The bloom is off the Obama rose in the Arab world, writes Fouad Ajami on the pages of The Wall St. Journal. By not picking sides—other than to apologize for past American actions—Obama seems to have worn out his welcome by not delivering on promised ‘change’.
The Arabs Have Stopped Applauding Obama
Fouad Ajami‘He talks too much,” a Saudi academic in Jeddah, who had once been smitten with Barack Obama, recently observed to me of America’s 44th president. He has wearied of Mr. Obama and now does not bother with the Obama oratory.
He is hardly alone, this academic. In the endless chatter of this region, and in the commentaries offered by the press, the theme is one of disappointment. In the Arab-Islamic world, Barack Obama has come down to earth.
He has not made the world anew, history did not bend to his will, the Indians and Pakistanis have been told that the matter of Kashmir is theirs to resolve, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the same intractable clash of two irreconcilable nationalisms, and the theocrats in Iran have not “unclenched their fist,” nor have they abandoned their nuclear quest.
There is little Mr. Obama can do about this disenchantment. He can’t journey to Turkey to tell its Islamist leaders and political class that a decade of anti-American scapegoating is all forgiven and was the product of American policies—he has already done that. He can’t journey to Cairo to tell the fabled “Arab street” that the Iraq war was a wasted war of choice, and that America earned the malice that came its way from Arab lands—he has already done that as well. He can’t tell Muslims that America is not at war with Islam—he, like his predecessor, has said that time and again.
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November:30:2009 - 11:40
It is always disconcerting to me when a leader performs at his best basking in the glory of a huge crowd, no matter how the crowd got there (In Berlin they were enticed with free concerts and food, and stayed for the speech in between).
On the one hand disenchantment is to be expected giving the distinction between campaign promises and the inevitable realities of office. On the other hand, a little more experience, and a little less branding would have helped.
It is also disconcerting about this particular president, that he has been so rewarded on biography, image, and promise rather than on accomplishments. The Nobel Peace Prize is an excellent example that this trend is continuing into his Presidency.
November:30:2009 - 12:51
Obama is very good at lofty rhetoric but in practice his administration is a lot like Clinton’s. That is it is a series of slow starts and false starts (remember don’t ask don’t tell). I still don’t know what the Arab world should have expected. Do they think Obama was going to abandon the support of Israel? That would be a gift to the Republican party. Obama is a smart campaigner. Hillary Clinton was scalded once when she said something that was taken as pro-Palestinian. Obama isn’t going to make that mistake.
November:30:2009 - 14:45
I did not vote for Obama…my biggest issue was a concern about lack of experience. He had/has a morass to wade into and even though he gave great speeches and ran a brilliant campaign(using all the new technology to reach the kids etc.)that did not mean to me, at least, that he knew how to maneuver through the minefields he faced.
I do think it was important for him to try to reach out to Muslims and others to open a new dialogue after the Bush administration. And I was really hopeful about the future of East/West relations. But I also think that the Middle East needs to take ownership in some of it’s own policies and realize that no one is a miracle worker. Intractability is not Obama’s responsibility/fault. He can apologize and take ownership for America’s part in it, but he can’t do it alone. Having said that I do think he needs to take a tougher stance…IMO the Palestinians deserve a homeland and a two nation solution is the way to go. BOTH Israel and Palestine have to give a bit and they MUST work out their issues between themselves. The US is in a no win situation. It can’t force either side to make nice (although it can lean heavily). If the US takes too much of a role it will be vilified and if it doesn’t take enough of a role it will be considered as not caring.
I do agree with Chiara that he is rewarded for POTENTIAL rather than achievements…I mean, when did they start giving out Nobel Prizes BEFORE you do anything to earn them? Sheesh!
November:30:2009 - 15:34
I’m still pretty enamoured with him. But I think I had a more realistic view than many of what he could actually do- and how long it might take. And I did (and do) have some concerns about his experience. But the job does not come with a magic wand and it isn’t his fault they gave him the prize too soon. But it’s not like ran out and grabbed it from someone.
I agree with Oby that Israel and the Palestinians have to step up to the plate. And I would extend that to Americans in general. There are consequences to everyone’s individual and collective choices, and a president can’t change that.
November:30:2009 - 17:22
After the Obama administration endorsed the ridiculous, and dangerous, and anti-freedom of speech, Un resolution to ”protect religion” I have lost all trust in Obama.
I can only hope that their endorsement will be as ineffectual as the rest of the promised change.
November:30:2009 - 19:18
Aafke…
Oh my gosh! Don’t even get me started on that RIDICULOUS excuse for a law. Total attempt at shutting down any discourse about Human Rights. Easy to say you are offending a religion when the religion is also a form of governance. That means everything is off the table and untouchable. In that regard he was a fool!
November:30:2009 - 20:40
Obama had nowhere to go but down. The expectations placed on the man were unattainable. Remember the woman at the campaign rally who thought Obama would put gas in her car and pay her mortgage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI
November:30:2009 - 21:25
To me he is the invisible president. Need I say more…
November:30:2009 - 21:34
@ Sparky,
Yes. Say more.
November:30:2009 - 21:41
Is your seatbelt securely fastened?
November:30:2009 - 22:26
K this is going to sound weird BUT I started asking people around me, “Do you feel like you see Obama?” Mostly, I asked Americans this question. To them it was an odd question. They said, “What do you mean?” I said, “I don’t feel like he is visible or as visible as other presidents were in terms of media presence etc. It is like I don’t see him or what he has to say. I have neither negative nor postive feelings towards him or his presidency. It is like he doesn’t exist. K I know that is weird!
Thus, I have deemed Obama “My Invisible President”. I might figure out what that means exactly later but for right now I don’t know what that means in all honestly.
And lol at fasten your seatbelts. The ride wasn’t that rough eventhough I do like a rough ride!
November:30:2009 - 22:33
@Sparky…
So funny but I felt just the opposite. It felt to me that everytime I turned on the TV he was on it! Now it seems that he has diminished in presence somewhat. but it was almost a joke about how OFTEN he seemed to be delivering a speech. Interesting how people view things differently!
November:30:2009 - 22:50
@ Sparky,
K that IS weird.
I’m with oby on this one. Obama’s camp was beginning to worry about his over-exposure and not his invisibility. He was on GQ magazine & Jay Leno & Letterman & we were inundated with nightly news stories about the choice of dog for the Whitehouse.
He’ll be judged on actual accomplishments, one day.
November:30:2009 - 23:41
Oh Google My Holy Orator…Please Guide Me!
Here is the breakdown on the Invisible President Black Man:
The narrator first dons the mask after his falling-out with the Brotherhood, in Chapter 22. He becomes even more invisible in Chapter 23, when, escaping Ras’s henchmen, he disguises himself behind dark glasses and a hat, unintentionally inducing others to mistake him for the nebulous Rinehart. Finally, in Chapter 25, he retreats underground. Yet, in the act of telling his story, the narrator comes to realize the danger of invisibility: while it preempts others’ attempts to define him, it also preempts his own attempts to define and express himself. He concludes his story determined to honor his own complexity rather than subdue it in the interest of a group or ideology. Though most of the narrator’s difficulties arise from the fact that he is black, Ellison repeatedly emphasized his intent to render the narrator as a universal character, a representation of the struggle to define oneself against societal expectations.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/invisibleman/canalysis.html
December:01:2009 - 09:39
One gets the impression that the man is lost. Nothing in his university days or social work in Chicago prepared Obama for the real world.
The worst thing is that he doesn’t take criticism well. To him, a contrary opinion is seen as hostility, even when the problem is real and the criticism is obviously valid. Maybe life has been too easy for him thus far….
Obama seems to think a few cute words will solve the problem and a gesture or two will make everybody happy and bring peace, love, happiness, roses and bluebirds singing on his shoulder.
One has the impression that this man has no deep convictions, except that he himself is wonderful. In that sense, yes, he is invisible. He is a symbol (“a black president”) more than a man.
December:01:2009 - 10:16
J. all he needs to do is come of that hole, that stereotype of “a black president” with the name Obama. He needs to grow some balls like Bush but not be Bush.
He needs to just be who he is and forget about what other people want him to be. That is the issue; realizing that nobody or embodiment can solve your own problems except you. He can serve as a good example. For all that I hated Bush and I mean hated him what I loved was his belief in himself despite what others had to say. IT was him carrying out what he believed to be right although it might not have been right; I believe he followed his own convictions however distorted they may have been to many.
December:01:2009 - 11:10
@Sparky
I too hated Bush, and I agree with you that he was a person of his own convictions. Although I think that led to a lot of the problems we are living with today…perhaps he should have done SOME listening. I thought we would get that with Obama…that he wouldn’t ride roughshod over everyone and make unilateral decisions. Hopefully, we’ll see a little more “Bush” in Obama yet!
December:01:2009 - 11:17
HI oby…for a minute I totally forgot who our Vice President was too. NO I am not joking nor am I stupid! Perhaps I am tuned into other frequencies hehehehe
Anyways, I found this very interesting:
http://www.atu.edu/lfa/Brucker/Ellison.html
December:01:2009 - 11:35
Hi Sparky…
Thanks for the article…very interesting. I thought since we were talking about Obama and the bloom being off the rose everyone might find these stories interesting. I am not sure of the leanings of Politico.com who are the ones who published this…perhaps John you can help me with this. Are they balanced or do they lean one way or the other?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29993.html
December:01:2009 - 12:28
Hi again oby
I read it and was amused. Got that reminder of how he bowed in Japan. I was critical of that and still am but we all screw up sometimes. He has also forgotten to put his hand over his heart while pledging the allegiance. That ticked me off a lil.
Heck maybe his secret ambition is to BE the Ruler of the WOrlD. Hah nah whatever just playing around. I think he is smart enough or at least has smart enough people around him not to screw up majorly. That is I have perfect confidence that America is never at the mercy of one person; learned that in 9th grade civics. The entire class cheated except me
OMG he is looking at the man in the mirror too much. LOVED THAT!
December:02:2009 - 08:41
For all that I hated Bush and I mean hated him what I loved was his belief in himself despite what others had to say.
Summarizes my opinion about Bush. I did not hate him personally, more like I hated the values which he upheld. But yes, he had a knack of holding on to his beliefs, right or wrong. Obama seems to believe in….nothing.
December:02:2009 - 09:30
It is so good to see you olivetheoil. I was craving olivetheoil.
I think to be what everyone else wants you to be makes you no longer your authentic self. Perhaps then, believing in ALL EVERYTHING comes out to believing in NOTHING. Thus, to Obama I humbly say, “Obama F-them people who expect you to be someone they want you to be (even if that includes me) ! Although I have learned to let go of expectations…
I can imagine Hillary Clinton laughing at that advice
HIllary got the big balls. If they were real, She would be the PResident. That is the SParkilicous opinion subject to many mistakes and criticism.
December:02:2009 - 10:13
It would seem with the simultaneous troop surge, and timeline for withdrawal that the bloom is off the rose.
December:03:2009 - 00:37
It is so good to see you olivetheoil. I was craving olivetheoil.
I missed everyone here too! Especially you, Sparky!
Darn real life for keeping me from commenting regularly.
December:03:2009 - 00:47
Nice to see you olivetheoil. I really like what you have to say.
Well I have cut out T.V. viewing almost completely and talking to my friends to post here. Such sacrifices I make, but I wouldn’t do it if I DID’T LOVEEEEE ITTTTT
Back to work on Saturday but I will still be here…
December:03:2009 - 02:14
“It would seem with the simultaneous troop surge, and timeline for withdrawal that the bloom is off the rose.”
Fighting for the women of Afghanistan
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30798316/ns/dateline_nbc-international/
I recommend people watch the video clip. Personally, I admire this woman.
Rule under the Taliban:
Women in jail for being raped!
Women not allowed education!
Women being forced to take drugs!
DEAF CHILDREN who are falling through the cracks!
And Plenty MORE
Under the Taliban there is NO JUSTICE!
30,000 troops? I hope that is enough! Timeline was a smart tactic IMO.
December:03:2009 - 14:29
Sparky–my comment referenced the attitude of the home audience: the ones who are happy with the surge are unhappy with the deadline for withdrawal, and vice versa.
December:03:2009 - 15:37
Thank you for that link, Sparky; what if the US sent 30,000 persons of that caliber to Afghanistan rather than soldiers ? Would it work ? Would it improve people’s lives ? Then other countries would follow, wouldn’t they ?
Sorry it’s just a dream
December:03:2009 - 17:34
I talked with an Afghani man this morning who was raised in Tehran, because of the problems in Afghanistan 20 years ago. He wanted the troops in to get the Taliban out, but we agreed that war devastates and long periods of war undermine a country for generations, Hard to know what Afghanistan would be like today if it were sitting on everyone’s oil pipeline path. Taliban would be dreadful, but maybe they wouldn’t have had any sway without Soviet invasion in the first place.
December:03:2009 - 17:57
Sorry, late edit: …if it weren’t sitting…; and …The Taliban…without the Soviet invasion…
Need I add I was talking to him in the ophthalmologist’s office?
LOL
December:03:2009 - 20:30
I admire and respect Obama a great deal, which is something I have never felt towards any American president, and this is not because _like many Arabs_ i beleive he will solve the ME issue, but because he has a distinguished personality, which is not necessary to make a great politician or president at all
I don’t beleive that he has a magic wand to solve the all problems, not even half the problems in the world, but if he’s really honest and wants genuine reform, he won’t survive in the White House.
I invite everyone here to listen to this view on Obama from a very simple man…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT5-D1OPAB0&feature=related
Here is my translation of it…I tried to avoid literal translation as possible, but of course, as I always beleive, translation kills the soul of the word, especially with very local and non-classic Arabic lyrics.
Enjoy
But I hope that Obama is better than Bush
Bush _ may he lives in misery
Has destroyed us for days and years
And people think that Obama
Is going to be Salahudeen
And what will Obama do
After the destruction made by Bush and his father?
They didn’t leave a place on Earth without wiping it out :
Famines, financial crisis, and wars
The son of the **** is gone now
But has left us with bricks of destruction
Obama seems to know what we dream of..how we feel
But let us not dream and have high hopes, for the dream might turn into a nightmare
Let us remain as we are, for we got used to agony
So Bush has left and Obama has come..so what he’ll be able to do? What will happen?
Palestine is still occupied and war still prevails in Iraq
People are living in humiliation and hostility generates only more hostility
No matter what Obama does,
AlHariri won’t come back , nor will Sheikh Yaseen
Arafat will never come back ..he lived a sorrowful life
And when he died, everybody knew it was caused by Mossad.
Poor Arabs…peace on you…waiting for Obama to help you and have mercy on you
But no Bush or Obama is thinking of you…
There’s nothing that will help you except taking your rights in your own hands
Only “you” can protect yourselves.
We’ll see!
December:03:2009 - 20:33
oops..the first line wasn’t pasted ..
“I see a smile and happiness on faces”
December:04:2009 - 00:54
Michel, we can always dream! That would be a wonderful dream
December:04:2009 - 03:40
Maha, that song is nonsensical propaganda. Apart from a nice beat, it’s pretty weak. If the song wanted to make use of the comparison of George Bush to Obama it could do so without throwing in very off key information like Mosad getting Hariri?
Also, I sense and correct me if I am wrong that you have been induced with fears about what a dangerous place America is so as in your example that you can safely go out to Danube Supermarket to get ice-cream. I need to check out that store. K that aside, I think watching certain T.V. shows (wallahi I wrote ‘T.V. shoes’ and self corrected) even reality ones like “Snapped” etc., can be very damn scary. Even watching the American news, can fill one with irrational fears. However, I can assure you that America is a relatively safe place. I have done things in which some of my friends and family were sure I would get chopped into pieces and served for lunch but I came out in one piece Thank God.
Unfortunately, I have learned no one is really gonna do anything for you unless you do something for yourself.
December:04:2009 - 08:16
@Sparky
I don’t take it seriously, but it’s funny coming from an illieterate man. Yet he represents a big cateogry in the Arab world. Tehy’re all drugged with songs and entertainment.
The song is not considered a first class (not even) a third class song as far as singing is concerned.
And I don’t consider America a scary place as I have lived and studied there for a few years ..se (The Biography of a Saudi Fraud)
http://saudirevelations.wordpress.com/the-biography-of-a-saudi-fraud/
It’s not as scary as the media makes it sound, but no one can say that it is as safe as Jeddah or Makkah for instance.
I lived in Denver where it was relatively safe, but we used to get warnings from time to time about rapists or murderers breaking loose from prision.
However, when we took a tour to different American states, we felt it was much less safer than Denver.
“Unfortunately, I have learned no one is really gonna do anything for you unless you do something for yourself.”
I sincerely believe in this.
thanks
December:04:2009 - 09:30
I read your biography Maha and I hope that writing your book is a healing experience for you. People need to look at each other as people. However, that is so much easier said than done.
December:04:2009 - 11:15
I don’t think Obama has a particularly distinguished personality. I think he is a slick product of his upbringing, ambition, and his campaign manager, who was an ad executive, and still heavily involved in branding his client.
There are huge levels of disingenuousness about how much the Obamas benefitted from affirmative action, and about the fact that given his looks he had no choice but to forge an identity as an “African American”. I do agree with African American scholars that he is not an up from slavery African American, and not “black” in that sense. Also I’ve spent more time and been more engaged in life in Morocco than he has in Kenya; and I know of no African who would brag about his granny living in poverty or his half-brother living in a slum when he was as successful as Obama–so I don’t find him particularly African in that sense either.