Winner, Within and Beyond the US
Published in Ethnos
(Greece) on 18 October 2013
by Giorgos Kapopoulos (link to original)
(Greece) on 18 October 2013
by Giorgos Kapopoulos (link to original)
Translated from
by Mary Keramida.
Edited by Bora Mici.
A few weeks ago, the extreme wing in the Republican Party was fantasizing that it could force the White House to capitulate through blackmail, concerning the bankruptcy of the United States. Today, seeing Obama's popularity on the rise, they realize they have committed political "harakiri."
A couple of months ago, Obama seemed uncertain and irresolute concerning developments in the Middle East and was ready to launch missiles at Syria without any political recommendation for resolving the conflict. Today, he has initiated an opening up toward Iran that can only be compared to Nixon and Kissinger's bold bend over toward Mao's China from 1971-72. Three months ago, Snowden's case seemed to be leading Washington and Russia's relations into a new Cold War relapse. Today, Obama and Putin, starting with Syria and Iran, seem to be willing to leave suspicion aside in their bilateral relations.
The common core of all of the above are the clear and decisive choices of the White House at the lowest possible cost.
In the United States, the tea party gave "Obamacare" the majority acceptance that Obama had not managed to achieve from the White House.
In terms of Syria and Iran, up to now, Obama has handled Saudi Arabia and Israel's concerns, oppositions and objections successfully.
Obama will go down in history as the president who abandoned the synthesis of the political tactic of colorless, centrist compromise at home and deterring the search for support from powerful lobbies in every foreign policy initiative. He has chosen unequivocal solutions that leave the other side with the cost of dissent.
The solution that prevented the bankruptcy of the U.S. is temporary, and the competent committee in Congress must suggest an ultimate and comprehensive solution by Dec. 13, so as not to have the country facing a possible default through Jan. 15, 2014.
It is obvious that the problem is exclusively a Republican one. The Republicans are called to carry the burden of squaring accounts within their party.
A couple of months ago, Obama seemed uncertain and irresolute concerning developments in the Middle East and was ready to launch missiles at Syria without any political recommendation for resolving the conflict. Today, he has initiated an opening up toward Iran that can only be compared to Nixon and Kissinger's bold bend over toward Mao's China from 1971-72. Three months ago, Snowden's case seemed to be leading Washington and Russia's relations into a new Cold War relapse. Today, Obama and Putin, starting with Syria and Iran, seem to be willing to leave suspicion aside in their bilateral relations.
The common core of all of the above are the clear and decisive choices of the White House at the lowest possible cost.
In the United States, the tea party gave "Obamacare" the majority acceptance that Obama had not managed to achieve from the White House.
In terms of Syria and Iran, up to now, Obama has handled Saudi Arabia and Israel's concerns, oppositions and objections successfully.
Obama will go down in history as the president who abandoned the synthesis of the political tactic of colorless, centrist compromise at home and deterring the search for support from powerful lobbies in every foreign policy initiative. He has chosen unequivocal solutions that leave the other side with the cost of dissent.
The solution that prevented the bankruptcy of the U.S. is temporary, and the competent committee in Congress must suggest an ultimate and comprehensive solution by Dec. 13, so as not to have the country facing a possible default through Jan. 15, 2014.
It is obvious that the problem is exclusively a Republican one. The Republicans are called to carry the burden of squaring accounts within their party.