Friday, June 19, 2009

Krauthammer 6/19/09

Obama Stands For Change,

Just Not Particularly For Iran


My take on Charles Krauthammer's latest. His column was published in the Washington Post.

Summary: Obama missed an opportunity to take a stand for freedom and also to side with the people in the Middle East when he ignored the election protests in Iran.

Quote:
And where is our president? Afraid of "meddling." Afraid to take sides between the head-breaking, women-shackling exporters of terror -- and the people in the street yearning to breathe free. This from a president who fancies himself the restorer of America's moral standing in the world.

My Views: There is very little chance that this policy will get Iran's masters to end their nuclear program. What is the President getting from this policy? Legitimacy with the Arab peoples? Respect from the region's rulers?

The really sad thing is that this policy does not even have the asset of being principled. George Bush's policy at least had that.





Charles Krauthammer is a more establishment columnist. He came to punditry by way of psychiatry (at Massachusetts General Hospital) via the New Republic Magazine. He appears on TV where you never see his wheelchair. Here's his Wiki bio.

He wrote a book which is pictured at the right. I am drawn by the substance and the thinking than any particular writing flair.

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