Obama changed Lebanese minds, by Cynthia Tucker

[jefferson_dem]

Obama changed Lebanese minds
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Osama bin Laden was so worried that President Obama’s

Cairo speech might win over Muslim hearts and minds that the jihadist sent out a pre-emptory audiotaped message denouncing the United States and warning against Obama’s “new beginning.”

It turns out that bin Laden was right to be worried: The president did, it seems, change some minds in the Middle East.

On Sunday, an American-aligned coalition won a surprising victory in Lebanon’s parliamentary elections, pushing back a challenge by Hezbollah, which had been widely expected to win a majority of seats. There were undoubtedly many factors at play — Lebanon’s politics are fractured and Byzantine — but Obama’s well-received speech has been credited with making a difference.

So, while it’s much too early to tell whether the president’s emphasis on an empathetic diplomacy can push old enemies back to the negotiating table, the early result confirms an old adage: You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.

<SNIP>

Not only must he persuade Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, but he must also do everything possible to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

He must also continue to work on shoring up civil institutions in Iraq and curbing Iran’s influence there.

Still, Lebanon’s election is good news in a region where there has been little of it.

Hezbollah has been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks against American, Israeli and other Western targets, so its electoral loss is a defeat for terrorism and its state sponsors.

If that’s the only result of Obama’s Cairo speech, it’s a good return on the investment.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/tucker/stories/2009/06/10/tucked_0610.html

[Cha]

1. This is outstanding! Prez Obama's

working his heart out for World Peace and then he has to contend with the assholes back home who are emboldening any enemy of Obama's that they can.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Can't wait to see the election outcome in Iran.

He frequently said: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMyBGtGZi1w

When I shook his hand here in SF I told him I believe him. I am in awe.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Those evil, evil Obamabots, falling for the evil lies of the messiah...

:rofl:

[ClarkUSA]

4. It's obvious that President Obama is this nation's top diplomat for all intents and purposes.

No other presidential candidate would have been able to accomplish this. A proven saber-rattling warmonger from either side of the aisle would have driven voters into the arms of Hezbollah. I'm glad that we got the right man for the times into the job in time to influence this pivotal election.

[HopeOverFear]

6. yep

and it's so simple the way he did it begs the question: why the hell didn't anyone else think of that?

[wroberts189]

5. knr