Obama and the Middle East
We face major hurdles in our Middle East foreign policy. We have wars ongoing in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pakistan is a powder keg (and it like Afghanistan isn't part of the Middle East, but it impacts it). There is a "cold war" that is in place with Iran and Syria. Oh, and Israel just invaded Gaza, killing upwards of 900 people so far with no end in sight.
I am a strong Barack Obama supporter. I think that Hillary Clinton, James Jones, and Joe Biden bring important skills to the table. But I join Roger Cohen, who writes today in a NY Times Op-Ed piece, in not just encouraging, but demanding that Barack Obama expand his circle of Middle East advisers. So far, all of the advisers are Jewish or have Israeli connections. How will this help our relationships with Arab communities or with Iran? These men (they're all men apparently) may be liberal, open-minded, and competent, but where are the Arab-American and Iranian-American folks? Don't we need to hear their perspectives if we're going to change how we do things?
Cohen writes:
I am a strong Barack Obama supporter. I think that Hillary Clinton, James Jones, and Joe Biden bring important skills to the table. But I join Roger Cohen, who writes today in a NY Times Op-Ed piece, in not just encouraging, but demanding that Barack Obama expand his circle of Middle East advisers. So far, all of the advisers are Jewish or have Israeli connections. How will this help our relationships with Arab communities or with Iran? These men (they're all men apparently) may be liberal, open-minded, and competent, but where are the Arab-American and Iranian-American folks? Don't we need to hear their perspectives if we're going to change how we do things?
Cohen writes:
Change is needed, and not just in the intensity of U.S. diplomatic involvement with Israel-Palestine. Some fundamental questions must be asked.
Does regarding the Middle East almost exclusively through the prism of the war on terror make sense? Does turning a blind eye to the Israeli settlements in the West Bank that frustrate a two-state solution, and the Israeli blockade of Gaza that radicalizes its population, not undermine U.S. interest in bolstering moderate Palestinian sentiment?
Should policy not be directed toward reconciling a Palestinian movement now split between Fatah and Hamas, without which no final-status peace will be possible? Beyond their terrorist wings, in their broad grass-roots political movements, what elements of Hamas and Hezbollah can be coaxed toward the mainstream?
Cohen suggests a number of figures who would be excellent contributors to this work -- if we don't expand our circle of advisers we will face continued failure. It's not as if there aren't any resources out there to draw on!
So, President-Elect Obama and Secretary of State nominee Clinton, let's think more creatively and broadly!
Comments
This is spot on. Our Middle Eastern envoys should be Arab-American.
I'm not apologizing, I'm just saying up front that I'm criticizing him as one who is a supporter, but as one motivated by the Gospel call to be a peacemaker.
But, peace will not be gained until we make sure that Arab and Iranian Americans are at the table as key advisors. We must continue pressing this!