Barack Obama Throws Full US Support Behind Middle East Uprisings from the Guardian [of the UK]
• President unveils shift in US policy towards Arab countries
• 'Status quo not sustainable,' he warns region's autocracies
• Sets out two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Tells Syria's Assad to lead transition or 'get out of way'
"Barack Obama has sought to realign American policy on the Middle East , pledging to shift from decades of support for autocratic regimes to backing for pro-democracy movements, and setting out the shape of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. Facing criticism that the US has repeatedly been behind the curve in response to the Arab spring, Obama promised a "new chapter" in US diplomacy. He placed Washington on the side of popular uprisings not only in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya but also in Syria and, for the first time, in Bahrain – a longtime American ally."
Obama's full speech can be viewed here.
Not Perfect, But a Long Way from W.: Why Obama is Emerging as the Roger Federer of Diplomacy (David Rothkopf) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"...it was clear, this was not primarily the talk of the man at the head of the U.S. military chain of command. These were remarks by America's diplomat-in-chief, an aspiring statesman."
One Step Forward (Hussein Ibish) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"By acknowledging that interests and values sometimes contradict, President Obama has cleared the path for progress in the Middle East."
Obama Abroad: Ambitious Realism (Frank Loy) from World Affairs Journal
"The larger complaint was that Obama lacked a grand strategy or a coherent approach—a frequent complaint from some in the think tank community, and one that was also leveled at President George H. W. Bush. A close examination of the president’s words and actions, however, actually reveals a quite coherent approach, one that deftly mixes high ambition, caution, and pragmatism."
Ahmadinejad's Enemies Scent Blood in Iran Power Struggle from the Guardian [of the UK]
"President so isolated by Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei that completion of second term is in doubt, say analysts."
Good Counterterrorism Is Cheap, and Expensive Counterterrorism Is Not Good (Justin Logan) from the National Interest
"This highlights one of the under-appreciated realities of dealing with terrorism: the best ways of dealing with it are often cheap and not particularly emotionally satisfying. In recent weeks I have heard former Bush administration officials and read neoconservative think tankers suggesting that bin Laden’s death was somehow the product of America’s massive defense expenditures. Balderdash."
Bin Laden Praises Arab Spring 'From Beyond the Grave' (Uri Friedman) from the Atlantic
"Bin Laden lauds the Tunisian and Egyptian revolution (he doesn't mention Syria, Libya, or Yemen, or western countries) and declares that "the winds of change flew to the square of Tahrir" in Cairo and that they'll "blow over the entire Muslim world, with permission from Allah.""
This is actually an interesting story. It has taken Al Qaeda forever to actually come forward and give a real position on what's been happening with the 'Arab Spring', they've been so irrelevant to the whole process. I think it potentially significant that bin Laden's last statement is one endorsing the protests -- because, y'know, I could be making this up, but it is my sense that many young Arabs, those that might be attracted to the jihadist approach to 'reforming the Middle East', have longed for some MEANINGFUL alternative. Not only has the 'Arab Spring' provided one -- but Osama has now given it his official endorsement. Implicitly, bin Laden has UNDERCUT the reason d'être, the very reason for its existence for his own organization!
How -- and Where -- to Cut Defense (Michael O'Hanlon) from Politico
"In fact, before making any decision on the competing plans, we should first make sense of what is actually on the table — linking proposed spending to U.S. national security interests and our broad military strategy. This has yet to be done. Here’s a quick review of the bidding."
Another in our occasional series showcasing defense spending. FYI: O'Hanlon is one of the bigger foreign policy neo-con talking heads out there -- although not of the Dick Cheney/Paul Wolfowitz brand.
Privacy, Libel and the Case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn (Geoffrey Wheatcroft) from the National Interest
"The French keep secrets. The British stifle the press. America runs a perp-walk escapade."
Forgiveness for Sex Abuse Doesn't Come Cheap (Bill Tammeus) from the National Catholic Reporter
"Perhaps you saw the recent PBS series on forgiveness or read the related book by the director, Helen Whitney, Forgiveness: A Time to Love, a Time to Hate. Both are clear-eyed, moving, even disturbing looks at how to understand forgiveness. Since seeing the series and reading the book I’ve thought about the role of forgiveness in the priest abuse scandal within the Catholic Church."
Katrina's Lessons Still Drive the Obama W.H. from Politico
"Faced with a seemingly continuous string of natural disasters this winter and spring, the Obama White House so far has demonstrated an acute understanding of the lessons Bush learned the hard way during the Katrina crisis."
Obama's Digital-Age Advantage (Daniel Henninger) from the Wall Street Journal
"Spending 18 Months in the Full-Time Glare of Electronic Media Can Only Diminish his Republican Challengers. What if instead of a standing candidate, the Republican nominee in fall 2012 is on hands and knees, battered and caked with blood from performing in the Roman colosseum that is now an American presidential campaign? Looking at the lineup of declared, dithering and desired Republicans, who among them does anyone think could keep a campaign vibrant from now until the real election starts on Labor Day 2012?"
Two-Way Truce Can Improve Health Care (Norman Ornstein) from Roll Call
"Last week, 42 freshman House Members sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to stop Democrats from employing “Mediscare” tactics on them and their colleagues for their votes in support of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) Medicare proposal and other health care policy changes.
Lots of columnists, pundits and pols hooted at this ... I could hoot at the hypocrisy, too, even as I wish we could tone down the rhetoric and find a way to actually have — I shudder to use the hackneyed phrase, but will — an “adult conversation” about the urgent need to find some common ground on health care reform. Somebody has to start."
Now, I have to say that I LIKE this right-of-center columnist. He is an eminently sane, generally non-partisan observer and specialist of the congressional scene -- AND there is much in this column that I like. But it is my observation that right now there is a serious shortage of "adults" for Dems to actually talk to in the GOP. Indeed, it seems to be the Republican strategy is to COUNT ON that Obama and the Dems WILL BE the party of adults on issues such as the debt ceiling and the budget. In the GOP, right now, the juvenile element is running the show.
The Extraordinary Homemade Dams Holding Back the Mississippi as Desperate Residents Try to Save Their Homes (PHOTOS) from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"We've all undertaken home improvements but these residents in flood-stricken Mississippi have had to embark on major construction projects just to protect their houses and livelihoods. These homes in Vicksburg are all situated along the Yazoo River, a tributary of the overflowing Mississippi River, and their owners have surrounded themselves with tons of earth and sand."
The images here are AMAZING! What heroic efforts!
Democrats Scale Back 2012 Map from Roll Call
"Democrats evaluating the 2012 map are confident President Barack Obama can win enough battleground states to earn a second term, but via a far less aggressive path than what he forged in 2008."
WOW! This is the first I've heard of this! Up till now, all I've read suggested that the insiders viewed Obama's road to victory as "winnable" but that it would take MORE effort than 2008, not less!
The GOP’s Turnout Problem (Reid Wilson) from the National Journal
"Republicans are doing everything in their power to stanch the tide of red ink and return the RNC to a strong financial footing. But the GOP also faces a problem only rarely acknowledged among top party strategists: The Republican Party’s turnout operations, which can suck up millions in funds during the critical last days of a campaign, are much weaker than those of their Democratic counterparts. And without a serious investment soon, the turnout gap threatens to undermine Republican efforts to win key contests in the 2012 election cycle."
BUMMER!
The Real Reasons Priests Abuse (Tracy Clark-Flory) from Salon
"A new report blames opportunity and cultural change -- but a pedophilia expert says it's much more complicated."
Black Students, White Teachers, Big Debate (Celena Cipriaso) from The Root
"When black students in Shelby, Miss., voted for two white teachers as their best, the school board and superintendent didn't like the result."
Paul Ryan Is Running the Show (Joshua Green) from the Atlantic
"Why the Wisconsin congressman is eclipsing the entire 2012 GOP field and complicating Republican politics ... The 2012 Republican presidential field finds itself in an unusual position -- playing second fiddle to the House Budget chairman."
Newtered: The Problem with an "Ideas Candidate" is That He Has, Well, Ideas (John Dickerson) from Slate
"Radical was the promise of the Republicans who are now in charge of the House. Tea Party patriots didn't elect them to be timid. Never mind, though, you're not allowed to use the word radical. It has negative connotations. Who helped radicalize the word radical? Newt Gingrich."
Arnold's Divorce Scandal: 7 Basic Tips for Horny Politicians (Michelle Cottle) from the Daily Beast
"Feeling soiled by the news of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s secret child? It’s time we accepted that politicians cheat—and offered some basic rules for avoiding total humiliation, from vasectomies to financial trails."
LIBRARY & MUSEUM NUGGET!!
Oh, the Stuff Those Lions Guard from the New York Times
"“One of the five greatest public libraries in the world” is the boast made at a new exhibition celebrating the centennial of the New York Public Library’s august building on Fifth Avenue. And if we are inclined to question the claim, it is only because the institution’s distinctiveness is scarcely suggested by putting it in a class with the Library of Congress, the British Library, the National Library of France and the Russian State Library."
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