The President chose to give his first formal interview to the Arab language network al Arabiya last week, taking the opportunity to tell the Arab world that America is not their enemy, and that it was time build “the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there’s no reason why we can’t restore that.”
Charles Krauthammer worries that this formulation is needlessly apologetic:
In these most recent 20 years — the alleged winter of our disrespect of the Islamic world — America did not just respect Muslims, it bled for them. It engaged in five military campaigns, every one of which involved — and resulted in — the liberation of a Muslim people: Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The two Balkan interventions — as well as the failed 1992-93 Somalia intervention to feed starving African Muslims (43 Americans were killed) — were humanitarian exercises of the highest order, there being no significant U.S. strategic interest at stake. In these 20 years, this nation has done more for suffering and oppressed Muslims than any nation, Muslim or non-Muslim, anywhere on Earth. Why are we apologizing?
It’s a fair question.
POTUS is not apologizing; he’s kissing ass.
On a more immediate time frame (and I am sure Skippy and Flit will show me the errors of my ways), if the President is attempting to distance himself from the errors of his predecessor, then would someone point out to me how Bush 43 was anything other than solicitious of Muslims?
So what is he distancing himself from?
I read that piece this morning and thought it hit the proverbial nail.
Reminded me of lifelong Democrat Jean Kirkpatrick’s applause line skewering the left at the Republican Convention years ago – “but then, they always Blame America First”.
In the intervening years their shrieks have grown more shrill while the stakes are nevertheless as grave as anytime during the cold war of which she spoke.
OT: YO! Macophiles…bad news…the malware comes!
Do the Boy Scout thing now…
He’s just playing into Biden’s hands. It’s a football move – fake, pass … who scores?
And the new caliphate begins…
By God and St. George! Blessed Michael defend us.
There is nothing a Liberal hates more than Americans being proud of their country, and even worse, feeling (gasp!) superior to other countries. Hence the continuing parade of self criticism among the finger waggers. There will be no “Atta Boys” in our embarrassingly “male Eurocentric, paternalistic, racist and misogynistic” society.
That being the case, according to the Hate America First crowd, we have to be constantly reminded of our “failures,” and the people we have helped more than hindered over the years are invited to the public lashings.
Brother Hiram,
There are still a few Templars who remember their oaths. The time is coming when they shall be needed and I am certain that none shall be found wanting.
respects,
It’s true… it’s becoming an attitude of national proportion:
OBAMANATION
Sad, isn’t it?!
Hate America, ya, sure. We’re the evil Satan. America can do no good. We’re terrible, horrible, unrepentant. But how does that saying go?? GI go home, and take me with you. That’s right, they all say they hate and even cuss us but if they get the chance the emigrate to this nation, the greatest nation of all times and all places. God Bless America
xformed,
as it turns out, if you fail to practice safe se…um…software, you can have a problem.
Those affected by the trojan malware were engaged in downloading pirated commercial software. With just a little something extra added.
Seems fair.
Obamassiah’s little speech is, unfortunately, representative of everything, everything I feared AND fully expected from the man. And, worse, he’s just getting warmed up…a loonnggg four years.
Speaking of apologies…it seems President Clinton did make verbal amends with Iran in 2000.
(now sing along with me! “don’t know much about science books, …”)
I guess the system has done it’s job: History wasn’t taught at Colombia, Harvard, of that special private school in Hawaii, let alone an Islamic school in Indonesia…Just sayin’