If any American is upset about the mess in the Middle East, they shouldn't blame President Obama's lack of ability to forge personal relationships with foreign leaders. That is what Joe Scarborough claimed today on his "Morning Joe" show. But,what was the state of the Middle East when President Bush was in office? Here are some prophetic quotes from a Bush insider & others way back in 2007 concerning the Middle East:
"America cannot simply wash its hands of Iraq and go home. The region’s problems, many of them made worse by this war, are unavoidably America’s problems as well. For starters, Iraq is in imminent danger of violently breaking apart, driving millions of refugees across its borders — who will bring with them their ethnic grievances, and in some cases their weapons — and potentially unleashing a chain reaction of regional conflicts that could draw in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and perhaps others as well.
Whatever else happens, Iran has already become more formidable and dangerous. Where it once had a hostile Saddam Hussein on its western border, it now has a friendly Shiite fundamentalist government. Its other longtime enemy, the United States, has had its diplomatic and military clout severely diminished by this war." Read more here.
"The Iraq war has caused a precipitous drop in support for the US in Muslim countries: from 25 per cent to 1 per cent in Jordan, a major US ally; in Lebanon, from 30 to 15 per cent; and in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, from 61 per cent to 15. This has grave implications for the world — not least India and Pakistan, where terrorism’s fatalities have risen from 182 to 489. It’s in humanity’s interest that jehadi forces don’t gain. That will only produce more violence and insecurity — and eventually, assaults on human rights and democracy. However, the way the US is acting will ensure precisely that outcome." Read more here.
" A Bush Administration insider, Flint Leverett, who served in the CIA, State Department and Bush White House, had some harsh things to say about the direction of foreign policy in the Middle East on September 5 at the New America Foundation in Washington, DC.
In a virtual indictment of Mid-East policy, Leverett described how America’s standing is in decline in the region, not only US popularity but how America is perceived. The United States is more and more seen as ineffective and unable to accomplish its objectives. The decline of the United States is occurring at a disturbing pace." Read more..
The above excerpts were extracted from three different sources that all are asserting the same thing. President Bush's foreign policy contributed greatly to the current trauma that is the Middle East. So,for Joe Scarborough to pretend like the mess in the Middle East is Obama's fault is ridiculous! What about the worst president in modern history? Who is that,you may ask? George W. Bush! I couldn't travel outside of America without someone railing at me about the stupidity of those who voted for George W. Bush!!! He was not respected around the world. Since Mr. Obama is dropping drones all over the Arab world,the people are in an uproar! They thought they would see an immediate difference once President Obama took office. His problem is that he kept too much of the former president's policies.
In President Obama's defense,there has been no major attack like 9/11 in this country during his first term. The Bush administration ignored warnings that America was in imminent danger. I wonder what the response would have been if that took place during the Obama administration. What would have happened if Obama would have escorted Bin Laden & his family out of the country afterwards on a private plane? I'm sure you compliant Republicans would have insisted that this was proof that Obama is in league with terrorists! He's a secret Muslim who was born in Kenya,right? When Republicans make those types of accusations,how do you think that plays in the Muslim world? Don't you think that contributes to the anti-American sentiment? Not to mention the blind allegiance to Israel. Palestinians are Arabs,after all.
President Obama has made mistakes but he can't be blamed for what was predicted to happen 5 years ago.
