Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
I traveled to the Middle East in January 2006, where I met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as ordinary citizens in both communities. This visit increased my understanding of the challenges that confront the people who live in the region and our diplomatic efforts there, but also my resolve to make a difference.
The best solution to this difficult conflict is two states living side-by-side in peace and security. I believe the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians support this outcome. What is needed is a far more vigorous U.S. diplomatic effort to help them achieve it. But the current Administration has sat on the sidelines for far too long. As President, I would make a personal commitment to this effort.
Israel is our closest ally in the Middle East, and we are obligated to help ensure its security. A negotiated peace with the Palestinians would make Israel more secure and allow the Palestinians to achieve their goal of an independent state. We should be doing more to strengthen Palestinian leaders who support a two-state solution, isolate those who seek Israel's destruction, and help the two sides reach negotiated solutions to all outstanding issues.
An agreement that fulfills the legitimate aspirations of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples is the only path to peace, and I will continue to work toward this end. Thank you again for contacting me on this issue.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Does that really say anything? I mean, couldn't that have been written by anyone running for president? Well, at least he did answer one of the four questions in some way, that's something at least.
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3 comments:
Well, what is one to expect? Vapid rhetoric is the finest art in politics: the ability to speak quite a bit, while saying very little.
Here, Obama presses all the right buttons and pulls all the right levers. Less discerning folks will applaud and nod their heads in approval, showering him with praise, doting on his insight.. Those of us hungering for specifics, for real answers, will starve as we wait for someone with enough backbone to actually brave the dangerous realm of specifics; to present a real plan of action.
*sigh*
The problem, I think is less the politicians (though they deserve to be called out) and more the public. If the public demanded specific answers there would be less inane rhetoric. Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich both articulate coherent policies and say what they think to be the truth rather than pandering to the party or to the media or public. Where does it get them? Round about last in the primaries.
Sadly, the dominant strategy for any politician given our political system and climate is to talk a lot and say nothing defining. God forbid one would have to explain a position in the future and face no way out but to say it was a bad decision. At least Edwards was willing to admit his vote on the Iraq war was a mistake. That is a rare occurrence in politics.
I DO blame the politicians, more than anyone. There is no excuse for not having plans and/or actual ideas. There is a certain "trust me" factor that politicians seem to rely on in the US. They don't deserve the public's trust. For well my entire life they have done as little as possible and pretended they have changed the world. I am speaking of both the executive and the legislative. The politicians in the US, with rare exceptions, are approaching absolute zero on the respect and trust meter of the nation. I first and foremost blame those who first and foremost have the responsibility to be honest representatives of the people. THEY ARE THE INFECTED MALIGNANT MASS IN THE BODY POLITIC.
Having said that, I think the press holds the next share of the blame. They are supposed to be the voice of the people, questioning those who would lead. Instead, they are beholden to the great beast Mammon. And would rather grab a sound bite than probe an issue. A mirror image of a ventriloquist's dummy flapping lips, smiling and never saying a damn thing.
That's not to say the public shouldn't question the politicians. I think they should. But there is little chance when the forums are arranged by the lackeys of the fools that are running for office or by the dancing puppets called the media. Most people have things to worry about in addition to the politics of the day - food, work, family, life. That's not to say they shouldn't pay more attention but to say the lion's share is the fault of the public is erroneous.
Can't we start with an honest politician? What about a media that is concerned with the public good? Perhaps a press that informs the public better? Maybe hardcore partisans are part of the problem, true enough, but to blame the average Joe is putting extra weight on the camel's already overburdened back.
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