Imagine playing basketball where the referees always give you every break. You get every call, you never get called for traveling, carrying, or fouling anybody else, even if you pile-drive them into the ground. You drive the lane, elbow people out of the way, and they get called for a foul. If somebody enters your 6-foot foul halo, they get whistled. No matter if you’re an untalented hack who pads his stats with a referee tailwind blowing like Hurricane Gilbert. With help like that you come off looking like Michael Jordan.
In other words, imagine you are Dwyane Wade.
But really, you don’t have to imagine, do you?
Never in the history of America since George Washington [because really, who was going to vote against Washington?] has a presidential candidate enjoyed the outright cheering of the majority media with such ferocity. With virtually no qualifications, no executive or even significant legislative experience, open but utterly unexplored questions about your associations, your shady financial dealings, your drug use, clouds surrounding your birth citizenship, obviously radical views on abortion, your oft-stated plans to turn America into Cuba, your obvious lack of depth, your complete dependence on Binky the Teleprompter — all that, and not the least bit of media curiosity. None. Your Hope-n-Change mantra caused media leg tingles and outright fainting. It was all butterflies, rainbows, and ponies for you and your bitter shrew wife.
Meanwhile your opponents — first Hillary, then Media Whore McCain, and finally your oratorical and charismatic superior in Sarah Palin — were subjected to the most brutal assaults the media could muster. Dirty laundry made public, outright lies told. Voters who support your opponent get their cars keyed. Even media professionals that drifted from Obamatude found themselves unemployed or assigned to the Somalia beat. With all that, you managed a 53-46 victory, but to hear the press tell it, it was rather like Sitting Bull over Custer.
Once you got elected – O Lord, let’s not even discuss the media love you’ve benefited from. Julius Caesar coming home from the wars didn’t get this kind of treatment.
So when you gave your newest, grandest America Sucks rant in Cairo — using all your favorite oratory tricks, disgracing and slandering America with every breath, praising Islam for practically every invention, artistic triumph, and technical advance ever conceived — it must have come as a bit of a downer to see that your speech didn’t exactly wow ‘em in the Middle East.
The refs, the media, actually called fouls on you. Shocking! They pointed out double-speak, they noted that you are [in Texas parlance] “all hat and no cattle”, and showed no signs of fainting or leg-tingles, nor did they take your utterances as having been handed down from above.
Don’t expect America’s government-controlled media to report this, but here’s some excerpts of what they’re saying in the Islamic world, courtesy of South Africa’s Mail & Guardian. The mood was cautiously optimistic in some quarters, but typically skeptical – either that talk was cheap, or that Barry was in the end no different than Bush.
- Hassan Fadlallah, a lawmaker for Lebanon’s Hezbolla, said the Islamic world did not need moral or political sermons. “It needs a fundamental change in American policy beginning from a halt to complete support for Israeli aggression on the region, especially on Lebanese and Palestinians, to an American withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
- Khadija Patel, editor of Al Huda magazine in Johannesburg, said: “I am not living in the east and yet I am Muslim so I am not sure if Obama’s speech applies to me. However I must say that his speech was acknowledging a place for Muslims in the world. I personally applaud him for making the comment about Muslim woman not being oppressed because they wear the Hijab. It was refreshing to hear him say that because Western media keeps throwing that in our faces. We should not get overexcited though because Obama is like the uncle who comes to visit and brings sweets, but are those sweets really for us?”
- Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal from Somali insurgent movement al-Shabaab,
said Obama’s speech was useless unless he stopped his political interference with Somalia and the Muslim world. “If he means what he says, let him withdraw his troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Stop supporting Amisom (African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia) and the Somalia government.” - Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, a former Afghan prime minister, said: “From one side, he opens his bosom to Islam. From the other side, his troops are killing Afghanistan, what he says is totally different from what his soldiers are doing here.”
- Mohamed Habib, Muslim Brotherhood deputy leader, said the speech was a “public relations address” more than anything else. “There’s an unjust perspective on the part of the American president towards the Palestinian issue, one that does not differ from former President Bush’s and the neoconservatives’ perspective.“
- Mohammad Marandi, head of North American studies Tehran University said: “America has to change. Talking is not enough. He can make a few more speeches but people are starting to ask: What are you going to change? The US has to re-evaluate its policies towards the region, whether towards Iran, or whether towards Palestine.”
- Ebrahim Bham secretary general of the Council of Muslim Theologians in South Africa, said “inconsistencies” remained in the US’s policy in the Middle East. For instance, it remains to be seen whether Israel, an acknowledged nuclear power, yet a non-signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is going to be held accountable in the same way Iran is being taken to task for her nuclear programme in the US’s effort to prevent an arms race in the Middle East.”
.
.
Ah, but Barack, chin up. You’re still the darling of the American government-controlled media. Leg tingles and swooning are in abundance.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Geez EPU,
Wayne (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 11:48AM EST (link)it looks like you laid out the foreign policy for the 0 for the next 3 years. I heard most of the speech yesterday, and like some of those you list, I was underwhelmed. Not for the reasons they were, but just aghast at the Neophyte-in-Chief throwing Israel under the bus, and the resumption of his “We Suck!” tour.
Moral equivalence of the Holocaust and Palestinian displacement, indeed!! It’s quite easy to see that 0 didn’t minor in history in college either.
“Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal, and took Iwo Jima, Baghdad ain’t s–t”. Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly, USMC, Deputy CG, First MEF
Heh...nice one EPU!!!....nt
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 11:48AM EST (link)conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
Follow @Aaron_RS
I thought he was leading up to Michael Jordan, but
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 11:55AM EST (link)it was another guy from Chicago.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
More like Dirk Nowitzki...;^) Mavs suck and so do their owner!!....nt
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 11:57AM EST (link)conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
Follow @Aaron_RS
Not nice, Aaron
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:00PM EST (link)Like Cuban or not (I do not) , the refs stole the NBA Championship from Dallas and gave it to Miami that year.
And Dirk rocks!
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Sorry EPU but I am a Suns fan...and a conservative...
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:06PM EST (link)the two combined make me loathe the Mavs….and you know I was poking at ya!!
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
Follow @Aaron_RS
I followed Shaq to Miami and Phoenix, having been a Laker fan
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:18PM EST (link)since 1972 and also Dominique and the Hawks and Charlotte Hornets fan, but given Kobe’s patriotism in the Olympics and Howard’s lack thereof
Go Lakers again!
I do like Avery Johnson btw EPU…
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
EPU, paraphrase: Out of Dallas, None! Shaq's Kobe-less ring rocked-nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:16PM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
D Wade says "Scoreboard"
Alberta (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 4:46PM EST (link)After all the choking the Mavs have done the last couple of years, Im surprised people would admit, in public, that they cheer for that team.
Oh I kid.
Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.
Abraham Lincoln
True fans stick with their teams
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 5:02PM EST (link)even when they suck, they choke, they lose. The last 14 years in Dallas have rendered an NHL Championship, an NHL runner-up, an NBA runner-up, a couple of 2nd rounds, and a whole bunch of 1-and-dones in all 4 sports.
Special features:
We got that choking thing DOWN, now. Sigh……yet I cheer, and admit it.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
I was thinking EPU was talking
youthgrunt (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:31PM EST (link)I though EPU was making reference to Shaq–though less now as compared to past years.
It makes the media here look even more pathetic that
janis (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 11:59AM EST (link)so many of the foreign press see Obama much more clearly than the media whores here in America. I’ve seen really critical articles about the Zero from Great Britain, Canada, France, certainly Israel, South America, Russia, and now the ones that you list.
And what do we have? The likes of Brian Williams BOWING to Obama……..
Bingo.
Bill S (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:58PM EST (link)The UK press has been all over Bambi, but the US media sycophants still pee in their pants every time he looks their way in the pressers.
If only they were all Jake Tapper.
“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins
This isn't the first bad press for Obama in the Middle East
Erick Brockway (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 12:45PM EST (link)He won some for the Administration’s Initiative to Reach Out to ‘Moderates in the Taliban‘, not to mention Bin Laden calling him “Chief of Oppressors,” and saying he “Is Not Welcome in Egypt”.
Nobody I can find is impressed with him save the Obamabots on this side of the pond.
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan
Activists taking Action
Join the RedState Strike Force
This was my favorite quote EPU.
Marcus_Traianus (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 12:54PM EST (link)From Gulf News;
“Yassir Al Eladle, novel writer and teacher at Ain Shams University, Egypt, came up with a completely opposite view of Kilo from Syria.
In a telephone interview, Al Eladle told Gulf News that he would never trust Obama because he is just an employee in the US administration and his speech which he delivered in Cairo is just what the US needs at this moment.
“The US administration realizes that they can’t rescue their troops from being trapped inAfghanistan and Iraq without the help of a number of governments in this region. His speech is just a public relation exercise with governments in the region,” he said.”
This guy must not know Obama is “The One”. Otherwise, I am sure his legs would have tingled.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
The joke's on you, boys
NickDeringer (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 12:57PM EST (link)Obama’s speech was not for the Muslim world. It was for the Europen and American Left and maybe the hand picked members of the audience in the auditorium. They love the bogus moral equivalence “on-the-other-hand” stuff.
BTW: Oabama will be winning the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
NickDeringer
Nevertheless, the Muslim world had expectations
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:01PM EST (link)They were looking for beef, got twinkies.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
But the Lefty world got a big hit of their favorite narcotic
NickDeringer (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:05PM EST (link)I will bet any money BHO gets Nobel Prize. Looks good on an otherwise flimsy resume.
NickDeringer
He might indeed
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:07PM EST (link)He’s exactly as qualified as Jimmy Carter and Al Gore, if ya know what I mean.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
^5 nt
TNJim (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:22PM EST (link)Not if
youthgrunt (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:33PM EST (link)BHO won’t get the Nobel Prize if Israel attacks Iran. And what do you think the chance of that happening in the next 12 months?
Depends on what the meaning of "attack" is
NickDeringer (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 4:29PM EST (link)A messy bombing run with lots of casualties will disconnect many libs from the Matrix and force them to see ugly reality. A surgical hit with Israeli special forces will be easy to spin for the MSM while BHO breaths a secret thank you to BiBi for postponing he Iran nuke problem for him.
NickDeringer
he can't give 'em what they want
JustLeaveMeAlone (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:31PM EST (link)What they want is Israel, dead.
Not gonna happen. Someone above his pay grade will make sure of that.
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
Exactly
6eorge Jetson (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 3:09PM EST (link)No matter what the Israeli democracy offers, the Palestinians just demand more. It’s a fool’s game.
Kinda like the game the left plays on Republican moderates.
Don't you mean the
izoneguy (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:33PM EST (link)Bozo Piece Prize???
After American breaks up into separate countries?
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
The Khaleej Times coverage
Uma Richie (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:00PM EST (link)is also amusing in contrast with American “journalism”:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2009/June/middleeast_June95.xml§ion=middleeast
So do you think we could lure this guy into being an editor
janis (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:09PM EST (link)for the NYT or the LAT? He’s certainly got clearer vision about Obama than anyone employed at either rag. It’s just profoundly depressing that so many other countries have media outlets that see Obama for who he is, or is not, and yet the ones here are still captivated by the emptiness that is Obama.
Nah...
Uma Richie (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:18PM EST (link)Even if Israel were wiped off the map by the US and we rebuilt the place with luxury villas for the Palestinians and gave them all a lifetime supply of Johnny Walker Black Label, the Arab world newspapers wouldn’t put a positive spin on it. Obama and his supporters were simply naive to think he would be treated differently from his predecessors.
No joke
JustLeaveMeAlone (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:32PM EST (link)n/t
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
“The aim of the speech was not clarity, but clear vagueness,”
TNJim (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:20PM EST (link)If only our own press could see Obama’s speeches for what they are.
American "journalism?"
larueladue (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:10PM EST (link)What, you think that American “journalism” is a profession anymore? More like a hobby fetishism for progressives (and I am using this definition of fetishim: the attribution of religious or mystical qualities to inanimate objects).
There is certainly no possibility that American “journalists” would actually do some research on a issue…
Correction: 53-46 (nt)
IJB Friday, June 5th at 1:03PM EST (link)Oops, that's what I meant
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:05PM EST (link)I’m not sure how that got there like that. In my head I was typing 53-46. Thx IJB!
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Bitter Mavs fan, eh?
Gyorc Nacain Friday, June 5th at 1:29PM EST (link)Go Houston Rockets.
Hakeem Olajuwon > everyone else.
I don't hate the Rockets
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 1:39PM EST (link)Funny, I hold with some in-state hate (I hate Zero-U forever, as I am a faithful graduate of OklaState), but I do not hate the Rockets, nor the Spurs, actually, although the rivalries are pretty saucy at times.
When any of us are playing any non-Texans, I’m down with the TX teams. That said….
Nowitski > Olajuwon
Donaldson > Yao
Harper > McGrady
Blackman > Drexler
“anybody who can pass up a box of twinkies” > Barkley
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
EPU, you mistakenly reversed your "less than" signs
ZootSuit (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:14PM EST (link)Although I lived in Dallas for a few years, even I must admit that:
Dirk (chock artist) Nowitski < Hakeem (ALL-TIME GREAT) Olajuwon
james (who?) Donaldson < Yao (overrated but still one of the best) Ming
Derek (dribble out the clock) Harper < Tracy (in that one season he was healthy, better than Kobe) McGrady
Ronaldo (occassional All-Star) Blackman < Clyde (second best shooting guard next to MJ himself) Drexler
As for Charles Barkley, yeah. However, he was a forthright Republican (and an Independent now and not a Democrat) and on those very rare occasions now when he is sober, he still makes some sense. But those occasions of sobriety seem VERY rare.
***** Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
Sir Charles?
JustLeaveMeAlone (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 2:35PM EST (link)That guy is enuf to turn me Dem. And that’s saying something.
Go Rockets! Go Astros! Go Texans!
PS Yao has a decent Chinese restaurant/sports bar in Houston…. for those of you who travel this way!
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
Comparisons
Gyorc Nacain Friday, June 5th at 3:33PM EST (link)I think ZootSuit summed it up wrt the comparisons.
If the Mavericks are playing a team that I don’t care about one way or the other, I’ll root against them. But often they’re playing a team I dislike more (since so many teams in the West have a history with the Rockets by this point) and I end up rooting in favor of Dallas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuCH0t2hVvU
OK, I'll admit this much
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 4:35PM EST (link)Clyde the Glide really was that good.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Words from the Master of doublespeak.
fisk2521 Friday, June 5th at 2:04PM EST (link)Obama has just told Israel that the US does not support them….. they are on their own now, since he has been crowned.
Israel has been saying for year now they are prepared to live in peace along side a Palestinian state…..the mislles keep coming from the Palestinians and Obama tries to doublespeak his premise that each are equally to blame. What entire nonsense….much like the rest of what Obama says. … without substance or credibility, but the media buys it anyway. I used to believe that no one in this country, particularly Congress would tolerate what Israel does from it’s neighbor, but I’m not so sure now…we have Mexical illegals and drug cartels crossing into our country, murdering, kidnapping and intimadating our citizens and the Democrats either pretend it isn’t happening or defend it as a right of immigration….
We as a country will survive the worst President that has ever been elected and recover. Some even write that Obama actually wants Iran to destroy Israel, but whether that is accurate or not, Israel will have to do what they must to survive. Israel is the ONLY Democracy in that region…..Iraq is hopefully on it’s way to that. Obama did not mention this fact because he doens’t believe it matters – - democracy/sharia law/facist regime – - it’s all the same to him.
I notice that he did defend Sharia law….wonder how Michelle would react to living under that imposed tyranny. I’m thinking not so well.
For heavens sake, over here if you suggest that a woman should not go around half naked on the city streets, you’re called a sexist, our courts and politicians demand that you hire a female whether she is qualified or not based on her sex, and our ‘feminists” demand that freedom translates to promiscuous sex and abortion. Ask the Saudi’s how that would fly in their country.
LDavis
Somebody's still bitter about the finals (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 3:21PM EST (link)RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Dwyane Wade and the cheating refs
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 3:45PM EST (link)of Game 3, 4th quarter, were the Steve Bartman of the Mavericks history.
In this generation the Mavs will not play in the NBA Championship again. We had that series won. DW had 5 fouls early in the 4th quarter, and hacked and slashed his way to a ref-bought victory.
Now one ref is in prison, and another should be. But the Heat still have the sullied trophy.
Am I bitter? Oh heck yeah.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Two words: Don Denkinger.
Bill S (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 5:55PM EST (link)Fans who get screwed by officials never forget.
“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins
Does anyone else believe that Europe somehow elected our president and Congress as a conspiracy to destroy U.S. economy and military?
avgamerican (Diary) Friday, June 5th at 11:42PM EST (link)Our government was formed for a religious moral people. It is wholly inadequate for any other. John Adams
hate to give the Russian Politburo credit, but...
JLenardDetroit (Diary) Saturday, June 6th at 12:19AM EST (link)they knew long ago that Democrats were, and if Americans kept getting dumber and dumber (again, thanks to Democrats controlling the NEA) that we would Socialize and Destroy ourselves.
Regards from NoMoTown (the MOTORlessCITY)
“Liberals, looking to do for? America what they’ve done for? Detroit! which is DESTROY IT!”
“I think, therefore I am Conservative”
“Conservative by choice, Republican by necessity”
“You can lead a Liberal to the Truth/Facts, but you cannot make them THINK!”
“Romney [No, not my first choice] does NOT have a MORMON problem. He has a, far too many Americans; these days; are MORONS problem!”
Follow @JLenardDetroit
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (message) (Warning: Children Will Die!!)
Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” – a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Someone inredstate said it already and Ill repeat it
avgamerican (Diary) Saturday, June 6th at 12:40AM EST (link)Obama does not come off like he will be a poll driven president. This means he can’t be controlled. It means expect a radical aim. The destruction of the US so it can’t prevent UN control. Wreckless spending to devalue U.S currency. Bringing the US in closer with Iran while distancing us from Israel? Losing 94-6 in support for the funding of Gitmo closure, but defiantly standing his ground on the issue as if to say I know its outrageous, try and stop me! I ll say it. Americans voted in a dictator. A scary paradox.
many of those stupid Americans...
JLenardDetroit (Diary) Saturday, June 6th at 12:51AM EST (link)that voted Democrat still have NO CLUE what is going on… because they did the usual LIBERAL mentality thing… Pulled the JackAss lever and went back to sleep “Feeling Great” about themselves (the usual, Esteem of Substance which gives us the Style Over Substance of today) while not having to pay attention or think!
Regards from NoMoTown (the MOTORlessCITY)
“Liberals, looking to do for? America what they’ve done for? Detroit! which is DESTROY IT!”
“I think, therefore I am Conservative”
“Conservative by choice, Republican by necessity”
“You can lead a Liberal to the Truth/Facts, but you cannot make them THINK!”
“Romney [No, not my first choice] does NOT have a MORMON problem. He has a, far too many Americans; these days; are MORONS problem!”
Follow @JLenardDetroit
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (message) (Warning: Children Will Die!!)
Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” – a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Some of the coverage of Obama's speech was positive.
ronnyraygun Saturday, June 6th at 7:18PM EST (link)Here’s some MEMRI,org translations of middle east press coverage of Obama’s speech. Some positive reactions and some mixed.
The following are excerpts from editorials and other articles on Obama’s address: [1]
Al-Madina (Saudi Arabia): The Soul Has Returned to American Values
In its editorial, the Saudi daily Al-Madina stated: “President Obama’s address to the Muslim world… is a reflection of a new U.S. trend toward the establishment of a new world order based on new foundations, relying on international law and seeking justice, peace, and wellbeing for all humanity…
“This trend is an indication that the soul has returned to American values; it adds significantly to the achievements of [America's] founding fathers, who established these values and prepared the ground so those who came after could entrench and strengthen them. This is precisely what was [accomplished] by Woodrow Wilson… by Roosevelt… and after them, by Barack Hussein Obama, who has brought the U.S. back to its integrity.” [2]
Al-Ahram (Egypt): This Is a Change in the West’s Centuries-Old Attitude Towards Islam
The Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, in its editorial, called Obama’s speech “the culmination of the statements [promising] change that began during [Obama's] election campaign, and gained momentum after his victory… [It can be said,] without exaggeration, that Obama’s speech will enter the annals of history as one of the most important documents illustrating the desire of the West, headed by the U.S., to [adopt] a new stance towards Islam and the Muslims, after centuries of aggression and hostility.” [3]
Al-Jazirah (Saudi Arabia): Nothing New in Obama’s Speech – We Must Wait for Actions
The Saudi daily Al-Jazirah stated in an editorial: “Obama [said] nothing new, though he [quoted] more Koranic verses and hadiths [than his predecessors] – reflecting his broad education and his familiarity with Islamic texts. Former president George Bush also praised our religion and Islamic culture, but at the same time was eager to start wars in the Arab and Muslim lands, and he embroiled his country and our region in these wars.
“Thus, speeches are one thing, and the practical implementation [of what they say] is quite another. The implementation may be impeded by political pressures and shifts in the international [situation] – unless the president is armed with strong belief in the principles he has declared, as well as with strength and determination that will help him to carry out his policy.” [4]
Editor of PA Daily: No Expectation for Change
Hafez Al-Barghouti, editor of the Palestinian Authority daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, wrote: “We do not expect the new American president to express hostility towards Israel or to demand that it dismantle settlements… He will remain hostage to the American imperialist interests, which are in tandem with [those of] the Israeli occupation…
“We [do] hope that he will differ [enough from his predecessors] that he removes the hatred of Muslims and Arabs from American policy… and [we hope] that the Israelis, on both the right and the left, understand that peace is an international necessity and that the settlements, like the occupation, are an anomaly that must disappear…” [5]
Saudi Columnist: Obama’s Speech Won’t Change American Policy
Columnist ‘Ali Sa’d Al-Moussa wrote in the Saudi daily Al-Watan: “Barack Hussein Obama cannot [bear the titles of] ‘Honorable Sheikh’ or ‘Grand Ayatollah. America’s strategic policy is declared in Washington, not by speeches of conciliation and friendship in Cairo. It must not be forgotten that when Barack Obama passed through Cairo in his armored car, [the Egyptian authorities] blocked off a third of the city’s streets. This alone reflects the extent of the suspicion, fear, and hatred that still prevail between the two cultures, or two civilizations, which cannot be expected to [immediately] become closer the moment a speech ends. [But] Obama did prove that only liberal thinking can bridge this cultural abyss…” [6]
Al-Ahram Editor: We Must Improve Relations with the U.S.
Al-Ahram editor Osama Saraya wrote: “Obama’s speech was good not only because of his personality, his influence, or the sentiments that have surrounded him since he arrived at the White House, but also because it contained new terms and ideas, and significant clues as to the expected changes in American policy in the coming years…
“Obama has brought the U.S. closer to the Muslim world, and now we must draw closer to the U.S. if we are serious and if we want to take advantage of the proposed and expected changes in the U.S.’s positions. The solution to the problems between America and the Muslim world lie at the midpoint between the two sides, and there is no alternative but for each side to move some distance towards these solutions.
“Iran will undoubtedly find in Obama’s speech statements that will anger it. The rejectionist forces will surely find in it statements that arouse their enmity, and Hamas will find its words to be oil poured on the bonfire of rage. This, even though Obama stressed [the importance of] Hamas’ participation in the negotiations for resolving the conflicts.
“But unlike the forces that have chosen to flow at the margins of the Arab and Muslim river, a decided majority of Muslims certainly believe in the justice of Obama’s words, and in his sincere desire to end the unnecessary conflicts and to find broad areas where the interests of everyone can meet.” [7]
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia): Arab Countries Must Intensify Their Support for the Saudi Initiative
The Saudi daily Al-Watan wrote: “[Obama's] speech went beyond [the narrow] framework of recognizing and apologizing for the actions of previous U.S. administrations; it expanded to discuss openness towards Islam and turning over a new leaf with Muslims – all Muslims.
“A quick look at the principles included in Obama’s speech clearly confirms the exit of American arrogance… and the entrance of a daring spirit that aspires to declare its desire for real cooperation, at the very least…
“Now that the speech is over, and Obama has left [the region], an important question arises: What is the desired Arab and Islamic reaction to [it]? In the Arab arena, the Arab League should call a meeting on the leader or foreign minister level, to draw up a joint position giving increased support to the Arab peace initiative, based on Israel’s current obstinacy. In the Islamic arena, the Organization for the Islamic Conference should call a conference or issue a comprehensive communiqué confirming the Islamic countries’ and organizations’ support of the interfaith dialogue [initiated by Saudi King 'Abdallah].” [8]
Al-Hayat (London-Saudi Arabia) Editor: We’ll Wait and See If the Arab World Wants Cooperation with the U.S.
Al-Hayat editor Ghassan Sharbel wrote: “Dealing with George Bush was easier. The day after 9/11, he emulated Osama bin Laden, dividing the world in two… Barack Obama comes from another place… His address – composed with sensitivity, talent, responsibility, and courage – demands to be read in depth…
“[Obama] wanted to say that the only superpower [in the world] had reexamined the past few years, and that it was unafraid of acknowledging mistakes; that [the U.S.] had decided to reach out a hand instead of a clenched fist; that it sought to encourage its partners, not to dictate to them; and that its partners cannot escape reexamining themselves [as well], based on mutual respect, common values, and interests so that there is a possibility of establishing a partnership in the future…
“In [Obama's] speech there appeared sincere and clear messages of reassurance, as well as [messages] that included [the following] challenges: There is no room for terrorism, whatever the excuse; a Palestinian state is inevitable, but its establishment, according to Obama, requires recognition of the ‘other state’s’ right to exist; [establishing the] Palestinian state is a Palestinian, Israeli, and American interest, and there must be no further expansion of settlements; Iran has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but there must be no nuclear bomb. [Likewise,] respect for all faiths, for minorities, for women’s rights, and for freedom of expression are demanded from both [the Arab and Muslim world and the West].
“The great respect that Obama showed to the Muslim world poses a test for it – it must provide the conditions [necessary] for partnership [with the U.S.]… We must wait and see whether Obama can [act] in [partnership] after expressing his desire to do so, and whether the Muslim world wants to join, and is capable of joining, the partnership of interests, dialogue, and agreements…” [9]
Al-Hayat Columnist: Partnership With the U.S. – An Arab Interest
**Columnist for Al-Hayat Raghidah Dergham wrote: “The Arabs and their leaders must remember that the peace endeavor is in the interest of the Middle East’s younger generation. It is they who must transform the victory [achieved] in the battle for peace into an Arab victory – considering that for 42 years, Israel has rejected peace and maintained a siege mentality, since its 1967 occupation of the Arab territories, while many generations of Arabs were taught to call [this war] a defeat…
“It is in the Arab and Muslim interest to consider forging partnerships with the U.S. and with President Obama, instead of wallowing in the culture of ‘accusations of treason’ and always blaming others. Arabs and Muslims are not always victims, although [at times] they, too, are victims of extremism and terrorist activities carried out by Arabs and Muslims, not against the U.S. and the West but against Muslims – as is now happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“If only Obama’s initiative vis-à-vis the Muslims and the Arab countries… would be an incentive to innovative thought and the formulation of a strategy… that would shift [our] self-esteem from a place of Nakba and defeat to a place of self-confidence and ability to [create] impact and change… [10]
So? The bulk of it was skeptical if not hostile -nt
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Monday, June 8th at 1:35PM EST (link)Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO