A column by Abraham Katsman and Kory Bardash appearing in today's Jerusalem Post explores Obama's Carter-esque reflexes. That infamous hypothetical 3:00am phone call came in when Russia invaded Georgia. Reactions from candidates Obama and McCain are telling.
How the candidates handled that call and reacted to the crisis may have a major impact on the upcoming US presidential election. Their reactions to the Russian invasion continue to be dissected for clues as to their respective instincts in international crises and understanding aggression, and the polls have since moved in McCain's direction. But perhaps overlooked is this effect: the ricochet from Obama's limp reaction may guarantee him a very poor showing specifically among Jews and pro-Israel voters.
Obama's pro-Israel support is already precarious. Between his years of embracing radical friends and institutions, his perceived softness toward anti-Semitic despots Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmidenijad, his internationalist deference to the foreign policies of the UN and Arabist European governments, and his refusal to condemn the Palestinian Authority's terror incitement and participation while simultaneously advocating Israeli concessions, pro-Israel voters are already wary of the prospect of an Obama administration. His statements in response to the Russia/Georgia crisis may serve as nails in the coffin containing his hopes for a strong pro-Israel vote.
Here was Obama's entire prepared statement, made eight hours after the reports of the Russian invasion hit the newswires:
"I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict. Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint, and to avoid an escalation to full scale war. Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected. All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia, and the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis."
Not a word about Russian aggression--violence was apparently a spontaneous "outbreak." Both sides are urged equally to show "restraint"-both aggressor and victim alike. Talk about "evenhanded" - only missing was a reference to the "cycle of violence" to make this statement indistinguishable from something Kofi Annan would say about Arab attacks on Israel.
McCain being McCain, his reaction was not what you would call "evenhanded."
Obama's staff was even worse. Instead of chastising Russia for invading and bombing civilians, his team criticized... McCain. Susan Rice, Obama's top foreign policy advisor (in line to become his National Security Advisor), went on Hardball to suggest McCain himself was responsible for some of the escalation of violence, accusing McCain of "shooting from the hip" and claiming McCain's "very aggressive, very belligerent statement" may have "complicated the situation."
Ignoring Obama's political baiting, McCain advocated a muscular response, proposing specific diplomatic and economic consequences for Russia. Interestingly, though Obama claims to model himself after JFK and even invoked his memory in his recent Berlin speech, it was McCain who made an "Ich bin ein Berliner" statement:
... [T]he thoughts and prayers and support of the American people are with that brave little nation as they struggle today for their freedom and independence. I know I speak for every American when I say to [Saakashvili], "Today, we are all Georgians."
McCain pledges solidarity with the Georgians. Obama parrots the usual solidarity of Democrats with the UN. It's not hard to imagine an Obama presidency equaling the very worst of what we endured during the Carter years. (Emphasis in the original above.)
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