Friday, May 29, 2009

Obama's Approval Poll



An internet site took a poll of President Obama's approval ratings. As a Christian, we are mandated to pray for our president (and I do), however, that must not be confused with a critical eye to important government policies which grate against our consciences.



Having lived over 20 years in the Middle East, foreign policy is A#1 to me.



Obama's snubbing of Israel's Army Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, to the point that he packed it up and left the USA early, then the arm twisting of Bibi Netanyahu over Iran's nuclear program, topped off by pressure (residual from the last administration) from our Secretary of State to get used to the idea of a 'contiguous Palestinian State' say to me: Three strikes and you're out!



We need to pay careful attention to the upcoming June 4 address to the Muslim world from Cairo University. To be sure, 1.4 billion Muslims will be paying close attention. The choice of Cairo in and of itself is questionable since Hosseini Mubarak is serving his 5th six-year term in office. His administration has strong-armed, arrested, beaten and all but exiled his political opponents.



The Brookings Institute posted an astute analysis of the event that is well worth reading. http://is.gd/JtF8



One of their points well made is that of poor governance in many Muslim-majority countries. In an era of globalization, many of these governments have been unable to deliver economic growth or provide basic services to their citizens. A recent Brookings Index of Weak States categorized 40 of the world’s 48 Muslim-majority states as either “failed states” (2), “critically weak states” (8), “weak states” (11), or “states to watch” (19). The World Bank, in its ratings of governance performance (where countries are given a governance score ranging from -2.5 to +2.5), gave 38 of the 48 negative scores. This is the cause of much of the anger and frustration that extremists groups like Al Qaeda and the Taliban have capitalized upon.



This Islamic blame-game is a no-win dead end. Historically, economic distress has been the earthquake that has made the wall of the city shake. Major change has ridden on the wake of economic disaster before. What will Obama be able to say that can turn the tide of militant Islam and make them our friends without castigating Israel over the Palestinian issue? Little I doubt.

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