Surveying international reaction to Barack Obama’s re-election, NBC Nightly News correspondent Richard Engel declared (11/7/12):
In the Middle East, there is hope that President Obama will embrace the Israeli/Palestinian peace process in second term the way he embraced the Arab Spring in his first.
The Arab Spring: unembraced. (photo: Ryan McGovern)
This would be a surprising reaction to find among people in the Middle East, given that Obama did not really “embrace” the Arab Spring. Consider Egypt, arguably the most high-profile uprising; the original White House response was to stand by dictator Hosni Mubarak. The White House continues to support the regime in Bahrain. And it’s likely longtime allies like Saudi Arabia and Jordan needn’t worry about the U.S. government “embracing” democracy movements there anytime soon.
There is a common notion in U.S. corporate media that the U.S. government has stood with the democratic protests in the Arab world. But the evidence to the contrary seems far stronger.
It’s hard to believe many people in the Middle East would like to see Obama apply the same rules to the Israel/Palestine conflict.
“It’s hard to believe many people in the Middle East would like to see Obama apply the same rules to the Israel/Palestine conflict.”
But, of course, he has
And will continue to.
Yes, good ‘ol Bahrain, where the government destroys Shia shrines and where the forces of the Royal family shoot demonstrators in the head with US bullets fired from US guns, while our vaunted Fifth Fleet docks luxuriously in Bahrain’s halcyon harbors. Treating wounded demonstrators is a crime. Bahraini doctors are actually serving time for helping the wounded. And the corporate media rarely report that those gunning down the protesters were imported UAE, and Saudi. troops Doubtless, Empress Hilla The Hun (Bill’s words, not mine) and the Emperor O’Bomber look the other way and either downplay or deny the crimes of this and other “fledgling democracies”. The Gulf States will never see their Arab Spring because we will, by proxy, spill the people’s blood to protect the oligarchs who control a huge percentage of the world’s oil.
In today’s Newspeak, having a Belgian company put a mall in your country is democracy. The story of how the US and the IMF withheld aid until the Parliament and army could not demand control over the economy proves how democracy is defined — outside control of Egyptian politics. This has been the running theme of most Times commentary and stories, with the exception of Mark Landler’s impressive reporting. I remember recognizing at the time of the revolution that Obama’s speeches were carefully timed to reassure investors that he was behind this kind of thing. In my opinion, Obama was therefore in speech and in action trying to threaten Egyptian democracy. Taking a closer look, it seems Arabs are not even demanding to be embraced, just left to stand on their own. A sizable portion of the left did not vote for the present constitution, and 80% of Egyptians now do not even want aid, which is an almost 150% increase from last year.
The US idea of “democracy” is as a cover story, not the truth. They prefer dictatorship they approve of.
Egypt has really fallen into the worst aspects of the Arab spring.Obama simply has no where to go.No where to turn.His most hopeful beliefs about the muslims in that part of the world;beliefs he has held for many years , are gone .And the reality’s now frighten him,as well they should.Israel he has never really cared for ,or about beyond political posturing..He will find a way to turn his back on them.He will not defend them.He has tried to befriend our enemies.And has lost touch with our allies.We continue down the path