Obama's Big Speech

Wajahat Ali has a good take on the speech, on what it was and what it was not.

Obama's speech, which was meticulously and strategically crafted as if penned by a chess master, had to simultaneously appease millions humiliated and dejected by a hypocritical and brutal U.S. foreign policy, and also justify U.S. objectives without appearing imperialistic or apologetic.

Indeed, many in the right wing pundit-sphere have already lambasted Obama's attempt at cordiality and self awareness of sins past -- such as his mentioning of U.S. helping overthrow democratically elected Iranian President Mossadegh in 1953 - as a form of "weakness." These antiquated relics of Yosemite Sam, cowboy diplomacy fail to realize Bush's ill-fated ventures in Iraq and his belligerent rhetoric of unilateral aggression have soured vital relationships with Muslim communities. These diverse communities should have been treated as allies especially after the global empathy directed towards America following the 9-11 tragedy.

Then the bad stuff he left out.

However, the reality remains the U.S. has killed thousands of innocents with their unilateral, reckless and unnecessary war in Iraq. The current military offensive in Pakistan and Afghanistan continues to yield causalities rising on a daily basis. Furthermore, the U.S. supports brutal dictators to the tune of billions annually, such as Egypt's very own Hossni Mubarak, which paralyzes the people's legitimate attempts at democratic reform.

Although Obama acknowledged Muslims have suffered under the yoke of colonialism and their countries have been selfishly used as "Cold War proxies," he did not apologize for what many in the world deem as American intransigence. Obama promised the U.S. is not a "self interested empire" although the devastating casualties of 50 years of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East would surely cause most to disagree.

Instead of dealing with this historical legacy -- which would be inconvenient to say the least -- Obama is seeking a "clean break" and urged that if we are "bound by the past, then we can't move forward."

Despite his shameful silence over Israel's recent brutal bombardment of Gaza, which killed more than 1,300 civilian Palestinians, Obama deserves credit for acknowledging the suffering of the Palestinian people whom he said have "endured the daily humiliations -- large and small -- that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable."

Although Obama reassured the world the U.S. bond with Israel is "unbreakable," and the onus on stopping violence lays on both parties -- despite a global acknowledgment of the vast disparity between the occupied and occupiers -- it was refreshing, honest and most welcome to hear a U.S. President refer to the Palestinians as actual human beings with a legitimate source of grievance. Obama's reference to the civil rights struggle in America comparing the plight of African Americans for recognition and dignity to the Palestinian hope for self-determination and respect was bold and inspiring.

Obama's desire for a two-state solution and his adamant stance on the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestine land will undoubtedly cause friction with the bellicose hawk Netanyahu and the powerful AIPAC lobby. The world waits to see if Israel continues on its course of settlement building, which would not only undermine the peace process and continue to inflame extremists, but also seriously humiliate America as a neutered superpower that cannot influence its ally, even though it supplies Israel with billions in foreign aid.

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