Obama’s ‘new’ Mideast policy: Modesty or pullback?
Israel Hayom | Obama’s ‘new’ Mideast policy: Modesty or pullback?.
Elliot Abrams
Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. This piece is reprinted with permission and can be found on Abrams’ blog “Pressure Points” here.
Saturday’s New York Times carries a remarkable story about the “new” Obama Middle East policy, based on interviews with National Security Advisor Susan Rice. The Times describes the policy as “modest,” but that is not the right word. The policy defines an American abandonment of leadership in the region.
On Iran, the new policy seeks a negotiated deal and previous claims that “all options are on the table” are gone. No one appears to have calculated how the American and Western negotiating positions are weakened when the Iranian fear of a military attack is eliminated. A second focus is the Israeli-Palestinian “peace process,” despite the fact that no sober Israeli or Palestinian official believes a deal can be reached at this time. The third focus is Syria, where the policy now appears to be centered on Geneva talks that are sinking even as the Times article appears in print. I would rate the new policy focus as 0 for 3.
What’s missing? A determination to end the Iranian nuclear weapons program — and to do so even if negotiations fail or if Iran’s position in the negotiations is unacceptable. A decision to prevent Iranian and Hezbollah expeditionary forces from achieving a victory in Syria that will change the balance of power in the entire region. A commitment to help those individuals in the region who are struggling peacefully for democracy and human rights. An American promise to allies, such as Jordan and the Gulf countries facing Iran, that we will stand by them in the face of refugee crises, economic difficulties, or Iranian aggression and subversion. Add it all up and what is missing is American leadership, and this is precisely the complaint – and the fear – of our friends in the region.
The Times story cannot be dismissed as sheer speculation; it is based on the words of the new National Security Advisor. It will hearten our enemies in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah and the Assad regime and Iran, and confirm to our friends there that they will be far more on their own for the next few years than they have been for most of the last few decades. Think of it this way: Who will be smiling when reading that article? An Israeli thinking about Iran’s nuclear weapons program, an Egyptian newspaper editor wondering about the limits of free speech, a Jordanian fearing a continuing flow of refugees from Syria and Hezbollah/Iranian dominance there, an Emirati worried about Iranian subversion — or Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
From “Pressure Points” by Elliott Abrams. Reprinted with permission from the Council on Foreign Relations.
Explore posts in the same categories: Uncategorized
WarSclerotic 
October 28, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Hey, you there. And you, and you. Take a rest and listen: lets cut off the shit about 0bama here, 0bama there, 0bama’ vision, 0bama’s ”new” middle east policy and so on. There is no such a thing. The whole world and its mother know by now that the ” grey eminence” in the WH, that bitch – literally – Valerie Jarrett is pulling all the wires and is setting up all the policies. When, two years ago, I said on this forum that no US strike in Iran should be expected because of this woman , nobody here – but Mr. Wouk – paid any attention. She was born in Iran, for the God sake, and grew up there until been five (5) years old, when her parents came back in the States. She will never aloud – yes, you are getting it right, she wont aloud it, yes – the US to bomb Iran. Its her birthplace country, she speaks Farsi like I speak Romanian. And we are debating 0bama’s policies. There is no such a thing. She has the veto there and that’s all. You don’t believe me? Then, don’t. But, do all of us a favor and ask Rahm Emanuel. And if you know him like I do, then be prepared to hear some nasty words about this witch, words than even I wont dare to speak, let alone put them on paper. Benghazi? Who gave the order to the US jets to stay down and not to interfere with the slaughtering of 4 Americans citizens there and an ambassador?
By now, its known that Valerie Jarrett was behind the 0bama’s order.
She was afraid by starting military operations before the elections and sacrificed the lives of the Americans there. No speculation here, brothers. Do your web research and discover. So, like that wise phrase said : ”cherchez la femme ” meaning ” look for the woman ”.
In this case, I should say, ” look for the witch ”. Look for Valerie Jarrett in the WH and then look no further.
October 28, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Season of the Witch (Valerie)
October 28, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Superb music. Really thx. I’m usually with Pink Floyd, Uriah Heep, The Gods, The Beatles and likewise. But this Donovan piece really made my evening. I’ll look further into it. Thx again.
October 28, 2013 at 7:56 PM
The Vanilla Fudge had their own version of this song as well. I actually saw them perform it live in New Orleans. Yep, I’m that old. 😎
October 28, 2013 at 9:06 PM
I believe I purchased the “you keep me hanging on” vanilla fudge album my freshman year in college. LOL
October 28, 2013 at 7:12 PM
Great pick Steve!
October 29, 2013 at 12:36 AM
Good night to everyone here. And now kiddies, because we are way into The Twilight Zone, here I found an article from 2012, but its deadly relevant today :http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/11/05/report-obama-adviser-valerie-jarrett-is-leading-secret-talks-with-iran/
At its time, it was considered fiction and a ”nice try to intervene into the American presidential elections”. Today, such an article from under the last year snow, is been considered ”scoop”. I told you, we are in The Twilight Zone, when the reality in not what you think you are seeing and the leaders are not the persons you thought they are. See you all tomorrow.
October 29, 2013 at 1:01 AM
Since we are already in the twilight zone, I feel free to repost this link.
This looked like crazy conspiracy theory in Feb. 2013 but now it looks like prophecy.
Grand Bargain Tehran, the Remake
http://johnbatchelorshow.com/blog/2013/02/grand-bargain-tehran-remake
October 29, 2013 at 1:05 AM
The Foolishness of intelligent People
By Artaxes
When one looks at history one sees often otherwise intelligent people doing stupid things. This is because there is a difference between intelligence and wisdom.
For even intelligent people are mislead by their passions, desires and ambitions or simply by the dark side.
Even intelligent people can be deceived or see only what they want to see.
A good example is this video. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching this video.
You will learn a lot about the geostrategic thinking behind the Iran policy of the US administration.
You will see two intelligent gentlemen from STRATFOR discussing the future of US/Iran relations in a very academic fashion.
I’ve noticed right away four obvious follies.
1. The idea that an appeased Iran would take the pressure by Hizbollah off Israel.
2. The idea that Russia wanted the US to become more involved in Syria.
3. The total absence of China (an important world power) from their discussion.
4. The total neglect of the ayatollah’s religious totalitarianism and its expansionist nature as well as their apocalyptical eschatology, not to mention their genocidal dreams with regards to Israel.
Nevertheless you will learn a lot from these two experts.
What is also obvious is, that these days the term “Grand bargain” and the idea of such a “Great bargain” is more and more floating around, when I showed in an earlier article that this idea was first brought up in public since at least February 2013 and that it was conceived much earlier although it was on no one’s radar at the time. This fact makes it clear that the US will never stop Iran from realizing its nuclear ambitions but it was decided long ago that the US will pursue appeasement of Iran.
I couldn’t find the original video, so I post this one which contains the complete video from STRATFOR.
The video begins at 02:35 minutes.
October 29, 2013 at 2:09 AM
This says it all, understand it or not, i give a !”#$%&/()=?
October 29, 2013 at 10:26 AM
We called her ”the grey eminence in the White House”. Others already know that she’s a person no one should fuck with(better for them). Staff personnel in the WH are asking themselves how such a person, without any skills in security and international politics, can have a such a nefarious influence on this president.
Now, they call her : the Rasputin of the Obama’s. That hit us, because the analogy with the Tsar regime back in the tsarist Russia, is a very powerful analogy. The same nefarious figure, the same fateful influence, and there is even the couple who lives and act under her long shadow. We think that the Congress should stop fucking around and simply call her in front of one of its comities.
They should clean the WH now, before the end. Because ” before it will be too late ” just passed. It is now way beyond from ”too late”.
”Impeach the Witch!” should be the name code now in America.
The 0bama’s Administration without Valerie Jarrett will never be the same and may be, just may be, we all be better off.
October 29, 2013 at 10:38 AM
…and consider this article from the American Thinker which I found it very instructive about what really happens right now in America.
The readers will judge how interesting this article is: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/08/obamas_strange_dependence_on_valerie_jarrett.html
Its from the 2012, but it teaches us well. Finally, after so many blunders, the truth is surfing from the WH, like the crap from under the water.
October 29, 2013 at 10:59 AM
When I thought I was done for this morning and been ready to wish all here a really nice day, I found this gem which I hope the people here will read it carefully( its a today entry, so is fresh). Its about the ”0bama’s approach” regarding the US army. Read this and take a rest. I know I need a rest after reading this: http://www.wnd.com/2013/10/obama-gutting-military-by-purging-generals/