One thing that the
events in Egypt this week prove beyond a reasonable doubt is that U.S.
President Barack Obama’s worldview is utterly false.
Not that one need be a
rocket scientist to have figured this out; anyone with a modicum of
common sense long ago reached the conclusion that America has been
despised by radical forces in the world for the very values it
represents and upholds – not due to the policies of one administration
or another.
Indeed, as is the case with anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, anti-Americanism is hatred based on essence.
Obama’s track record –
in his youth as a follower of radical activist Saul Alinsky; the
electoral platform he put forth when running for president; and his
performance for the past four and a half years -- shows that his
attitude towards the country he “leads from behind” is a mixed bag. On
the one hand, he believes it is flawed in its essence; on the other, he
blames the foreign policy of his predecessors for any enmity accrued.
This is why he made it
his first priority as president to engage in outreach to the Muslim
world. His own upbringing in Indonesia – from where he has “fond
memories” of the chanting of imams – was one reason for his empathy
towards, if not affinity for, Islam. Another was his 20-year affiliation
with a church whose blatantly anti-Semitic pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah
Wright, reinforced his sentiments.
It was not clear
whether he understood the events of 9/11 in this context. But he
certainly viewed its aftermath – the outbreak of what he and others
called "Islamophobia" – to be a disease that needed eradication. And he
was going to be the guy to come up with the cure.
He thus made a
pilgrimage to the Middle East, stopping first in Saudi Arabia, where he
literally bowed down to the king. He then went to Egypt, where he
verbally gesticulated before the entire Muslim-Arab world. This he did
from the podium of Cairo University on June 4, 2009.
In what would come to
be called the “Cairo speech,” Obama made sure to avoid distinctions
between radicals and non-radicals, between Sunnis and Shiites, between
terrorists and anti-terrorists, between groups allied with Iran and
those attempting to be extricated from its stranglehold. He was
determined not to make the “mistake” of his nemesis, George W. Bush, or
of his more distant predecessor, Ronald Reagan – each of whom had called
on the world to choose between good and evil.
“We meet at a time of
tension between the United States and Muslims around the world… fed by
colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims…,” he
announced to his audience, which did not include then Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak had decided not to show up when he learned that
most of the attendees would be members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Violent extremists
have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims.
The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these
extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my
country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and
Western countries, but also to human rights...,” he explained.
Due to his chief
concern that the West shouldn’t make sweeping, prejudicial judgments due
to 9/11, Obama asserted that he had “come here to seek a new beginning
between the United States and Muslims around the world.”
After waxing poetic about Islam's major contribution to science and culture, he went on to laud its humanitarianism.
“…Islam has
demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious
tolerance and racial equality,” he said. “…[It] has always been a part
of America’s story… Since our founding, American Muslims have enriched
the United States. And I consider it part of my responsibility as
President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of
Islam wherever they appear…
“…Freedom in America is
indivisible from the freedom to practice one’s religion,” he continued.
“That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over
1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has
gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab,
and to punish those who would deny it. So let there be no doubt: Islam
is a part of America.”
He summed up as
follows: “…[A]ny world order that elevates one nation or group of people
over another will inevitably fail… Islam is not part of the problem in
combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting
peace… [and] no system of government can or should be imposed upon one
nation by any other… America does not presume to know what is best for
everyone…”
A year and a half
later, riots erupted all over Egypt, resulting in Mubarak’s ouster.
Obama sat on the sidelines as Mubarak was imprisoned. He praised Egypt’s
“Facebook Revolutionaries” and hailed its “democratic elections” – you
know, the ones that gave the Muslim Brotherhood an overwhelming
parliamentary majority and its party chief, Mohammed Morsi, the
presidency.
But this week, the
people of Egypt took to the streets to protest Morsi’s year in office.
This is more due to the poor economy than to other factors, such as the
curbing of freedom and civil rights. We know this because Morsi is now
being treated to the same kind of abuse that was heaped on Mubarak, and
only anti-Morsi media outlets are being allowed to operate.
Obama must have been
stunned when he saw all the anti-American banners being waved in Tahrir
Square, most of which attacked him personally. He had done nothing but
support these people’s choice of leader at the ballot box. He continued
to shower financial and military aid on them. How could they possibly
hate America now? And why blame him?
The only answer is that Obama and the Egyptian “revolutionaries” deserve each other.
Ruthie Blum is the author of “To Hell in a Handbasket: Carter, Obama, and the 'Arab Spring,'” now available on Amazon and in bookstores in Europe and North America.
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