Tests
War news roundup at Small Wars Journal points to a couple of quick training-wheel foreign policy tests for Obama. The Biden theory is that within six months, he’ll get a big test. Could be. The Crittenden theory is that while we’re waiting for that, Obama will continue to be faced with a lot of small and medium-sized ones that if mismanaged, could give him a big one. We’ll kick off with the good news from Gaza. UPDATED:
NYT:
GAZA — Israel slowed its withdrawal of forces from Gaza on Tuesday as the two-day cease-fire with Hamas suffered its first violations. Israeli troops twice came under fire, and eight mortar shells were shot at Israel, all falling short. Israel responded with airstrikes on launching sites.
Keep it up, Hamas. Please. Give Israel the excuse it now needs.
Mr. Ban, the highest-ranking international figure to come to Gaza since the war, visited the United Nations compound, damaged by an Israeli strike. He called the attack “outrageous” and demanded an investigation. He said Israel had used excessive force in Gaza. After touring the area, Mr. Ban called the destruction “shocking and alarming.”
What’s less shocking and but no less alarming is that the United Nations, yet again, stood by as war crimes were committed by terrorists.
Later, he visited Sderot, the southern Israeli town that has long borne the brunt of Hamas rocket fire, and said using rockets against civilians violated international law. Still, he said, Israel should lift its border closing on Gaza, strangling its economy.
Not shocking and alarming? OK, on to the Arabs:
In Kuwait, the Arab heads of state condemned Israel’s “barbaric aggression” and demanded an investigation. While urging the reconstruction of Gaza, the group failed to explain how it would carry it out.
The Arab leaders remained divided on how to respond to Israel’s Gaza offensive. Qatar and Syria support Hamas. Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia want to help the Palestinian Authority, which runs the West Bank under President Mahmoud Abbas.
Who you with, Obama? Leadership time. Washington Post with more on the sticky issue of who will run Gaza.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, some of those recriminations that … Obama’s best rhetorical skills notwithstanding … we have not left sufficiently distant in the rearview, are now flying in both directions.
The Australian: Karzai must be pressed on Taliban, Dutch FM says.
BBC: Karzai blames allies, calls for changes in war strategy, while NATO chief complains of Afghan government corruption.
It’s a mess. More like being assaulted by ducks for a wartime president than a full monster-sized test. But you can’t sit around waiting for a stadium-sized crisis and a slow pitch to hit out of the park.
By the way, this post is categorized under “GWOT” as well as “Obama,” because until he comes up with a better name, concept and strategy for whatever this thing is, I guess we’re stuck with the Bushism. Anyone else hear the lefties re Guantanamo today talking about war, but insisting that its combatants be given civil trials in the United States? Yeah, I’m confused, too.
UPDATE, Test One failed, mullah talks w/o preconditions back on. UK Guardian:
The new Obama administration is willing to talk to Iran “without preconditions” and will work towards the abolition of nuclear weapons, the White House said today.
The Obama foreign policy agenda that appeared on the White House website said: “Barack Obama supports tough and direct diplomacy with Iran without preconditions,” the policy outline said. The Bush administration made direct talks between the US and Iran conditional on Iranian suspension of its uranium enrichment programme. This step breaks that conditionality, as part of a fundamental shift in diplomatic approach. The Obama agenda said the new administration will “talk to our foes and friends” and not set preconditions.
Doh! Talk is great, but they need to be afraid of you, and they aren’t. All this does is give the mullahs a bully minaret.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:13 am on Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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January 21st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
It’s not unreasonable to think that Obama got up this morning and asked himself why on earth he ever wanted the job.