Ingineers Ramblings

IF it's not news, why are you writing about it? It is news and if he ignored the region most likely to lead to another terrorist attack on our own soil, would you think that was good? Whatever he does, you will find fault. Why not wait and see if this helps before jumping on him. I think if we get hit again, most people will consider that to be a big deal. I also think that if the moderate and average Muslims see that supporting terrorism is bad,it will shut down the terrorism's money supply.

As for Bush he called Iraq and Iran part of an axis of evil. He threatened, okayed humiliating torture and then had photos coming out to tell what was going on. You really think he ever regarded anybody other than his friends and family business partners in Saudi Arabia to be okay? Bush reached out to nobody. All he could see was force as a solution.

I think Obama did well on this and it needs publicity. Tell me again how the average Arabs would find out about it without it being discussed publicly? I understand you have approved of a secretive government such as Bush had but Obama has promised an open administration to the degree that is possible. I think he's off to a good start
 

I don't mind him going on Arabic TV, and I hope he gets the message out to all muslims that terrorism is bad. But for him to say that Israel is going down the wrong path is just not true. Israel has done what Bill Clinton and Congress wanted them to do. They gave up land for peace. And Hamas has done everything they can to undermine that peace. He can reach out all he wants, but let him do it without offending the one democracy that is is our ally in the region.
 

So let's see, you think that by reaching out to the moderate Arabs in the region, we will be hurting Israel's chance for peaceful coexistence? That means Bush's brutal treatment the last 8 years has improved it? It's worked so well, hasn't it! Why not see where this goes and stop drinking the kool-aid *s* (which means turn off all talk radio left or right and just see how this goes down!) And Arafat was not a moderate. He was a terrorist. What Obama is trying to do is reach out to the element in the Muslim world who can be reasoned with. He has more than proven he stands to protect Israel but you don't do that by brute force or by big talk. You'd think righties would know that by now. This may not work either given the hatred that has been generated over there in the years since Israel was created as a modern nation; but give it a chance as the alternative is to be an obstructionist and hope it doesn't work out for some insane reason that only benefits party loyalties. I don't know how it'll go either but let's see. It hasn't been good before; so it has to be better. What we need is Iran's people to stand against their radical leader and that is more likely to happen through reason than the kind of thing Bush was doing.
 

No, I like reaching out to moderate Arabs. I am not listening to talk radio or talk TV, I am reading the quotes from Obama's interview. He is the one that is attacking Israel with his short sided views. And I agree with both of you that Arafat was both a terrorist and a scam artist. The guy owned a bowling alley in the US among other things that he purchased with money taken from aid intended for the Palestinian people.

What I am saying is the the Palestinian National Authority is working with Israel to form a lasting peace and a Palestinian State. But when Hamas overthrew the government in Gaza, they stopped the peace process with Israel. Obama seemed to be saying that Israel stopped the peace process and that is not true.

I also believe that there are many people in Iran that would like to see relations with the US thaw and have no desire to dominate part of the world. The trick is to get them a bigger voice than the radical Muslim leaders that currently have control of the country.
 

If you follow all of this, you know Israel has had a blockade that has been hurting Gaza. They have done that to try to undo the election results there. Like Hamas or not, Like Bush or not, would we like such a blockade? They actually are acts of war, first steps and one led to WWII with Japan as you doubtless know.

So let's see what you didn't like about obama's interview? I had read it and thought it was fine. Was it when he said:

"...all too often the United States starts by dictating - in the past on some of these issues - and we don't always know all the factors that are involved."

or maybe:
"Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people, and that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table."

You think it's wise for Israel to not negotiate maybe?

"I do think that it is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated. And what I've said, and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.

Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount. But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side."

Perhaps you think Israel can achieve their security by just brute force? Can we keep fighting wars over there with a financial situation here that is way over the line? How many places do you think we can be involved? If Iran should get a nuclear weapon and use it on Israel, the whole situation turns tragic and there no fixing it. Now is the time to make the changes that could get the whole region interested in peace.

Israel is a country made up of human beings who do good things and bad. Without the support of the US, they would not continue to exist given the hate. The US has indicated it intends to continue that support but it has to be both sides work this out otherwise we go on with suicide bombings and rocket attacks and a constant barrage of innocents being killed.
 

This is the trasncript I drew some pieces from: CBS News
 

C/A and Rain thanks for commenting. I feel like a real blogger now.
I am not saying that Israel has been a perfect angel for the last 40 years. They have done plenty of bad things. But they were getting pretty close to peace until Hamas started lobbing rockets into Israel by the hundreds.
If Mexico was shooting rockets into El Paso or Canada was shooting them into Detroit, what do you think our response would be?

I think Israel has no choice but to negotiate with the PNA but not with Hamas until Hamas makes some fundamental changes. The thing I did not like that Obama said was that Israel has been on the wrong course and I think they were on the correct course until Hamas messed it up.

Maybe they can do some good things with diplomacy but the religious zealots on all sides only respect one thing and that is over whelming might to crush your enemies. Well maybe two things they will sometimes take money from us to stop killing each other too.
 

The problem with saying Israel has done right is we don't know it all. What if it's like the sneaky little guy who keeps jabbing at someone until they hit back and then blames them. I am not saying it's what Israel has done but I have heard other sides of this. For instance it they were blockading Gaza to keep them from getting supplies, they are dooming them to poverty. Would you strike back then? Some say that's why the rockets. What I think Obama said is that those two sides need to talk about it and work it out. He said nothing that is indicating he would force Israel to do anything. Israel doesn't gain from war and hopefully the Palestinian people will protest at their leaders who think they do. You basically were saying that Obama said wrong things and I don't think he did. i think he said that Israel needs to negotiate and he is going to put pressure on both sides to make that happen. The question is do we, as Americans, want to see peace over there, or so some profit from war?

You have been a blogger a long time with the lengthy and well-thought out comments you put into my blog but you just will have more chance to put out your ideas when you use your own blog. I think this new system of blog list will give you a few new readers too-- not all who agree, of course :)