Is Hillary now running Foreign Policy?

[bvar22]

I posted congratulations to Obama this Summer when he took a tough stand against Israel's expanding settlements. Looks like I was premature with my praise.
Like so MANY other issues, Obama is failing to follow through.

Washington Post, June 4th, 2009

"Obama has chosen a very tough issue -- Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank -- as a test of his seriousness: He has demanded that Israel freeze these settlements, including a loophole for "natural growth," as it's called. "Settlements have to be stopped in order for us to move forward," he said last month at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060303241.html

Source: AP
Today

JERUSALEM – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday that Israel is making "unprecedented"
concessions on West Bank settlement construction — a position clearly at odds with the prevailing
Palestinian view.

Palestinian leaders have said they will not return to peace talks with Israel unless it halts all settlement
building on lands they claim for a future state, and they believe Israel has blatantly defied a U.S. demand for a settlement freeze.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, Clinton
said Israel is putting significant limits on settlement activity.

"What the prime minister has offered in specifics on restraints on a policy of settlements ... is
unprecedented," she said.

The AP was doing their best to present a Fair and Balanced story.
The fact is: Israel is STILL expanding by building "settlements" in strategically important positions in Palestinian territory.

I guess I should cut them some slack. Hillary is probably doing her diplomatic best to put a smiley face on Israel's in your face defiance of our president.

But Hillary's praise of Israel today makes it appear that Obama opposes the expanding settlements the same way he supports a Public Option.

I wonder if anyone will call him on this discrepancy?
Probably not.

[MarjorieG]

1. And how would you handle Bibi, realistically, given Israel's connections?

[sandnsea]

2. What are the specifics offered?

How is it different than the past to the point Hillary called it unprecedented?

[theoldman]

3. I still cannot understand why Obama still has a problem with Israel.

He has had nine months to solve all of our problems. That is the way Republicans look at his lack of performance and it appears so do a lot of Democrats. Am I the only person who is willing to wait a few years before passing judgment?

[Pirate Smile]

8. No, you are not but the complainers are louder then the rest of us.

[stray cat]

4. Should we bomb them if they don't do what we say?

:eyes: OR should we enforce our will on other countries in some other way? After all Obama is leader of the world - right? :sarcasm:

[bvar22]

5. NO.

But it might be a good idea to re-examine our "Foreign Aid" to Israel instead of sending Hillary to give them a big sloppy kiss for openly defying our President.

Obama drew a line in the sand last June.
I expect him to STAND on that line.

[aquart]

19. Yes, dear.

Be sure to make the Democratic Party the enemy of the Jews. That will work wonders in New York, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Florida and other congressional districts.

Good to know you think things through. I'm glad to know you champion the Palestinians even if it destroys your own country.

[roody]

22. I believe that Obama wants to live.

[emulatorloo]

6. Sometimes you catch more flies with honey than vinegar

Diplomacy can be complicated. Egos have to be stroked, everybody needs to save face.

Glad to see this admin is not so ham-handed as the last one.

[bvar22]

10. And sometimes you wind up with Chamberlain instead of Churchill.

Foreign Policy is like being a new substitute teacher.
When you draw a line, and then make excuses for those who cross it, you have lost.

Obama was very specific last June.
Even the Washington Post I cited above said, "as a test of his seriousness: He has demanded that Israel freeze these settlements".
So has Obama failed the test?

If he responds with "sugar", Israel will not take him seriously ever again.
OTOH, his performance last May may have been just that....a performance.

[emulatorloo]

12. I have been reading about the 2000 peace talks recently. It is not as easy as it may look

to get all the egos in check and both sides suspicions assuaged. The problems go back forever, it is not going to be solved in a few months.

[Captain Hilts]

16. To think that's as close as they ever got. Kind of daunting.

[Deep13]

7. Short answer: yes, that's what Secretaries of State do.

And yes, it's a pretty good bet she is doing what Obama wants.

[Cass]

9. Hillary articulates and executes the foreign policy of the President.

I don't know what is the reason behind this change but it is not Hillary going rogue if that's what you're getting at.

I wish Pres Obama had stuck to his earlier position about the settlements but for some reason he is backing off. It is disappointing, to say the least.

[Bumblebee]

11. do you seriously believe that she would do it on her own, without consulting with Obama?

[bvar22]

13. No. I don't.

But how do you explain the discrepancy?

"as a test of his seriousness: He has demanded that Israel freeze these settlements".

What I really believe is that Obama opposes the settlements like he supports the Public Option, EFCA, GLBT rights, renegotiation of NAFTA, reforming Wall Street.....

He performs well in front of the cameras.

[joeycola]

18. Has he capped CEO salaries---like

he said he would last Feb?


http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/02/04/obama%E2%80%99s-cap-on-ceo-pay-strives-to-end-era-of-excess/

[JohnnyLib2]

14. No, but she could.

:evilgrin: :popcorn:

[Captain Hilts]

15. If you don't agree with it it MUST be Hillary - or Emmanuel's fault!

[joeycola]

17. End result is that Obama has obviously changed his mind.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. yes. indeed. and if you love it, it must be to obama's credit

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. i think within parameters she is allowed to run her department

and the parameters are set by the person voted into office