This is one time when I think that political posturing may actually serve beneficial results. Actually accomplishing something before Bush leaves is a far fetched fantasy despite Olmert’s hopeful statement. But it becomes even farther fetched if the Palestinians believe that Obama will represent a more sympathetic ear than Bush is. Even while showing that he will talk and listen to all sides, Obama will pander to Zionist sympathies in America and play a hard line with the Palestinians but then to do otherwise would sabotage any slim hope of actually getting a deal done. Meanwhile the Israeli side must be left with enough doubt as to exactly how Obama will play it that they see getting a deal done now is also in their best interest.
France Bush McCain Obama … I don’t care who gets credit if a real deal gets done … not that I’m holding my breath but slim hope is always preferred to none.
Obviously this will prove that he’s a terrorist sympathizer.
He’ll probably just end up pissing off the Palestinians because he’ll have to take a hard line so as not to piss off too many voters. It will be interesting to see how he manages this-- a good test of his future foreign policy skills. I wish him luck.
Probably no surprise coming from me but I think he’ll handle this just like any other campaign event…and do his best to not piss anyone off. He’s pretty good at doing that. I think the Palestinians are going to be quite interested to see Obama in the flesh. He’s got full presidential security so maybe not too many people will actually see him, but the gov’t officials will. I’m interested to read what the Palestinian newspapers will say about his visit.
I think it’s going to hurt him. President Bush is very unpopular in Palestine and many other Muslim regions. So it’s very likely that Obama will be popular just for being seen as an alternative to Bush.
What will the result be? Video footage of Barack Obama being cheered by crowds of Palestinians.
How often do you think you’ll be seeing that footage between now and Election Day?
This is going to be a very dangerous trip for Obama. Now he gets to try to straddle a line between not looking soft on terrorism and support for Israel, and not pissing off the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world who are initially hopeful that he represents change in American attitudes towards them.
I think this is a bad move politically - it’s the move you make if you’re the underdog and have to do something dramatic to regain momentum. But if you’re the favorite, why take a chance like this?
However, there’s a flip side. Obama’s biggest problem going against McCain is that he needs to put to rest the notion that he’s inexperienced and can’t operate on the world stage and can’t do tough, realistic diplomacy. If he can come out of this with a few big moments and a few video/soundbites that really make him look like a statesman in a very tough region, it’ll go a long way towards shoring up that side of his resume. But this could backfire in a big way.
If I were an Obama supporter, I’d be a little worried about hubris right now. This thing about him wanting to give a big speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate is pretty arrogant, since historically that has been reserved only for heads of state. And in fact, the German government has refused his request because they don’t want to interfere in American domestic politics - and rightly so. Obama should have had the judgement to know that was a risky move.
The fake presidential seal is another example that hurt him. Again, he should have known that usurping the symbol of the presidency before he actually won the election would come off badly. He seems to be going for the big symbolic moves - probably to deflect his weakness of relative youth and inexperience. He’s trying to build gravitas. It may work, but it may also make him look arrogant, and each time he takes a big swing like this there’s huge risk.
I really think the Arab world is going to find some reason to hate America no matter who the president is. If America gives ten cents to Israel, it’s supporting state-sponsored Zionist terrorism. If it supports any peace plan that the Arabs have even the smallest complaint with, they’re pro-Zionist imperialists. If Obama has one single Jew in his administration, they’ll call it a Zionist-controlled government, even if the Jew in question is a janitor in the White House basement.
Yeesh! So that’s why I’ve been happily unplugged for so long. That’s just a bunch of whiny B.S. from that cite. Nothing directed at you Shodan - but who really cares if he made up a seal like that for an event? Big Deal! Is it wrong to put Presidential Express on the side of your bus too for a bus campaign tour?
People get so maladjusted by these silly stories. The comments to that cite are funny as well. I needed to click away from it so I didn’t feel the need to respond.
I was just wondering about the thread title, since there’s no “Palestine” on any map that I can find, unless it’s one in a schoolbook used by the Palestinian Authority.
The only thing Obama will accomplish is getting the roads closed for security reasons, which will piss many people off. If we’re lucky, perhaps he will have to put up with some of what I get to see almost every day - rocks being thrown at Israeli vehicles, firebombs being thrown at cars, that sort of thing.
I really wish he would stay in the U.S. and worry about American problems.
[Disclaimer on] I live in "the West Bank. [/Disclaimer]
Oooh, bad idea. If the eagle weren’t clutching the exact same items as the original in both talons, he might have gotten away with it. What’s the thing in the middle that replaced the stars and stripes banner on the original? Looks like a close-up of the Sydney Opera House…
Great; does that mean that if he’s elected President, you want him to stop American aid to Israel? Durn meddlesome Americans, getting involved where they’re not wanted!
I think **Sam Stone ** said it best–it will probably turn out badly for Obama, but on the other hand, Obama is the one who is saying we should talk to people who aren’t popular in America. Here’s his chance to see if he can get away with it.
