US Elections And The Middle East
By Dinouk Colombage
Protesters tear the American Flag in front of the US embassy in Cairo
When the euphoria of the Conventions had passed and the political commentators got down to rating the chances of the candidates, Barack Obama seemed the favourite in the upcoming election. Last week’s incidences in the Middle East have now left questions over both candidates and their foreign policy approaches.
9/11, a day of remembrance, took place last week and once again the date proved to be an explosive time with US Middle East relations. A day after the memorials US Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, along with three other members of his embassy were killed when an armed mob stormed the compound in Benghazi.
The mob was reacting to anti-Islam film which originated from the US and is said to mock the Prophet Mohammed, the US was quick to condemn the film.
US investigative teams, along with the Libyan Authorities, are tracking down those responsible for the attack on the embassy. While back home in the US attention has returned to Mitt Romney and Obama as they both look to tackle this issue of growing resentment towards America in the Middle East. US elections have often been a battleground where opponents will look for any avenue to attack their rival. But one thing all political figures have agreed on is that no candidate will attack their opponent (if he is the President) when they are dealing with a national security issue. On Wednesday Romney made that very mistake when he criticised the US’ response to the ongoing demonstrations in the Middle East. Citing a statement from the US embassy in Cairo, Romney complained that the Obama administration was too soft on America’s enemies. The statement from the embassy condemned the anti-Islamic film while supporting the Muslim world. This statement was released prior to the demonstrations which have now engulfed the Middle East and seen several US embassies, including those in Egypt and Libya, come under heavy pressure from demonstrators. Of course Romney did not stop there, while the Obama administration expressed outrage over the death of Stevens he continued to try and gain political mileage by accusing the White House of “following a terrible course.”
His comments have not gone down well with most political figures, including those from his own party. Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, condemned the killing but failed to echo Romney’s anti-Obama sentiment. Romney’s latest blunder on the foreign policy stage provided the Democrats with further ammunition. In an interview after the incident Obama described Romney as “shooting from the hip first and aiming later.” Judging by Romney’s previous comments regarding the British Olympics, the President’s description seems justified. While Romney’s conduct towards these incidences is comment on his lack of readiness for the job, anti-US sentiment is a wake-up call for the Obama administration as well.
Libya, Egypt and Yemen are countries which enjoyed the support of the US during the Arab Spring last year. Now public opinion in those countries has quickly turned on the sole superpower.
During the uprising in the region protesters in Egypt and Yemen enjoyed the vocal support of the US, while the Libyans armed struggle to overthrow Mohammed Gadaffi was supported by the US and its allies in the form of NATO airstrikes. America’s support during that period appears to have had little impact in improving relations between the States and the Muslim world. In Yemen hundreds of protesters stormed the US embassy and tore down the flag. In Egypt thousands of protesters, including member of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood, have spent two days protesting outside the embassy. While President Mohammed Morsi has called for calm on the part of the people, he has not requested that the people refrain from protesting. While in Libya the death of Stevens, although being linked to a minority group, highlights the resentment towards the US.
Obama has failed to grab hold of the situation, following the protests in Egypt he said “Egypt is not an ally”, however, last year when the new regime came to power Obama was quoted as saying “Egypt is an ally of the US in some instances”.
Certainly this backtrack by the President will not sit well with those who have been critical of his foreign policy. The Obama administration has been described by their opponents as being “apologetic” on their foreign policy issues; of course this was not the time for Romney’s camp to pull out that card. While the 2012 Presidential election is sure to be dominated by the domestic issues, this past week has shown that regardless of whoever is the next President the upcoming four years are going to be a test for their foreign policy.
The US Foreign policy has no baring what so ever as to which party is in because policy is dictated by Israel. The US will always be look upon as enemy of Islam until which time there is a brave and bold leader who will put his/her foot down and say “NO” to Israeli terror. And when the day dawns of a Chivalrous US leader of this caliber, that leader will follow the same fate as did JFK.
After years and years read a rational reply. Thank you sir. Simple politics but many people fail to understand it.
This how Islamic world treating US . like Iraq,Afganistan,Libya,Egypt, tunisa,yemen, for example , those people were living like dogs for dectatores rulers , when there were no protest , freedom going on, people they were cring asking help for west , Now dictators gone and this what the result westen counties geting .
there is word says , “Muslims cant live in there country but can live in westen counties “
However much Muslims blame America as anti Islam what they have forgotten is USA is one of the best among the countries which maintains absolute religious freedom. How can one blame the government and kill an innocent ambassador for the fault of two individuals. Further, Muslims should learn to adapt themselves to the changes taking place in the world. Few months ago the portraits of Hindu Gods were printed on foot wear and the portrait of lord Buddha was printed in socks. Did we Hindus or Buddhist kill anyone for it. First Muslims should learn the art of tolerance and leave the judgement to the god himself.
Please don’t lie – Let alone “absolute religious freedom in the USA”, there is no freedom anymore in the USA. May be you or someone else can explain why innocent Muslims and their civil liberties have been encroached, mosques are fire bombed and attacked, Seiklh worshipers are gunned down and their temples are attacked, Crosses keep burning in the South on Coloured peoples’ lawns in the South, Criminal justice system failing and imprisoning a record number of African Americans wrongfully convicted, and some sent on to death row against International outcry and condemnation, violent protests that have erupted in Tennessee to New York on the building and zoning laws of new mosques which President Obama himself had to intervene in favour of the Muslims, why Tea-Party right wingers have bashed innocent Muslims like Ms.Huma Abadeen -Senator Clinton’s adviser and even Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison linking them unfairly to terrorism, why Bradly Manning is imprisoned for Military whistle blowing of mass military genocide and massacres in Iraq, why Marines are caught red handed collecting body parts as trophies and urinating on human corpses, why Wall Street protesters from Zuccotti Park to Oakland California are suppressed, why media freedom was infringed by the Bush years from telecasting the US war dead or Michael Moor’s documentary screenings, why NYPD’s frisk and search laws targeting African Americans that have become a common place, racial profiling of innocent Hispanics, Latino and other coloured people in Arizona and now spreading to other States, TSA racially profiling and body searches that have become controversial, suppression of free speech against the protection that then US constitution and civil rights bestows the people, and thousands of other cases and grievances that are before Civil liberties organizations for their review. Get you facts right before showing-off your ignorance. Your slip is wide open!
Your artical whats happening in USA is totally wrong , We live in USA , there is call democaratic , even muslims wear there costums are walk on the streets no problem , they go to mosque and pray its freedom , look in muslim countires can we build a chruch ,a temple , a kovil? and also if my wife give birth to a child in USA ,EU other than Middleast my kid get a bith certificate from there country , so he/she become a citizen of that country and will have all privilages , like obama too,
But in muslim world my kid never get any privilages why this law ? its coz freedom ? Remember this 99% of terrorist are muslims .
Possibly the most brilliant statement made by Obama was that Egypt is not an ally. That got Morsy’s attention big time and coerced the Egyptian government to fully protect the embassy and to call off all national demonstrations except Tahrir Square on Friday.
I can think of no other situtation where any US President has had a bigger impact by his choice of words – Bill, informedsourcestoday.com