Private sector hires 294,000 Saudis during last 9 months    Saleh Al Shehri strike seals Al Ittihad's Sea Derby win over Al Ahli    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    Economy minister emphasizes global partnerships to address pressing challenges Private investments in non-oil sector soar 70%    Saudi Arabia's GDP grows 2.8% in Q3, driven by non-oil sectors    PIF, HKMA sign MoU to establish $1 billion investment fund    Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian men to take off clothes as they evacuated war-torn Jabalya    North Korea fires suspected intercontinental missile    India celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights    Saudi Arabia and India agree to study feasibility of establishing power grid    Saudi Awwal Bank records SR5.9 billion net profit after Zakat and Income Tax for YTD Q3    'It was like a tsunami': Spaniards recount horror of deadly floods    Bahrain Crown Prince receives Saudi Interior Minister    Derby Week makes its debut in the Roshn Saudi League    HR Ministry takes penal action against 568 violators of Domestic Workers' Regulation    Al Nassr eliminated from King's Cup after a defeat to Al Taawoun    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    Othman Al Omeir receives Legacy of Change Medal at the UK Parliament for advocacy in media    Neymar joins Saudi fashion trend, donning traditional attire at Al Hilal match    Indonesia Days event celebrates cultural diversity at Al Suwaidi Park    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Obama Under Siege
Published in AL HAYAT on 24 - 11 - 2009

The neoconservatives in the United States were defeated, but they were victorious in Israel and for Israel. They achieved a single victory during the administration of President George Bush, who spread chaos in the manner of the nihilists, believing, stupidly, that it was the way to spread American values.
The revenge for other defeats began immediately, after Barack Obama won the presidency and made attempts to change imperialist rhetoric and adopt diplomacy instead of war to achieve Washington's interests. The conservatives launched a fierce media campaign against “the black man in the White House.” They spared no method, from doubting his loyalty to the US and accusing him of coddling Islamists, out of loyalty to his roots, to inciting racism against him and mobilizing the Jewish lobby to punish him whenever he took a step toward calling for a peace settlement in the Middle East.
Then, Dick Cheney's campaign began. He called Obama to stop “dithering” in Afghanistan because “uncertainty in Washington would have a negative impact on our friends and strengthen our enemies”, as he put it.
Last month, John Bolton wrote something in which he used the same language as Cheney. He accused Obama of weakness, hesitation and harming US interests, saying: “Obama is no Harry Truman. At best, he is reprising Jimmy Carter,” who represents a historical example of weakness and hesitation in taking decisions. Bolton blames Obama for halting the project for a missile shield along Russia's borders, and stumbling as he tries to push the Middle East peace process forward “because he set a target for an end to Israeli settlement expansion, couldn't meet it,” while the confrontation between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benajamin Netanyahu ended by weakening the US president and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Bolton continued to list “mistakes,” from North Korea to Afghanistan, as well as Iran, summing it up by saying that Obama's continued dithering and failure to settle matters would produce a huge abyss that the US would eventually fall into.
The neoconservatives are not alone in this American ideological struggle. Their allies are present to implement what they propose, in practical terms. Netanyahu, for example, has exploited every opportunity to weaken Obama. His famous meeting with him, in the presence of Abbas, was portrayed as a victory for him and for US and Israeli values. He rejected the demand to freeze settlements, even if for a limited period of time. He insisted on getting Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees out of the negotiations. He halted indirect talks with Syria, unconcerned about Israeli-Turkish friendship. He launched a war of annihilation against Gaza. He tried, with his rejection of the Goldstone Report, Washington's determination to support him. He won the bet. He turned George Mitchell from an emissary between Israel and the Palestinians to one between him and the White House, concerned only with maintaining this “favored son” and meeting his demands, even if this is at the expense of the initiative of his president and the reputation of his country.
Some are awaiting Obama's reaction to this siege. However, everything indicates that he is retreating before the pressure. He decided to increase troop levels in Afghanistan. He no longer cares about playing a role in Europe. The peace process in the Middle East is no longer one of his concerns. He is no longer ready to hint at pressuring Israel in order to deliver on his promises.
In short, the specter of George Bush has returned, to dominate the White House. It sprang from the position of its sole victory in Israel and from the chaos of the Middle East to Washington, in the form of a black Democrat who carries out the policies of the neoconservatives.


Clic here to read the story from its source.