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Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.
The sex scandal engulfing two of our top military and intelligence officers could not be coming at a worse time: The Middle East has never been more unstable and closer to multiple, interconnected explosions. Virtually every American president since Dwight Eisenhower has had a Middle Eastern country that brought him grief. For Ike, it was Lebanon’s civil war and Israel’s Sinai invasion. For Lyndon Johnson, it was the 1967 Six-Day War. For Nixon, it was the 1973 war. For Carter, it was the Iranian Revolution. For Ronald Reagan, it was Lebanon. For George H.W. Bush, it was Iraq. For Bill ...
Thomas Friedman is a columnist for The New York Times.
This is an excellence summary of the middle east meltdown and the Obama foreign policy failures
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Obama says "I do take offense to...take we are not telling the American people.
Obama again showed he did not answer his 3:00 am call. Obama failed to protect Americans in Benghazi . We watched them die.
Obama is steadfastly refusing to answer any question on what he know and what decisions he made real time on Benghazi
Obama said he issued a Presidential Order to secure Benghazi YET YET "Team" Obama denied the CIA Annex request for help three times. Three time Washington told the CIA Annex to "Stand Down" and not rescue the American Libyan ambassador.
- We had E-mail traffic at 4:00 pm that day to the total WH, State Department, Defense Department, and Intel Community chain of Command of a coordinated terrorist attack. And Biden and Obama did not get the message
- We had video from a drone in the sky that watched the planned coordinated terrorist attack. Being monitored in the WH Situation Room and at the State Department.
- We had a live feed from inside the consulate Being monitored in the WH Situation Room and at the State Department.
- We watched them die for seven hours
Obama had no response.
Nearby Rapid Response Team help was not sent in.
Obama went to Las Vegas to campaign
Excellent article Mr. Friedman, well thought out.
Future, you really need to get back into the real world. Obama policies have nothing to do with people revolting against their own governments. As a matter of fact it was all of the previous presidential policies that are now knocking at Obama's door.
A note to you paranoid conspiracy types, Hillary Clinton asked for funds to guard our embassies and the House voted down the bill, they didn't want to spend the money.
The Russians can't understand why we would pull the rug out from under the middle east dictatorships. I guess we'll soon find out.
A note to Vernos, funding wasn't the problem in Libya.
In reply to Thomas Friedman; well, well "College Boy", a finely crafted letter of U.S. policy on military and political strategy for the Middle East. Did you learn all of this from books in the classroom? I have to wonder what your experiences are from that of being a U.S. foot-soldier in the Middle-East has been. Obviously, there is no sign of that in your writings.
Before you recommend the commitment of our soldiers in any capacity being part of a continued, "World Police", why don't you take your educated bottom into our Veteran hospitals and see the reality of our life-long suffering combat soldiers and also onto the streets of cities where many of our veterans linger in despair, and tell me then what your strategies are for the United States on the World's situation.
Until such time, I'll do what is right for this letter you wrote. I'll print it out, slobber on it, and throw it into the trashcan.
And President Obama is floating Susan Rice's name as Secretary of State with the middle east in the worse turmoil in recent history. Who's dumber, Rice or Obama?
CarmineD
This administration watched IN REAL TIME four Americans be slaughtered and did nothing. End of story!
For once I agree with "Carmine"; selecting Susan Rice as Secretary of State would be absolutely STUPID on President Obama's part. Secretary of State is NOT a gender, ethnic or political party quota appointment.
If President Obama was smart, he would bring the Honorable General Colin Powell back to this post of Secretary of State as he once held in the Bush administration.
The country needs General Colin Powell back!!!
The middle east has been a powder keg since the beginning of time.It dosen't matter who is President the hate that has been in place forever will not change with a new regime.Be careful what we wish for,with regime change it may come back to haunt us. Imagine Iran with a nuclear bomb and a delivery system in place at this time.Israel has a lot o be concerned about for the safety of it's people and country.
Mr. Chapline I must agree with your choice (and mine) of Gen. Colin Powell as Sec. of State. He would be a much more logical choice than Susan Rice. He also would be a much better choice for Sec. of Defense than John Kerry.
I also must agree with your assessment of any military engagement in the Middle East. Let us insure first that we have a problem that affects the US before committing US military.
Mr. Branco I also must agree that what is happening in the Middle East is not a product of the Presidents policies. Now that said it is possible that certain things are happening as a result of a "perceived" position of the US currently. Perhaps.
Powell is out. Never happen. He's enjoying restoring old Volvos and spending time with his wife and family in retirement.
CarmineD
rusty57 - "A note to Vernos, funding wasn't the problem in Libya."
A note to rusty57, it was part of the problem. Along with the other 20 plus nations running rampart at the same time.
Once again, in reply to Mr. Friedman; now that Egypt's "Muslim Brotherhood" government has confirmed that it will back Hamas against Israel, what would be your planned strategy now, "Mr. Know It All"?
WE MUST PROTECT ISRAEL AND AMERICAN INTERESTS
What is the Obama administration going to do now? Are they going to make the same American mistake as back during the Yom Kippur war where the Egyptians acting alongside Syria invaded Israel and then mined the Suez Canal shutting down all shipping lanes that were and still are instrumental in moving Middle East oil destined to the United States?
The moment Egypt proclaimed support for Hamas against Israel the Obama administration should have been moving overwhelming America's Sixth Fleet naval forces into the Suez Canal in taking absolute and complete control away from Egypt. Other essential actions:
Order and establish a "No Fly", "No Troop", "No Shipping" zone over the entire Suez Canal region for not only Egyptians, but all other countries hostile towards both Israel and the United States.
Order and establish a one-hundred mile coastal "No Fly", "No Troop", "No Shipping" zone out into the Mediterranean Sea. This must include the complete coastal range from Port Said to northern Lebanon and Syria.
I'm not saying diplomatic solutions should not be pursued in the ever increasing tensions between Israel and Hamas; however America would serve the best interests of both our country and Israel most by negotiating with the barrel of a cannon right in the faces of our enemies.
But, I don't believe the Obama administration is capable of these tactics. So, both the United States and Israel shall suffer the consequences.
My words to Israel are; good luck, do what you have to do!!!
In reply to John Thompson; Carmine has turned against General Colin Powell for two reasons;
First, Colin Powell, while he was Secretary of State in the Bush administration was against the war in Iraq. As usual, Mr. Powell was right.
Second, Carmine is now against Colin Powell for endorsing President Obama for reelection. Well, nobody is perfect. It might have been best for Mr. Powell to have abstained from that one!
The point is, Carmine is apparently incapable of looking past his partisan political beliefs.
Mr. Chapline I was taken aback by Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama but as I remember that is exactly why you and I served in the military. To preserve that choice to everyone. Mr. Powell will have to do a lot more than that for me to lose respect for him.
To be honest, what is going on in the Middle East right now, as we are reading all of this, scares me. I have just read that Morsi stated that Egypt will respect the Egyptian/Israeli treaty is comforting for the time being.
BCap,
I don't think Colin Powell would except the position either. He retired for obvious reasons and I don't think he'd want to be put into a position to figure out this mess. I do agree that he'd be best for the job. Actually he should run for President. With whats available and his record I'd definately vote for him.
In reply to John Thompson; I in NO WAY trust the Egyptian "Muslim Brotherhood" to honor anything that pertains to Israel or the United States.
My first deployment as a Marine back in the 1970's was on the USS Iwo Jima that was a part of the task force (Operation NIMBUS Moon) that cleared mines from the Suez Canal that was set in place by the Egyptians. I could have never been more proud of our Navy!!! What a job they did!!!
John, I wouldn't get too comfortable with anything that Morsi says. Morsi also said he is backing Hamas in the conflict with Israel. I believe the latter, and if Obama and his administration were smart, they would be bringing in the Sixth Fleet and establishing "No Fly", "No Troop Movements", and "No Supply Shipments" in strategic zones that I described above in my 12:16 PM commentary.
Anything short of this is putting America at risk economically and Israel's sovereignty at risk.
In reply to "chuck333"; you're absolutely right. If there is one person I would vote to put in the Oval Office unconditionally, it would be the Honorable General Colin Powell.
Mr. Chapline I don't disagree but I thought I would say that about Morsi, perhaps in some sort of delusional wish, I don't know.
Also, I have been saying ever since Mr. Powell was removed from the Sec. of State job that I wanted him to run for President. I also would support him (almost) unconditionally. What I currently see with the unconditional support of our existing President is scary. No one is that perfect. No one!
In reply to John Thompson; you can bet I have some extreme differences with the way the Obama administration has handled most Middle East situations. They are the ones I would say who are delusional. I do know this; that Susan Rice needs to go completely away as a diplomat!
John, you think America is in political trouble in the Middle East now? If Rice gets selected by Obama for Secretary of State and confirmed by the Senate, oh my God!!!
Here is an example; Rice was asked why they were no Marines at some of our embassies. Her reply, "First of all, there are Marines in some places around the world. There are not Marines in every facility. That depends on the circumstances that depend on the requirements".
God help us all if this bungling ball of ignorance becomes Secretary of State!!!
If we police, they pay...up front.
Powell for president ? Don't we have enough old geezers and their old ideas in Washington already ?? This is why nothing get's done !!
Some people should do their research before making themselves look like they are not too bright.
America sells weapons to Israel and the profits are based on about a 40% margin over total costs.
I'm shocked, an American communist sympathizer who looks at the profit motive? Very good!!!
I think we have a Susan Rice philosopher in our midst. How brilliant! Yeah, right, let us consider how much Israel should pay the United States to ensure our oil tankers have safe passage through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean in bringing our oil shipments back to America?
Isn't this just another Susan Rice delusional thought? You bet it is!!!
"The point is, Carmine is apparently incapable of looking past his partisan political beliefs."
Bull BChap. Powell is enjoying retirement. Has nothing to do with his politics or mine. BTW, his lovely wife suffers from depression and his public life put a strain on her and their marriage. Another reason he will not get back in.
CarmineD
Obama is too busy to perform as Commander In Chief. Too busy scheduling day-time tv appearances to listen when terrorists attack our consulate. Too busy covering it up to get back to Israel. Too busy "looking good" after Super storm Sandy to GET ANYTHING DONE.
Thomas Friedman is always well informed, and I find myself agreeing with most of his assertions. I am sure tired of the Right finding only items to pick on about the Obama administration. We should stand firmly with Israel, but also we should support the moderate voices in the Moslem world. The Moslem brotherhood is the conservatives of the Islamic world.
Looks like we might be dragged into another unfunded war in the Middle East. There is always the "savings" from leaving Afghanistan! Plus there is the benefit of feeding the military-industrial complex,
Budget cuts elsewhere and higher taxes? We will feel the pain one way or another.
However, it might be delayed if the Israeli's elect an non-hawk leader in the upcoming elections.
Wouldn't it be interesting if we switched sides to guarantee we keep getting oil at cheaper rates than Europeans.
That might be more critical due to the increasing competition with China for oil. The contracts are already being signed.
Here is a 11/5/2012 cost comparison of some countries, converted to price per gallon in dollars, including taxes.
Belgium.................7.65
France....................7.19
Germany................7.76
Italy........................8.54
Netherlands..........8.59
UK..........................8.26
US..........................3.81
There are lots of issues related to supplying us with oil, including politics. How far we go may depend on how much debt we are willing to incur in protecting countries for our own need for oil.
We could just sop up all the oil in our own deposits, deplete reserves. However, it is not renewable or infinite, and once it is gone that's it.
If China takes our place in buying oil from the Middle East, we have little chance of a cheap reentry into the market.
IMO, oil is on par with drugs. We are dependent, and we will do whatever it takes to get it. Plus, we want a discount.
At some point, there could be some real pressure to choose which side we are on, with oil availability and prices at issue, and that might include political pressure by the public if prices and scarcity increase.
How far will moral loyalties go, if they ever really existed?
There is a solution, like the cute little all electric (3.6 cents per mile) 62 mile range Mitsubishi i-MiEV. No gasoline needed. Plus there are environmental benefits.
There will be improvements, and charging stations in the future, I am sure.
Oil problems is another reason why a high speed rail system is necessary in the US. The XpressWest of the Southwest Network will be great and the connections to other rail systems will expand the places one can travel.
High speed rail will need to be for freight as well, because when we are in sight of depletion and no access to foreign oil, air and truck freight will have a priority.
I only hope that we can spend taxes on necessities for our people & our country rather than in wars.