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Obama And Gaza

Far in the background of all the coverage and commentary on the strikes in Gaza has been the response, or complete lack thereof, of Obama to what has been happening there. This has led to a some commentary on what he might do once in office. Sometime TAC contributors Glenn Greenwald and Philip Weiss both […]

Far in the background of all the coverage and commentary on the strikes in Gaza has been the response, or complete lack thereof, of Obama to what has been happening there. This has led to a some commentary on what he might do once in office. Sometime TAC contributors Glenn Greenwald and Philip Weiss both stated very plainly that they think it is impossible to know what Obama will do once he takes office, and moreover Weiss says that you cannot know what he really thinks about this conflict. I don’t think Obama’s likely course of action is so hard to discern, and his public position is going to be exceedingly predictable, regardless of whether that is what he “really” believes. For once, Gerard Baker makes a solid point when he argues that Obama will have many other higher priorities than diving into Israel-Palestine problems early on, but Obama’s action or lack of action will be dictated by more than a busy schedule handling economic woes and our own wars.

The incoming administration will almost certainly abide by Obama’s campaign pledges not to force Israel to make concessions or “drag” them to the negotiating table. It will maintain what Weiss and perhaps even Greenwald will find to be an incredibly out-of-touch position of absolute support for ongoing military operations in Gaza (assuming the operations will still be going on in three weeks’ time) just as Obama supported Israeli actions in Lebanon in 2006 to the hilt. The public stance of the administration will be staunchly, almost embarrassingly supportive of the actions of Olmert’s outgoing government and whatever new government forms later this year. Of course, he might surprise everyone by departing from everything he has said and done for the last four years regarding this subject, but I don’t think it likely.

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