Barack Obama reached out to the Muslim world in his inaugural address and in a recent interview with al-Arabiya television network. But columnist Charles Krauthammer thinks that message has been needlessly defensive and 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,” he wrote. “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 Somali 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?”
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Health care reform would save state money
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Raptor on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
23 Comments
Yes, America has certainly caused a lot of suffering for the Muslim world. I suppose the philosophy of Republicans is that if you beat your wife six days a week, but bring her flowers on the seventh then you are blameless.
#
Regular
Posted January 31, 2009 at 6:26 am | Permalink
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I agree with the statement by K.rau.t.hamme.r from the article.
Evidently, the blog does not like the spelling of the columnist.
Interestingly, if you get out and meet college students visiting U.S. from nations all over the world, you find they want the same things Americans want … opportunities for improvement in a safe environment. I won’t try to define these goals here.
But students and teachers I meet from various countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kenya, India, Germany, Thailand, Viet Nam, that I can think of at this moment, are sharp and looking to the future. Most admire what America has been able to achieve so far.
Its the governments, ours included, that seem to work to inhibit this.
Krau thammer, a solid Aryan-Christian, breaks his arm patting himself and his fellow CONs on the back for “defending” Muslims.
Really?
Funny how Muslims don’t see it that way . . .
Maybe Syria and the Saudis can help us with our Tim Mc Vey types. I was thinking of “pre-emptive strikes” using aerial bombardment. If a few thousand American children get killed in the process, hey, they died for freedom.
It’d be nice if the “spam bot” didn’t filter out the name of the TIME magazine writer.
Sheesh.
It could be nothing more than the President wanted to assure the Moslem nations and people that we still believe what has made us great. That it is not a matter of religion, color or nationality that is the deciding factors. If you read much of what is said and or written by the people of this country. Someone that is not that familiar might take it with the soul of America. That we blame and think it is all Moslems that are Al-Qaeda.
Nobama’s brother in Darfur is an Al quaida leader; of course he is sympathetic to the muslims; his own true religion
“Cynical
Posted January 31, 2009 at 8:39 am | Permalink
Nobama’s brother in Darfur is an Al quaida leader; of course he is sympathetic to the muslims; his own true religion”
Care to prove any of that BULLCRAP?
capn, it would be nice, if just 1 time you could say something positive and of value. I know you are not to bright but, what do you not understand or what is not true in what Charles wrote. And what does it have to do with mcveigh, or syria or saudi arbia. it sounds like you admire them and want to move there. then please do.
I won’t ever understand anyone who finds fault with people’s religion of choice in a country founded for religious freedom (the right to worship as you individually choose!).
Religion is like hot homemade soup straight off the stove. You must blow it off to suit you.
Nathaniel, if you choose to eat your soup straight from the stove, hot as hot can be, then that is perfect for you!
#
bth
Posted January 31, 2009 at 8:50 am | Permalink
“Cynical
Posted January 31, 2009 at 8:39 am | Permalink
Nobama’s brother in Darfur is an Al quaida leader; of course he is sympathetic to the muslims; his own true religion”
Care to prove any of that BULLCRAP?
=====================================================
Of course he can’t. That would take an intelligent mind with the ability to think for itself.
Obama’s half brother, George, lives in Kenya and just got busted for having a joint. They share the same father, but have never been close.
Barack does not have any full siblings, just a three half sisters, and five half brothers.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28947310/
Ben,
Care to prove any of the BS you spew about the Marines in Lebanon?
Or any of the other crack pot liberal crap you spew about our military?
Yes I think he is making too nice to the Islamists. I hope it doesn’t come back to bite us. Read his books and see where his loyalty lies.
Nathan – my comments about the marines in Lebanon – as you know – were about the MISSION the politicians assigned them. And I DID back them up long ago and many times over. As for your BS line “crack pot liberal crap you spew about our military” I have not done that – especially with all the war vets in my family (WW2, Korea, Nam).
Jeez Maggotpunk and others,
If you can’t make an effective argument, maybe you shouldn’t post.
If you disagree with Kra.ut.hammer, then specify exactly which of the military and humanitarian campaigns he describes didn’t happen.
Charles is right on.
Bosnia – we prevented Bosnia from getting arms to defend itself from well-armed Serbia and did nothing until AFTER the genocide at Srebenica. In fact, we only acter AFTER the tide had turned against Serbia and left about 1/3 of Bosnia occupied by Serbia.
Kosovo – again, we DID act – and admirably – under Clinton but did so rather late.
Somalia – a very admirable and heroic effort by our troops – unfortunately they were not given sufficient resources and the mission was subsequently abandoned.
Kuwait – yes, we did re-establish the Emirs. But was that to help the people or to protect “our” oil?
Afghanistan – yes, we did topple the Taliban. AFTER we had helped them get into power.
Iraq – the jury is still out. Will they simply be traded from one dictatorship (US ally Saddam) to another dictatorship?
And then there is Palestine – under military occupation for 42 years now with US support for the occupier.
Obama is making Jimmy Carter look like a rocket scientist. He WILL go down as the worse pres ever.
No.
We just suffered through the tenure of the Worst President Ever.
Barack Obama will go down in history as the man who cleaned up after the WPE.
Bet on it.
whether or not you/we think Obamah is too nice to Muslims .. the cold hard realities will soon force his hand .. Obamah has drawn a line in the sand .. which Muslum faction will be the first to cross that line . . . .
Obama: “Let me be clear: America is committed to Israel’s security. And we will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against legitimate threats. ..Hamas must meet clear conditions: recognize Israel’s right to exist; renounce violence; and abide by past agreements. Going forward, the outline for a durable cease-fire is clear: Hamas must end its rocket fire; Israel will complete the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza; the United States and our partners will support a credible anti-smuggling and interdiction regime, so that Hamas cannot rearm.” . . . . .
what will he do . . . . . what WILL he do
I agree with the opening blog statement at the top of this page . . . a little historical context helps . . . but as far as this Kansas.com blog is concerned .. a wise prophet once stated: “a broken clock is right twice a day”
really . . . . . . Why are we apologizing?
Obama is making Jimmy Carter look like a rocket scientist. He WILL go down as the worse pres ever.
The irony of this statement is that Carter was in fact a nuclear engineer. He also was–and is–a very shrewd, skilled negotitator. Carter’s problem is that he came to Washington as a genuine outsider, and brought his own people with him. Add to that, his unfamiliarity with official Washington led him to make some particularly poor appointments.
I think, had Jimmy Carter had the opportunity to become president in 1984, with four years to reflect on everything done wrong, he would have made a fine president. Of course, that never would have happened (I remember cringing when the Democrats nominated Mondale, the perfect recipe for defeat!).