of moral leadership is sullied and squandered, along with the potential of America's ability to be an even-handed diplomatic mediator. As January 20 approaches, he will have to make a lonely decision, the first of many, to remember his 2007 words about Palestinian suffering and his campaign pledge to talk unconditionally with adversaries.

Comments

[pakmn74]

I think Obama is a sellout. It does not matter what else is going on, when human lives are at stake you do not keep quiet. Also, what is wrong with Harry Reid. Does he have an alternative plan if Hamas is gone? Fatah is not truly representative of all of Palestine. So, who or what does he think will fill the vacuum? Or does he think that Israel should just re-occupy the Gaza strip?

[harriscrl3]

He did say he has a lot to say. FOreign policy is a sticky area. There are negoitiations going on that he does not want to disrupt whats wrong with waiting until he have power to do something.

Carol

[harriscrl3]

He stated why he is not saying anything. If he came out and said something and things escalated do you know who would be blamed he would and he would powerless to do anything about it because he is not in power. He has no power and if anything he said is misconstrued the wrong way he cant do anything about it. He said he will have plenty to say on 20th but he is concern about the Civilian deaths. Why are people acting like he doesnt care about Civilian deaths. No matter what the guy does its never the right thing and if anything happens he's the one that is going to get blamed. We have a President already and folks need to stop putting all this stuff on this guy. Or at least wait until he is in office.

CArol

[jstowe100]

He certainly had a lot of hot foreign policy air to blow when he had the Siegestor behind him in Berlin.

The Gaza operation was well-timed for O. By the time he is inaugurated, the bulk of the overt military operation will likely be finished. Just in time for the President to emerge from the oval office, tea cup in hand, to appeal for an end to the conflict and the need for diplomacy and a new way of thinking to solve the world's conflicts. Another "Endeavor to persevere" moment, brought to you by Kodak. And the faux-progressives will ooh and aah. . .

[augusteighteenth]

Am I the only one that notices that every plan Obama vocalizes, Bush tries to stop in its tracks? Obama NEEDS to stay silent until he is in a position to actually act out his intentions. Words are nothing.

[augusteighteenth]

Sometimes I wonder if the people that WRITE here, actually READ this site as well.

[ThatOne4Me]

As they say, one president at a time. Perhaps he doesn't want to conflict with Bush publicly?

[joycehelene]

He will have a lot to say once he is sworn in, only one president at a time, have you forgotten when it comes to foreigh policy.

[11907281]

He may not be president but he is still a human being.

[vinny]

Keep in mind also that the majority of Democrats in Congress are highly UNcritical of Israeli violence in Gaza. This will surely make it difficult for O to be critical and articulate a more balanced foreign policy.

Check out Harmon, Waxman & others making arguments to justify Israel violence.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053951.html

There arguments are frail at best and (oddly) cannot be supported by Jewish belief. However, that doesn't stop these US representatives from praising the violence at a religious-based special interest group meeting. It's time to spotlight the representatives making these weak arguments.

[FairTalk]

Congress are sheep, and need to be lead. In addition, they carry a lot of baggage for various lobbys.

Obama said he would have plenty to say aftwer he becoms President. Let's wait and see.

[apoyo]

It's a shame that the congress has allowed themselves to be cowed into a subservient position but that is what they have become. They answer to many masters none of which is the American people.

[ElkoJohn]

the rocketeers in Gaza are a very small part of the Muslim
world which is concerned about the Palestinian question.
Israel just uses this as an excuse to continue their military
solution to get what their Hawk Leaders want.
Mr. O says: '' there's only 1-President at a time''
obviously paying homeage to GWB
who has trashed our Constitution in so many ways.
Mr. O, he may be your Prez, but he ain't mine.

[Plowboy]

Ben Gurion: "Let us not ignore the truth among ourselves. ... We are the agressors. They defend themselves. The country is theirs because they inhabit it. We must expel them and take their places. We must use terror, assasinationn, intimidation, land confiscationn, and the cutting of social services..
Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. There is not a place built in Israel that did not have a former Arab population."
Shamir: the settlement of Palestiune is the essence of Zionism. The Palestinians will be crushed like grasshoppers, their heads smashed against stones.

Eitan: "When we have settled the land, all the Arabs will be able to do will be to scurry around like drugged cockroaches in a bottle."

Now, how well do you think they have been accomplishing their plans?

[FairTalk]

Obama is in no position to say anything about this current violence in Gaza as it is the last chapter in unfolding US covert opperations. Obama does not yet have his choices for UN, pentagon, State, intellegence, etc approved. Is it your idea he should stand on a mountaintop buck naked, and make "inflamatory" statements ha cannot back up for several weeks?

I say nuts to that approcah. Stay the course, oh ye of little faith. Change is on the way.

[Abo]

We have all heard his explanation that we only have one president at a time--but it hasn't stopped him from speaking freely on all other subjects.

His lame excuse is that it is protocol only underscores what a coward he is. He should speak as a human being of compassion--not ou of political calculation.

[jhink465]

I too would like Obama to speak out on this atrocity. However, I have to agree with his posn on having one president at a time when it come to foreign affairs. I will take hi at his word that on January 20, he will have "plenty" to say about this. My hope is that he will say to Israel, we are in dire financial straights and you will no longer pursue your war on the Palestinians on our dime.

[Petey131]

Let's face it: if Mr. Obama would have said anything about this situation others would ask why is he is speaking since he is not the president yet. Can't please everyone, huh?

[Plowboy]

Tom, I supported Obama, gave money to his campaign, voted for him in the primary and the general election. But I have watched his choices to run his administrationn, and am not surprised by his current behavior.
He is just another politician. He has already surrendered.
America is a lost cause now. No matter what we vote for, we get the same old things.
Oh, and Palestinians can go on suffering. The world's most persecuted people should be use to it by now. And why shouldn't they be oppressed constantly? It was their evil families who lived peacefully on the land before a good people came into it to take it (with Anglo-American help) from them.
Some boast of "shooting fish in a barrel," and some of us realise that we are seeing the fulfillment of Eitan's prediction: "When we have settled the land. all the Arabs will be vable to do will be to scurry around like drugged cockroaches in a bottle."
Many heroes of his persuation spoke openly of the necessity of killing all the Palestinians, men, women, infants, until they were gone from the land the speakers' people desired. (Note please, I have been politically correct and haven't called those aggressors by name.)
And Obama will continue "our" support of the good people in total control of that area -- and more.
But Obama has spoken: he has said that he understands Israel's need to be "only defending herself."

[ndnndpendent]

I voted for him also. I agree America is a lost cause also, as long as global security is couched in terms of the Christian, Judeo and Islam dialog, no real changes are going to occur. Palestinians are tribal people, like much of the Muslim world. The fate of tribal people is to crush tribal societies and put puppet democracies in their place. This is organized confiscation of tribal property and wealth. The law is used as a legitimizing force to create militaristic doctrines. This is a re-hashing of manifest destiny of global scale; military force has been employed when the first slaves were pulled from the Congo and shipped to the 'new world.' It has gone on unabated since. Colonialism is a parasitic doctrine that is merely a codified law of the jungle.

[Petey131]

Oh, person of little faith. Mr. Obama is not President yet and you judge him already? You seem like a weak, weak person.

[Grissom1001]

While your stand on this issue is apparent, it is becoming apparent to me that this is not an easy question of deciding who is right vs wrong. Obama is NOT the sitting President and we have enough problems right here at home to divert his attention in preparing to accept office.
Yes what is occuring there is HORRIBLE and my heart breaks at the pictures BUT WE have children starving to death and without homes RIGHT HERE and Obama's FIRST priority is the USA.
Hate to sound like a witch but it is time an America leader put this country first in my opinion.

[Osmona]

AMEN, AMEN, AND AMEN!!!!!!!

[greginwva]

Amen,Who does Israel think it is anyway? I dont understand why they cant just ignore those rockets Hamas is throwing at them every single day.Its amazing to me that people fault Israel for defending itself.

[jhink465]

Yes let's put America first and withdraw the billions in aid we give to Israel. We have been paying for their welfare state to the tune of $130 billion since their founding. Israel is no longer a helpless little nation fighting for survival. They instead have now become a conquering nation willing to use our money and weapons to inflict atricities against innocent civilians who have had the Israeli boot on their neck for decades. All with our tax money, weapons and political support. Yes, let's put America first and cut this rogue nation of Israel loose and use that money to rebuild our own country.

[LITNUP]

Pope John Paul II.. "It is easier to fight than it is to pray..So let us Pray"

[jigisup]

Pope John Paul ll "The practice of peace leads to peace."