Obama's Middle East Chess Game Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

I have a piece up in the American Prospect looking at the Obama administration's early moves on the Middle East. Basic gist is that as in chess the opening is all about creating as many options as possible.  They've done a very good job of that.  But there is still hard work to come.

Comments

[Don Bacon]

Follow the bouncing ball. The same person wrote these two statements.-->

I have a piece up in the American Prospect looking at the Obama administration's early moves on the Middle East. Basic gist is that as in chess the opening is all about creating as many options as possible. They've done a very good job of that. . . .America's choices today are far greater than they were only 50 days ago.

Bob Kagan is the latest to latch on to the idea that Barack Obama's policy is a continuation of George Bush. This is an easy and intellectually lazy argument to make, mostly because it is physically impossible to turn around and change everything overnight.

[Dan Kervick]

Basic gist is that as in chess the opening is all about creating as many options as possible. They've done a very good job of that. But there is still hard work to come.

After reading the article, Ilan, it strikes me that this is just a way of saying that they don't really know what they are doing yet. And chess openings aren't just about creating options. Within four or five moves, the opening that is played establishes the overall pattern of the game. One ought to know what one is doing right from the start.

If there has been one consistent public diplomatic theme so far it has been that the various problems in the Middle East are linked, and they must be addressed with a whole new comprehensive approach. Making bold, serious progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was supposed to be a cornerstone of the new agenda. But the situation in that corner of the world is rapidly unraveling with a bloodbath in Gaza followed by the Israeli public's stunning lurch to the right and election of a rejectionist government. More quickly than we expect, strong eddies flowing from the degenerating situation in Israel could escalate into a regional maelstrom that drags Obama's plans down into the depths.

The world just got a loud and clear signal today that no matter how far Israel lurches to the right, or how intransigent and brutal their policies become, they still get a veto over executive branch appointments in the United States. People around the world looking for evidence that Obama will be able to extricate himself from the paralyzing constraints of US domestic politics, and step up to exert global leadership just found out the US is still struggling in the quagmire it has been in for about a decade.

[Mark]

With Obama's foreign policy is best summarized in this clever satire:

Swedish scientists prove Obama should not be compared to a chimp

[TrackBack URL for this entry:]

With Obama's foreign policy is best summarized in this clever satire

[Bvlgari Bracelets]

With Obama's foreign policy is best summarized in this clever satire

Posted by: TrackBack URL for this entry: | April 20, 2009 at 09:01 PM

[luxury watches]

I am so with you,rolex watch
luxury watch

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[m3i zero]

Other notable side-effects of the Obama diplomacy is that we have angered our closest allies and distanced ourselves from them--at the peril of our own national interest; while simultaneously made many countries who would like to do us harm if they could, smile in anticipation.

[FFXIV Gil]

Are you fighting in Final Fantasy XIV for FFXIV Gil or Final Fantasy XIV Gil?
Can you suffer yourself being called newbie in FFXIV Gil game?
Are you seeking unofficial Buy FFXIV Gil cheats or Final Fantasy XIV guides in order to make Final Fantasy XIV Gil faster?
Can you get millions of Cheap FFXIV Gil in one day?
Even if you know how to farm Buy Final Fantasy XIV Gil you have to prepare enough Final Fantasy XIV Power Leveling first to buy height class Final Fantasy XIV Items, to upgrade your Final Fantasy XIV characters.
FF14 Gil Then why not Buy FFXIV Gil from us?
In Final Fantasy XIV it's the fastest way FF14 Gil,for you to get rich. We are online 24 hours a day ready and 7 days one week to power up your FFXIV Gil accounts with FFXIV Gil. Here is the best place for the Final Fantasy XIV Online players to buy your Final Fantasy XIV Gil.
We are the professional website in FFXIV GIL sale.FFXIV GIL here,We are professional FFXIV Power Leveling online. We update price every single day to make sure we are the lowest in the market.(we don't compare price with scam sites which uses unbelievable low price to deceive.)
Our slogan:Cheapest price, Fastest delivery, Best service! Final Fantasy XIV GIL
In the 2 years we are in this field , FFXIV GILbuilt many business with tens of thousands of customers. They are very satisfied with our service.So if you want to get a log of Cheap FFXIV Gil ,no doubt ,come to our website to buy. Our customer service is ready for you on line now!(WWW,GM MMO,COM Sell FFXIV Gil)

[wholesale replica handbags]

i like your opinion. 2291 Peek A Boo Bag, m41526 Speedy 30, 1112, m40249 artsy mm, M45257 Messenger Bag, M40156 Neverfull MM, m40144 Tivoli GM, 6089, 211943 sukey, New Jackie

[replica jewelry]

This is a wonderful site! I’ve been looking for something like this
for a while now! Thank you!