Obama's silence
Obama remained silent during the Gaza crisis. Barack Obama's chances of making a fresh start in US relations with the Muslim world, and the Middle East in particular, appeared to diminish with each new wave of Israeli attacks on Palestinian targets in Gaza.
Evidence is mounting that Obama is already losing ground among key Arab and Muslim audiences that cannot understand why, given his promise of change, he has not spoken out. Arab commentators say there is growing disappointment at Obama's detachment - and that his failure to distance himself from George Bush's strongly pro-Israeli stance is encouraging the belief that he either shares Bush's bias or simply does not care.
The Al-Jazeera satellite television station recently broadcast footage of Obama on holiday in Hawaii, wearing shorts and playing golf, juxtaposed with scenes of bloodshed and mayhem in Gaza. Its report criticizing "the deafening silence from the Obama team" suggested that Obama is losing a battle of perceptions among Muslims that he may not realize has even begun.
"People recall his campaign slogan of change and hoped that it would apply to the Palestinian situation," "The president-elect is closely monitoring global events, including the situation in Gaza," his national security spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said in a statement after the ground assault got underway. But she offered no further comment on the violence in Gaza and used a phrase repeated often by Obama and his aides: "Obama is "committed" to achieving peace in the Middle East. That is the only extended comment from the president-elect's team so far. "Obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks... But it's something that he's committed to."
His muted response has already drawn the anger of some in the Middle East and Asia.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments