Action Speaks Louder than Words

Now the world knows President Obama’s foreign policy stance in regards to the Israel/Palestine conflict, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Can mere words, albeit well chosen and determined ones, heal Middle East -U.S. relations?

Israel/Palestine: Obama said we must accept what everyone knows and end the decades-long stalemate between Israel and Palestine; the U.S. does not accept the legitimacy of Israeli settlements but that both countries have had painful histories and each have a legitimate need for a state of their own. Can the U.S. foster a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine? Has Obama responded to the letter from Hamas, delivered to him by feminist peace group CodePink, asking him to visit Gaza?

Iraq War: Obama clarified that Iraq had been a “war of choice” for America and that it teaches us to choose diplomacy over conflict; the U.S. will honor its commitment to remove all combat forces from Iraqi cities by July and all U.S. troops by 2012; the U.S. does not condone torture in any form and will close Guantanamo Bay Prison by the end of the year. Must the US prosecute someone for war crimes to show the Middle East we are serious about our desire for easing the tensions between us?

Iran: Obama addressed nuclear weapons and the historical tensions between the U.S. and Iran; affirmed that signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including Iran, are allowed to have access to peaceful nuclear power as long as they abide by the treaty; America’s commitment is to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. How can we verify that Iran is developing peaceful nuclear power and not nuclear weaponry? What can we expect from Iran’s upcoming June 12 election?

Afghanistan/Pakistan: Obama said the U.S. does not want to keep troops in Afghanistan and is partnering with a 46-nation coalition because we must be sure there are not terrorists plotting violence against us; the U.S. knows that military force alone will not solve the problem so will commit $1.5 billion/year in Pakistan and Afghanistan to help build schools and hospitals and is giving Afghanistan $2.8 billion to help develop their economy and deliver services to the people. What must be done in Afghanistan and Pakistan to make us safer?

Is U.S. policy in the Middle East truly heading in a new direction or are we just speechifying?