AND NO ONE TO LEAD THEM:

Incomprehensible! (Hussein Shobokshi, 12/13/09, Asharq Alawsat)

The foreign policy of the US administration today falls under the influence of more than one central figure in the US administration, and this explains why sometimes there appear to be contradictory trends. [...]

Of course, there is US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was the "central" reason for the Democratic Party retaining its cohesion. One cannot deny that her cautious performance and care to avoid mistakes is as if she still believes she has a chance of running for the US presidency in the future. All of this means that her performance of her political role today is weak and ineffective.

There is also Jim Jones, the National Security Adviser, who is known as a moderate, and he is the one who is adopting the strong and hard line towards the Israeli government, and [supporting] the ban of Israel's insane settlement expansion and putting an end to Israel's violation against the idea of peace and the establishment of a Palestinian State.

In the opposite direction of this is Dennis Ross [Senior National Security Council aide] who performs an advisory role, and is known for his sympathetic stance towards the Jewish State, and his private relationships with many pillars of its administration. He therefore gives Israel and its Prime Minister Netanyahu courage and support in their delay and intransigence on meeting the demands imposed upon them.

And in the middle of this hustle and bustle there is US Vice President Joe Biden, who was chosen mainly for his long years of "experience" in dealing with foreign policy, however his faux pas and his agitation means that the chances of Biden being an effective element in gaining important achievements in international politics are far-fetched to say the least!

Ouch.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 13, 2009 6:41 AM