National Journal Blog - 1 June 2009

http://security.nationaljournal.com/2009/06/what-are-the-ramifications-of.php#1333733

Comments

[alnval]

Col. Lang:

Re: What Are The Ramifications Of Obama's Speech To The Muslim World?

With the exception of your own comments in which you describe some of the religious, political and social dynamics that will influence the response of the community of believers to Obama’s speech, the statements of the rest of the commenters sound like critics confident that they can meaningfully review the play before they’ve even seen it. Or worse, despite the evidence of their own eyes, are entitled to chide the Wright Brothers for even thinking that they, like birds, could fly.

Burns said it well:

“…O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us…

[William R. Cumming]

Time will tell what significance this speech has in the long-term currents that form our disasterous middle Eastern policies and the impact of that policy on the affected populations. I am not hopeful except that it might light hope in those wishing to overthrow dictatorships in the Arab world.

[curious]

various news clip of reactions.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/4/738715/-Hamas-Official-compares-Obamas-Speech-to-MLK

Reaction from Mahmoud Abbas

A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, described Obama's speech as a "good start".

"His call for stopping settlement and for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and his reference to the suffering of Palestinians ... is a clear message to Israel that a just peace is built on the foundations of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Nabil Abu Rdainah said.

[Patrick Lang]

All

Babak has pointed out to me (off line as a courtesy I suppose)that Shia scholars do not actually receive certificates as physical objects, vellum, etc.

He is, of course, correct. pl