Barack Obama has made it abundantly clear that, instead of offering real change in US foreign policy and a realignment of US standing in the world, he will instead maintain the status quo of overt US militancy and superpower dominance as he pursues the same foreign policy objectives as George W. Bush and the neoconservatives.
In announcing his national security team, Obama told his audience that, while he believes “16 months is the right time frame” for the ‘withdrawal process’ from Iraq, he leaves the door open for continued occupation by adding “We will have to remain vigilant in making sure that any terrorist elements that remain in Iraq do not become strengthened as a consequence of our drawdown”.
By ‘terrorist elements’ Obama, just as Bush and his neocon supporters have done for the past five years, means anyone who dares rise up and challenge the US-approved and sponsored Iraqi government. Given the reality of the Iraqi geo-political landscape which guarantees that there will always be strife in Iraq while there is any semblance whatsoever of any US influence in Iraqi politics, then Americans can look forward to many more years of some level of occupation in Iraq and, therefore, many more lives of US soldiers being lost as a result.
And, of course, the bogeyman, Osama bin Laden, together with his al Qaeda organisation, will continue to be perpetuated by the President-elect as the Emmanuel Goldstein mythical enemy of the Western World. Obama tells us that “…we're going to have to mobilize our resources and focus [our] attention on defeating Al Qaeda, bin Laden, and any other extremist groups that intend to target American citizens”.
The arrogance of American exceptionalism seems also to have caught up with Obama as he tells the world: “We will strengthen our capacity to defeat our enemies and support our friends. We will renew old alliances and forge new and enduring partnerships. We will show the world once more that America is relentless in the defense of our people, steady in advancing our interests, and committed to the ideals that shine as a beacon to the world. Democracy and justice, opportunity and unyielding hope because American values are America's greatest export to the world.”
Significantly, Obama didn’t commit at all to a Palestinian state but, instead, talked of “…seeking a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians”, though didn’t elaborate on whose or what terms such a peace might come about.
At the end of his announcing of his national security team one is left wondering if anything has really changed at all despite the wishes of the American people – and the world. He did mention diplomacy one or twice but that was about the only difference between Bush’s policies and what seems to be Obama’s.
AUSTRALIANS AT WAR
THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY is a compelling factual history of neoconservatism and its influence on US Foreign Policy in the Middle East during the first decade of the twenty-first century. Click on image above for details.
4 comments:
I think they have run out of stories and ideas the only thing they have left is to create another war soon - BUT that doesn't seem to be working either - the Deccan Mudjahadin story pushed by our western zionist media doesn't seem to be working too well on the people of the world - many are now smelling the RAT and are having a think - thank heavens - they are having a bit of deja vu.
I think that the signs are good that the false left/right paradigm is slowly imploding, just as their false financial bubbles are coming to the end of their manipulation and fraud. Unfortunately there are still plenty of zombies out there who cant distinguish truth from lies, and as the treasuries get further milked dry, on will come the saviors with our One World Currency and the new global religion known as Climate Change.
Unfortunately I do agree. Nevertheless, I do believe that Obama does want the change, but as most realize as soon as they sit in the chair, they have less power than they thought they would have. The fact is that, say, Obama did commit to a Palestian state within 4 years with equal rights for them is Israel, abolition of Israel nuclear weapons, etc Obama would not be elected, and even if had and then wanted this, his Presidency would be quickly terminated. The real change needed in US foreign policy, finance, military etc will not come from the government, there are very powerful players that are independent from government. That change needs to come from the bottom, and it needs to passionate, energetic, and with some sort of coherant leadership, and yes, people will get hurt. I don't see this happening in the near future, people at the moment are too passive, not angry enough yet. I believe Obama will do what he can do within the boardaries set by them. In some areas he will be able to move more than others, and some (eg wrt Israel) not at all.
one of those old alliances is with israel, which sels US miliary secrets and bombs americans
Brian
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