Judging Barack Obama By His Actions

Published in Welt
(Germany) on 20 May 2011
by Andrea Seibel (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Maria Ronneberger. Edited by Derek Ha.
Obama delivered his speech with nothing earth-shattering. But his confession to his predecessor Bush leaves open questions.

Whoever was hoping that Obama would say something earth-shattering about the “Arab-bellion” got disappointed. It is good, though, that the brilliant speaker is not only judged by his pathos anymore but also by his actions. The fight against terrorism made a breakthrough with the death of Osama bin Laden and the Arabic rebellions give hope that one country or another may develop in the right — meaning Western and democratic — direction.

Obama wants to give countries like Egypt or Tunisia financial aid, a strategy which has a mystical name: “Marshall Plan.” It is fascinating how alike Obama has become to his predecessor Bush and Bush's Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

They always saw the democratization of the Middle East as a possible thing to strive for. Whether the Palestinian issue belongs in this conversation is questionable. The Israeli prime minister, who is currently on a state visit in the U.S., is especially sensitive.


Grundsatzrede
Autor: Andrea Seibel| 20.05.2011
US-Präsident Obama an seinen Taten messen
Barack Obama verzichtet in seiner Rede auf Weltbewegendes. Sein Bekenntnis zu Amtsvorgänger Bush lässt allerdings Fragen offen.
Wer erwartet hatte, dass der amerikanische Präsident Weltbewegendes zur „Arabellion“ sagt, der musste enttäuscht werden. Aber es ist gut, dass man diesen brillanten Rhetoriker nicht mehr nur an seinem Pathos misst, sondern an seinen Taten.
Der Kampf gegen den Terror ist mit dem Tod Bin Ladens vorangekommen und die arabischen Rebellionen lassen zudem hoffen, dass sich das eine oder andere Land in die richtige, das heißt westliche, demokratische Richtung entwickelt.
Obama will mit konkreten Finanzhilfen, die den mythischen Namen „Marshall-Plan“ tragen, Ländern wie Ägypten und Tunesien unter die Arme greifen. Faszinierend ist, wie sehr sich der Demokrat in die Reihe seines Vorgängers Bush und dessen Außenministerin Condoleeza Rice einfügt.
Die hatten immer eine Demokratisierung des weiteren Nahen Ostens für anstrebbar und möglich gehalten. Ob die Palästinenserfrage hier ihre richtige Einordnung hat, ist fraglich. Der israelische Ministerpräsident, der gerade zum Staatsbesuch in Amerika weilt, hat denn auch empfindlich reagiert.
 
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