Who Will Obama Turn Out To Be?

Obama's proposed Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, declares that the U.S. will now be using "Smart Power" in its foreign relations. Smart power apparently uses all the tools available to it, but in a different order than previously done. Obama has insisted on negotiations with terrorists, and wishes to help both sides achieve their goals.

Here is the Iranian goal:

At a news conference, Ahmadinejad said the fighting in Gaza has been "a great lesson for all," saying it shows "the absolute defeat and desperation of this (Israeli) regime."

He says that "even for the supporters of the occupying regime and its leaders, it has become clear that the continuation of the Zionist regime's life in the region is not feasible."

(http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D95NMH4O1&show_article=1)

If Obama loses Israel in a firestorm from Iran, he will have helped at least one side of the conflict gain its objective. How smart that is, is debatable.

The Muslim form of thought is too different from western thought for negotiations to have any meaning. Golda Meir once said that the situation could not improve until the Muslims “love their children more than they hate us”. Her reference was to children as suicide bombers, but her logic was off. The Muslims are honoring their children by offering them as sacrifices. And the hatred of Jews is also honorable.

So can westerners negotiate a populace into dishonor? Of course not. The idea of it demonstrates the ignorance of Obama concerning the situation he is about to inherit. Or is it really ignorance? Obama’s family is Muslim on his father’s side; he attended Muslim services as a child. Can he truly be so idealistic that he cannot see the Muslim world realities, despite his history? On the other hand, can someone that idealistic ever make it to the presidency?

The next year will be truly interesting as we all find out who Obama really is, by watching what he does rather than what he says.