Obama’s Iran Dilemma: Human Rights or Nuclear Negotiations?

HuffPost- It took more than six months for the White House to “strongly condemn” the excessive use of force against the protesters in Tehran, and God knows how long it will take President Obama to conclude that compromising universal values, including human rights, at the expense of erratic negotiations with the Iranian government. It will not change the behavior of the Iranian government although it will undermine America’s moral authority. Read more

Obama Egypt Speech: Venue Choice Draws Fire

President Obama’s decision to address the Muslim World in a speech on June 4th in Cairo, Egypt — one of the most authoritarian Muslims countries in the Middle East - begs the question: is Egypt the right place to address such issues or not?

On May 8, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called Egypt “the heart of the Arab world,” and the trip “an opportunity for the President to address and discuss our relationship with the Muslim world.”

In March 2009, Ipsos conducted a poll of 7,000 people across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. According to the polling outfit, Egypt has the least favorable approval rating compared to the other Arab countries in the Middle East. And President Obama received 48 percent of average favorability ratings as a whole, while Egyptians gave him a favorability rating of 35 percent. Read more

Obama’s Bowing the King of Saudi Arabia; a Gaffe or What?

Did President Obama really bow the king of Saudi Arabia? It seems it was, and sure was a gaffe.  I don’t think that is included in President’s foreign trips’ protocol. Barack Obama is humble but bowing the King of Saudi Arabia does not show a right sense of judgment, and more importantly, does not reflect the values that this nation is built on. I understand that the President is young and want to show a different picture of the United States and his predecessor, but there are better ways to do so. There is nothing special about Saudi Arabia to praise, except the subsidized oil the Kingdom provides for the United States. Honestly, it’s very hard to explain such an action!

Obama’s Speech In Turkey’s Parliament

Obama’s speech in Turkey’s Parliament sent a very positive to the Islamic World and the Middle Eastern countries. It will take time for the President to show that the change in rhetoric lead to change in action. Still, many in the Middle East do not believe that changes in the U.S. rhetoric towards the world is based on a change in its leadership discourse. Obama’s positive messages will be taken more seriously when his words and policies embrace each other. I believe though, his speech is in that direction…

Obama’s Prague Speech: Nuclear Disarmament and a New International Order

Obama’s speech in Prague is among the most important events of this year. Global nuclear disarmament will not be easy, particularly in the Middle East. It’s hard to imagine India, Pakistan and chief amongst them Israel, give up their nuclear arms, but it’s worth trying. Iranians also should understand that this is the best path to achieve nuclear energy and make sure neighbors would not go after nuclear arsenal.

“Cohen: From Tehran to Tel Aviv”

Obama’s message to Iranians on the Persian New Year seems to be beyond a change just in the U.S. rhetoric towards Tehran. Many in the U.S. media have misinterpreted the Iranian Supreme Leader’s response to President Obama as “rebuffing” his positive message, which is not the case. In an analysis for the Times, Roger Cohen explains the significance of such messages. I find his analysis is pretty accurate. When it comes to foreign policy Iranian authorities are pretty much pragmatic. As Cohen suggested any change in the US-Iran relations needs courage. There are countries that are not in favor of normalization of such relations. They will do whatever is needed to avoid this. But it’s in the interest of the United States to talk to Iranians and more than just talking do something real. However, the fact that the President is articulate and cute is not enough. If Obama steps forward and do something real, Iranians will respond positively. It’s even in the interest of Israelis to be more rational and never forget that a good US-Iran relations is good or them as well:

“The innovations in the president’s Persian New Year, or Nowruz, overture to Tehran were remarkable. He referred twice to “the Islamic Republic of Iran,” a formulation long shunned, and said that republic, no other, should “take its rightful place in the community of nations.” Here was explicit American acceptance of Iran’s 30-year-old clerical revolution.

He said establishing constructive ties would “not be advanced by threats,” a retreat from his own campaign position that the military option must always remain on the table. Instead he offered “mutual respect.” (Read the rest of this piece here)

Obama Is Ready To Lead, But How?

(HP-Feb 11, 2009)-President Barack Obama said in his inauguration speech that “America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.” But the question remains; what are the characteristics of this new leadership and how will it take itself out of the ditches inherited from his successor in post George Bush era? Read more

“Rice says Obama likely to follow Bush on foreign policy”

Obama’s choice toward the major U.S. foreign policy issues from the Middle East to Pakistan’s unstable situation, Russia’s influence in the Central Asia, and even North Korea’s nuclear program does not seem different than the Bush Administration’s path. And it seems to be a fact, and this is what Condi Rice has told FT recently: 

“The reason why there might be some elements of continuity is that what we’ve tried to do is to arrange or organise international groupings that can first manage and then resolve these very difficult problems in a multilateral way.” She was referring not just to the administration’s efforts over Iran but also its approach to North Korea and the Israel-Palestinian issue. (Read the rest of the story here.)

Suzanne Maloney: Both Obama and Clinton want negotiations but not a nuclear Iran

The United States will not initiate dialogue with the Iranian government, given the possible boost for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-elections next June, according to Suzanne Maloney, former State Department policy advisor and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

During his campaign Barack Obama has insisted on negotiating with Iranian leaders, regardless of its extensive political risk. But considering Iran’s domestic politics, American diplomats prefer to wait and see who will be Iran’s next president.

Many believe that Iran’s worsening economic situation, demonstrated by its high inflation, skyrocketing unemployment and the fall of oil prices, which have prevented Ahmadinejad from fulfilling his promises to the Iranian people, might change the result of the upcoming elections. Read more

Selecting Hilary Clinton as Sec. of State and Obama’s Premise of Change

For all the people who have followed the primary presidential elections, and the nasty fight between the two rivals, choosing Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of the State is not only scary, but it also seems to be Obama’s first move to give up the values and ideals he advocated during the campaign. Yet it could also be interpreted as one of the smartest decision that president-elect has made in regards to his cabinet.  How can this be explained?

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