By Arthur Piccolo
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Sept. 26, 2011: Barack Obama should do what I do since it seems we both hit the treadmill every day. The difference is he has a very private health club that costs him nothing.
What I do and he should is listen to the audio version of the Economist magazine while he is pounding the miles. If he did he never would have given that rosy word picture in his UN speech last Wednesday.
Barack the world is a mess.
As for the speech itself I am here to analyze it for you. Beginning with the key point the Palestinian statehood issue which proves once again how feckless President Obama is. While most of the media falsely reported Obama stood before the UN and made his position crystal clear. NO he didn’t.
Yes his position was obvious by implication. But why did he not say exactly what he meant like a real leader would. Why did President Obama not say in front of all these world leaders …
“I firmly oppose the Palestinian statehood application to the UN. The United Stares will exercise its power to veto any application from the Palestinians to do so no matter how many vote in favor. We are also working to convince other nations around the world not to support Palestinian statehood. And if Palestine goes ahead with its application the U.S. will likely punish them by possibly withdrawing the modest support we provide. In addition if the Palestinians seek observer status in the UN which we cannot veto we will certainly vote against it and urge others to do so.”
WHY did President Obama not even say the word statehood in his address and not in any way address the issue except to speak in “code.” Because Barack Obama is such a weak President. Maybe the weakest President ever.
There is nothing wrong with President Obama being opposed to Palestine statehood except under terms Israel agrees. There is nothing wrong with being Israel’s strongest supporter on Earth and never taking a position they do not want the U.S. taking. EXCEPT Barack Obama is ‘afraid” to tell everyone the truth. Why ???? What’s that you say dear reader that President Obama really does support Palestine statehood and that he would be more than happy to see the Palestinians as full members of the United Nations.
In other words are you saying he was afraid to say what he really believes. That we have a President that lies to the American people and the world when telling the truth does not serve his political interests and when groups with enough power can intimidate him?
Either way President Obama comes up very short.
But enough said let’s turn to the rest of his flawed UN speech Be forewarned it is mostly nothing but empty vacuous rhetoric not worthy of an American President at least not one with anything worthwhile to say ….
Here is just some of the EMPTY rhetoric praised elsewhere …
“The men and women who built this institution understood that peace is more than just the absence of war. A lasting peace — for nations and for individuals — depends on a sense of justice and opportunity, of dignity and freedom. It depends on struggle and sacrifice, on compromise, and on a sense of common humanity.”
YAWN …
“The fact is peace is hard. But our people demand it. Over nearly 7 decades, even as the United Nations helped avert a third world war, we still live in a world scarred by conflict and plagued by poverty. Even as we proclaim our love for peace and our hatred of war, there are still convulsions in our world that endanger us all.”
YAWN …..
“At the end of this year, America’s military operation in Iraq will be over. We will have normal relationship with a sovereign nation a member of the community of nations. That equal partnership will be strengthened by our support for Iraq for its government for its security forces, for its people and for their aspirations.”
“As we end the war in Iraq, the United States and our coalition partners have begun a transition in Afghanistan. Between now and 2014, an increasingly capable Afghan government and security forces will step forward to take responsibility for the future of their country. As they do, we are drawing down our own forces, while building an enduring partnership with the Afghan people.”
“So let there be no doubt: The tide of war is receding. When I took office, roughly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half, and it will continue to decline. This is critical for the sovereignty of Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s also critical to the strength of the United States as we build our nation at home.”
WHAT ….
Now President Obama you are taking credit for the war in Iraq? And as far as Afghanistan reality check Afghanistan is a disaster and the maybe most corrupt country on Earth eight years after we invaded. Taken together these invasions and occupations have cost America thousands of deaths and over two trillion dollars while destroying American credibility. You are calling this a success ??? Back to the EMPTY rhetoric …
“So, yes, this has been a difficult decade. But today, we stand at a crossroads of history with the chance to move decisively in the direction of peace. To do so, we must return to the wisdom of those who created this institution. The United Nations’ Founding Charter calls upon us, “to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.” And Article 1 of this General Assembly’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights.” Those bedrock beliefs — in the responsibility of states, and the rights of men and women — must be our guide.”
Sorry I’ve inflicted enough of this on you. President Obama drones on and on and on for many thousands of more words. Let’s just turn to his closing comments in his UN speech ….
“It is the nature of our imperfect world that we are forced to learn these lessons over and over again. Conflict and repression will endure so long as some people refuse to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Yet that is precisely why we have built institutions like this — to bind our fates together, to help us recognize ourselves in each other — because those who came before us believed that peace is preferable to war, and freedom is preferable to suppression, and prosperity is preferable to poverty. That’s the message that comes not from capitals, but from citizens, from our people. “
What exactly does that mean Mr. President?
Absolutely nothing like the entire forgettable speech.
YAWN …
Let me end returning to the current issue of the Economist which provides Obama some very good advice he did not take and why he should listen to the audio version on the treadmill. An article titled YES TO PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD a brief excerpt ..
“In truth, Israel will be safer when a proper Palestinian state has been consolidated. That is a point that too few Israelis and their American supporters appreciate. This newspaper has argued steadfastly for the right of Israel to exist. We abhor the creeping delegitimisation and demonization of Israel. But we also believe that the Palestinians deserve a state of their own. These two beliefs are entirely compatible. By his intransigence Mr. Netanyahu has played into the hands of those who would destroy Israel. In blocking any Palestinian aspirations at the UN, America is helping extremists on both sides.”
Again the last sentence President Obama ..
“By his intransigence Mr. Netanyahu has played into the hands of those who would destroy Israel. In blocking Palestinian aspirations at the UN, America is helping extremists on both sides.”
It is so, so hard to believe watching President Obama speaking at the UN last Wednesday that he is a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
He sure fooled me.
Arthur Piccolo is a professional writer and commentator and often writes about Latin America for New Americas.
