Symbolism: Obama’s first call to foreign dignitary
posted at 11:35 am on January 22, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The first days of any presidency have a heavy burden of symbolism, with the world watching each move to get a sense of the new American leader. One of the key symbolic moments comes when the president picks up the phone to dial his first foreign head of state. Who will receive that first call and get the sense of American friendship that it represents? The UK? Canada? Australia? France? Not this time, folks — Obama has other priorities:
President Obama placed the Middle East at the forefront of his first hours in office yesterday as he sought to make good on his promise of “ushering in a new era of peace”.
In a flurry of telephone calls from the Oval Office, he reached out to leaders in the region and vowed to engage immediately in pursuit of a permanent Arab-Israeli settlement.
The spokesman for President Abbas revealed that Mr Obama had told the Palestinian leader that their conversation was his first with a foreign statesman since taking office. Mr Obama also spoke to President Mubarak of Egypt, Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, and King Abdullah of Jordan.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said that the talks with Middle East leaders underlined a “commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term”. He added: “In the aftermath of the Gaza conflict, he emphasised his determination to work to help consolidate the ceasefire by establishing an effective anti-smuggling regime to prevent Hamas from rearming, and facilitating, in partnership with the Palestinian Authority, a major reconstruction effort.”
So his first call outside the US went to the leader of Fatah, who has terrorist background and terrorist units reporting to him, such as the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade? How comforting. Even as a tip of the hat to his focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shouldn’t the first call have been to America’s ally, Israel?
In fact, the choice of this particular conflict makes little sense. We have nations actually fighting alongside of us in Afghanistan in our own war on terror. Nations like Canada, the UK, Australia, Holland, and others have joined us in combat and taken casualties to help further the West’s goal of defeating al-Qaeda and the Taliban. They should have gotten more attention from our incoming president if only to recognize their sacrifice and ongoing commitment to our shared cause.
Instead, Obama chose to reach out to Abu Mazen, who participated in the plot to kill Israeli athletes in Munich during the 1972 Olympics, and who still runs terrorist organizations out of the Palestinian Authority. Small wonder France has suddenly lost its enthusiasm for adding to the NATO contingent in Afghanistan.
Blowback
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El Gordo would have called, in that order:
1. India
2. Australia
3. Poland
El Gordo 2012!
el gordo on January 22, 2009 at 1:05 PM
From logis on another thread:
Just who ARE you, logis?
IrishEi on January 22, 2009 at 1:06 PM
That, sir, is over the line…
loudmouth883 on January 22, 2009 at 1:17 PM
An interesting link regarding how priority regarding how the relative value of human life is determined in politics.
http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/01/21/the-invisible-man/#more-1960
a capella on January 22, 2009 at 1:20 PM
An interesting link regarding how priority regarding
howthe relative value of human life is determined in politics.Correction.
a capella on January 22, 2009 at 1:22 PM
As I recall, Clinton passed on the opportunities that could have prevented 9/11 so he wouldn’t be “unpopular”. When Bush had the opportunities to stop terrorists, he killed or captured them, whether it made him unpopular or not.
That’s the difference between conservatives and liberals. Coservatives worry about protecting the people, liberals worry about protecting themselves.
loudmouth883 on January 22, 2009 at 1:23 PM
“Instead, Obama chose to reach out to Abu Mazen, who participated in the plot to kill Israeli athletes in Munich during the 1972 Olympics, and who still runs terrorist organizations out of the Palestinian Authority.
It is perfectly reasonable that Obama would reach out om his chief foreign doners.
davod on January 22, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Has there ever really been any doubt where Barack Hussein Obama’s chief loyalties lie?
Not with me.
I will bitterly cling to my guns & religion to the very bitter end.
Badger40 on January 22, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Well done, Mr. President!
not.
Greg Toombs on January 22, 2009 at 1:34 PM
You got it, Ed. It doesn’t make sense. Not unless you hold the Bible in one hand and our newspaper in the other hand, then Obama’s choice starts to make alot of sense. God says in Zechariah 14:2-4, “I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.” There will come a time when everyone in the world is against Israel. Given America’s strong ties with Israel this might be hard for some people to understand – that one day America will be against Israel – but the Bible has never been wrong, and this makes sense with what we see developing in the world today.
I see this prophecy developing in two ways from here on out:
1. American foreign policy will shift away from Israel as a result of international pressure, and America will align themselves with the other world leaders who think must be eliminated before there can be peace in the Middle East and in the world. Incidently, Barack Obama is the perfect President to usher in this new U.S. foreign policy.
2. The U.S. itself will be destroyed in a nuclear attack taking it out of the picture as an ally and protector of Israel allowing Zechariah’s prophecy to be fulfilled. Think how Israel would fare against the U.N. and the world without America? You think it’s bad now! I understand there are those who cannot believe how a great and powerful nation such as the United States could be destroyed, however this attack plays out, the Bible states that, “all nations (gather) against Jerusalem to battle,” and that Christ will “go forth, and fight against those nations” and that’s exactly what will happen.
apacalyps on January 22, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I left out a word. I added it in bold above. Thank you.
apacalyps on January 22, 2009 at 1:37 PM
This is symbolic of someone who has zero idea about foreign policy.
Boy genius is going to do us proud.
/sarc
Ares on January 22, 2009 at 1:38 PM
You, sir, are rificulous.
If you are going to keep up your rants against Israel, I suggest you learn how to spell it. How rificulous.
hillbillyjim on January 22, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Obama was only 11 years old then, he would not have any understanding of the attack on Israeli athletes, and the bravery, and the despicable acts of the terrorists.
But Bush also called this man “a man of courage”…I don’t understand it.
right2bright on January 22, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Absolutely !
Maxx on January 22, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Dick Morris made sense in his predictions of things to come but none seem more likely than yours.
Good-by Israel…
DamnYankee on January 22, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Armageddon here we come!
Badger40 on January 22, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Just another reason why I don’t care much for organized religion. Because it is written it must be so? Sounds a lot like ‘because Obama’s the POTUS, and he said it, it must be so’ to me.
Biffstir on January 22, 2009 at 1:59 PM
What goes around, comes around. Wait and see!
Griz on January 22, 2009 at 2:12 PM
If you think that the Muslim world will stop at trying to eliminate Israel only, then you’re living in la la land. No amount of diplomacy from Obama can erase the fact that the Quran says not to take the Jews and the Christians as your friends. Islam is NOT a religion of peace at all. There are some very nice people who identify themselves as Muslims, but they are wrapped up in a despicable ideology that is a real threat. Satan has pulled a fast one on them. Sorry, but I believe that to be true.
apacalyps on January 22, 2009 at 2:13 PM
I’m always linking the Hamas Charter hoping those with eyes will open them. Well, lookie what I found:
Fatah Constitution
Exactly like Hamas, even formed by the Muslim Brotherhood, but more secular and not on the same side in Egyptian politics. Gosh they sound like people I’d trust if I was a Jew living in Israel (and a moron). Once again proving the Arab political spectrum is as diverse as you’d expect in a region with very little political freedom (not provided by GWB anyway) and a medieval concept of religion.
Beagle on January 22, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Speechless. There’s too much symbolism here. And I don’t like it.
UK. Australia. Canada. Israel. Then you can add some more.
That’s how it’s done.
Grantman on January 22, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I wasn’t born when the Palestinians killed the Israeli athletes.
I still understand the significance and horror of the event.
While Obama does not get to choose who is in charge in other countries that he has to work with, he certainly gets to choose who he rewards with historically significant phone calls.
If his goal was to emphasize his focus on the middle east and to reach out to Muslims first to emphasize the new, more open/less Israel-supporting U.S., he should have called Mubarak in Egypt.
JadeNYU on January 22, 2009 at 2:36 PM
He calls our enemies FIRST..
Why am i so shocked..
I am wondering why obama didnt first dance with
The iranian thug in chief first at the balls..
they cant be this stupid can they?
jcila on January 22, 2009 at 2:40 PM
No. I don’t think you understand. Or maybe I’ve misunderstood you. Let’s be clear on something here. Yes, turn on the news. Israel is being persecuted at the U.N. and by world leaders, but Israel will NOT be destroyed. World leaders might think they will wipe Israel off the map, but in fact, it’s the other way around. God tells us in Zechariah 12:9, it says any nation that comes against Israel, I will destroy that nation.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I (God) will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” Zechariah 12:9
Haven’t you noticed that everytime Israel’s enemies attack her – she ends up with MORE LAND!
“As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.” Isaiah 31:5
Here’s the scenario. All of the hate and anti-semitism for Israel and the Jewish people is leading us towards Christ’s return at Armageddon. Armageddon is not a battle between the forces of mankind against one another, it is when all nations assemble themselves against Israel to destroy her. And this is when God Himself, Jesus Christ, will return and fight for Israel against the attacking nations. The trap is being set.
“I will also gather ALL nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (refers to Armageddon).” Joel 3:2
And Jehoshaphat means “judgment of God”. God will bring judgment on those nations that divide the land of Israel. The world’s perpetual and abysmal treatment of the Jewish people, will NOT go unpunished. Here that Arab leaders?
apacalyps on January 22, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Why don’t you read the Scriptures. See if these things are so? Don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself.
“These (Christians) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11
apacalyps on January 22, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Biffstir on January 22, 2009 at 1:59 PM
I don’t care for organized religion either. That’s why I attempt to follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. If you’ve never read any of Lee Strobel’s books, (www.leestrobel.com) I would heartily commend them to you. I think if you’ve never done so, an examination of the accuracy of Scripture will surprise you.
Just remember that Jerusalem is the key.
Watch Jerusalem.
oldleprechaun on January 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
In what way is Obamatology “organized?”
Not all people who’ve formally rejected spirituality are currently walking around with their heads shaved, handing out flowers in airports or chugging arsenic-flavored Kool Aide.
…But most of them are.
logis on January 22, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Heh, just more evidence that Obama’s a noob.
Mrs. Happy Housewife on January 22, 2009 at 7:33 PM
I hope no one is surprised.
RightWinged on January 22, 2009 at 7:57 PM
We’re just lucky Bill Ayers isn’t Attorney General or Secretary of Defense.
KW64 on January 22, 2009 at 11:34 PM
WHAT’S OBAMA’S MIDDLE NAME AGAIN?
reliapundit on January 23, 2009 at 12:47 AM
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