Lapses and Clarity in Obama’s Message

Pope Francis is more popular on the Internet than Obama, and Mrs. Merkel, significantly two days before receiving Secretary of State Kerry, says in a public intercession that spying on friends is not acceptable and that, from the obsession to control conversations violating intimacy, “there will be less, not more, security.” It does not seem like Obama cares.

Neither the security services that fight terrorism nor Obama share Merkel’s conclusion. In his State of the Union address, the U.S. president did not really move forward regarding cutting the wings of his electric spies. He was brief about the topic. He showed pious intentions, not much else. We can conclude that Merkel, Hollande or another bigwig’s phones will not be tapped, but things will continue with how they are now. Softening her reproach, the German chancellor stated, “Germany can’t imagine a better ally than the United States of America.”

True, and American legislators and politicians will think that, without their protective umbrella of Germany in recent decades, Germans would not be so smug.

In his message, Obama satisfied an important section of his compatriots. Developments, however, are not excessive. He wants to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $10.10 per hour, and he is going to do so for certain public employees “because if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.” However, let us not forget that the minimum wage in Washington, D.C. is only a point of reference, as the states in the union can and do raise the minimum wage. Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, do not want to discuss an increase.

The topic of Iran was where Obama was most unequivocal. For years, he has been trying to find a modus vivendi in the nuclear issue with Iran. He has made considerable progress with Russia, France, Germany and China regarding the issue; now, Congress can hinder him. About 43 Republicans and 16 Democrats are developing a bill that, instead of encouraging negotiations, toughens the sanctions against Iran. Among the clauses being considered is the notion that not only will Tehran not be able to have nuclear capabilities, not even for peaceful uses, but also that the U.S. government requires itself to support Israel in the case that Israel takes “military action in legitimate self-defense against Iran’s nuclear weapons program.” The maximalist claim is a bit esoteric. As one Democrat said, that would leave American international politics in Israel’s hands.

Obama does not want the Iranian train to be derailed. He was categorical in his speech: If the bill is passed, he will veto it as soon as it reaches his desk. Within the moderate tone of his address, during which applause was abundant, the warning about Iran was uncompromising. If “Obamacare” is the topic for which, if it does not fail, he will be remembered in domestic affairs, aborting the birth of an Iran with nuclear weapons is his most sought-after objective, less than three years before the end of his term of office.