[Peace-discuss] Obama's revealing remarks today

[C. G. Estabrook]

If anyone ever doubted what the new administration's policy would be in regard 
to Israel and the Palestinians, such doubts would be dispelled by the 
president's remarks at the State Department today.  The Bush-Rice policy of 
promoting the discredited Abbas/Fatah government to be the jailer for the 
Palestinians -- and destroying the elected government, Hamas -- will be 
continued vigorously.  (And the war in AfPak will be expanded and justified as 
part of the "War on Terror.")

The only "change" seems to be that the justifications are less sophisticated 
than we got from the neocons (e.g., no "democracy promotion" -- but then that's 
a little hard when we're destroying the only democratic government in the 
region).  The new administration apparently thinks, perhaps rightly, that it can 
get away without explaining its killing to Americans. --CGE


===============

President Obama Delivers Remarks to State Department Employees
CQ Transcriptions

JANUARY 22, 2009
SPEAKERS: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
FORMER SEN. GEORGE MITCHELL, D-MAINE, SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE MIDDLE EAST
FORMER AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE

[...reams of awful balderdash from Clinton, Biden, Mitchell, and Holbrooke 
omitted...]

Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Please, 
everybody. Thank you. Be seated. Thank you so much.

It is my privilege to come here and to pay tribute to all of you, the talented 
men and women of the State Department. I've given you an early gift, Hillary 
Clinton.

(APPLAUSE)

You -- in her, you will have a secretary of state who has my full confidence. 
And I want to thank Chairman Kerry and the Senate for acting swiftly to confirm 
her, because we have no time to lose.

My appearance today, as has been noted, underscores my commitment to the 
importance of diplomacy and renewing American leadership. And it gives me an 
opportunity to thank you for the services that you perform every single day.

Sometimes I think the American public doesn't fully understand the sacrifices 
that you and your families make, the dedication that is involved in you carrying 
on your tasks day in, day out.

And I know I speak for Joe Biden, as well as everybody else on this stage, when 
we tell you that we are proud of you. You are carrying on a vital task in the 
safety and security of the American people.

And part of what we want to do is to make sure that everybody understands that 
the State Department is going to be absolutely critical to our success in the 
years to come, and you individually are going to be critical to our success in 
the years to come. And we want to send a signal to all kinds of young people who 
may be thinking about the Foreign Service that they are going to be critical in 
terms of projecting not just America's power, but also America's values and 
America's ideals.

The inheritance of our young century demands a new era of American leadership. 
We must recognize that America's strength comes not just from the might of our 
arms or the scale of our wealth, but from our enduring values. And for the sake 
of our national security and the common aspirations of people around the globe, 
this era has to begin now.

This morning, I signed three executive orders. First, I can say without 
exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture.

(APPLAUSE)

Second, we will close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and determine how to 
deal with those who have been held there.

And, third, we will immediately undertake a comprehensive review to determine 
how to hold and try terrorism suspects to best protect our nation and the rule 
of law.

The world needs to understand that America will be unyielding in its defense of 
its security and relentless in its pursuit of those who would carry out 
terrorism or threaten the United States. And that's why, in this twilight 
struggle, we need a durable framework.

The orders that I signed today should send an unmistakable signal that our 
actions in defense of liberty will be just as our cause and that we, the people, 
will uphold our fundamental values as vigilantly as we protect our security. 
Once again, America's moral example must be the bedrock and the beacon of our 
global leadership.

We are confronted by extraordinary, complex and interconnected global 
challenges: the war on terror, sectarian division, and the spread of deadly 
technology. We did not ask for the burden that history has asked us to bear, but 
Americans will bear it. We must bear it.

Progress will not come quickly or easily, nor can we promise to right every 
single wrong around the world. But we can pledge to use all elements of American 
power to protect our people and to promote our interests and ideals, starting 
with principled, focused and sustained American diplomacy.

To carry forward that effort, we are going to be calling on your hard work and 
perseverance in the months and years to come. Given the urgency and complexity 
of the challenges we face and to convey our seriousness of purpose, Secretary 
Clinton and I are also calling upon the two distinguished Americans standing 
with us today.

It will be the policy of my administration to actively and aggressively seek a 
lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Israel and its 
Arab neighbors. To help us pursue these goals, Secretary Clinton and I have 
asked George Mitchell to serve as special envoy for Middle East peace.

George is renowned in this country and around the world for his negotiating 
skill. He brings international stature and a lifetime of service. His years in 
the Senate were marked by strong leadership and bipartisan achievement. His 
efforts on behalf of peace in Northern Ireland were indispensable in reconciling 
a painful and protracted conflict.

Time and again, in public service and private life, he has acted with skill and 
acted with integrity. He will be fully empowered at the negotiating table, and 
he will sustain our focus on the goal of peace.

No one doubts the difficulty of the road ahead, and George outlined some of 
those difficulties. The tragic violence in Gaza and southern Israel offers a 
sobering reminder of the challenges at hand and the setbacks that will 
inevitably come.

It must also instill in us, though, a sense of urgency, as history shows us that 
strong and sustained American engagement can bridge divides and build the 
capacity that supports progress. And that is why we will be sending George to 
the region as soon as possible to help the parties ensure that the cease-fire 
that has been achieved is made durable and sustainable.

Let me be clear: America is committed to Israel's security. And we will always 
support Israel's right to defend itself against legitimate threats.

For years, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets at innocent Israeli citizens. 
No democracy can tolerate such danger to its people, nor should the 
international community, and neither should the Palestinian people themselves, 
whose interests are only set back by acts of terror.

To be a genuine party to peace, the quartet has made it clear that Hamas must 
meet clear conditions: recognize Israel's right to exist; renounce violence; and 
abide by past agreements.

Going forward, the outline for a durable cease-fire is clear: Hamas must end its 
rocket fire; Israel will complete the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza; the 
United States and our partners will support a credible anti-smuggling and 
interdiction regime, so that Hamas cannot rearm.

Yesterday I spoke to President Mubarak and expressed my appreciation for the 
important role that Egypt played in achieving a cease-fire. And we look forward 
to Egypt's continued leadership and partnership in laying a foundation for a 
broader peace through a commitment to end smuggling from within its borders.

Now, just as the terror of rocket fire aimed at innocent Israelis is 
intolerable, so, too, is a future without hope for the Palestinians.

OBAMA: I was deeply concerned by the loss of Palestinian and Israeli life in 
recent days and by the substantial suffering and humanitarian needs in Gaza. Our 
hearts go out to Palestinian civilians who are in need of immediate food, clean 
water, and basic medical care, and who've faced suffocating poverty for far too 
long.

Now we must extend a hand of opportunity to those who seek peace. As part of a 
lasting cease-fire, Gaza's border crossings should be open to allow the flow of 
aid and commerce, with an appropriate monitoring regime, with the international 
and Palestinian Authority participating. [BUT NOT HAMAS! --CGE]

Relief efforts must be able to reach innocent Palestinians who depend on them. 
The United States will fully support an international donor's conference to seek 
short-term humanitarian assistance and long-term reconstruction for the 
Palestinian economy. This assistance will be provided to and guided by the 
Palestinian Authority [BUT NOT BY HAMAS, WHOSE LEGAL RULE THE US/ISRAEL ARE 
WORKING TO SET ASIDE].

Lasting peace requires more than a long cease-fire, and that's why I will 
sustain an active commitment to seek two states living side by side in peace and 
security [BUT ONE CLEARLY IN CONTROL].

Senator Mitchell will carry forward this commitment, as well as the effort to 
help Israel reach a broader peace with the Arab world that recognizes its 
rightful place in the community of nations.

I should add that the Arab peace initiative contains constructive elements that 
could help advance these efforts. Now is the time for Arab states to act on the 
initiative's promise by *supporting the Palestinian government under President 
Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad* [AGAIN, NOT THE DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED 
GOVERNMENT, HAMAS], taking steps towards normalizing relations with Israel, and 
by standing up to extremism that threatens us all.

Jordan's constructive role in training Palestinian security forces [FATAH'S!] 
and nurturing its relations with Israel provide a model for these efforts. And 
going forward, we must make it clear to all countries in the region that 
external support for terrorist organizations must stop.

Another urgent threat to global security is the deteriorating situation in 
Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the central front in our enduring struggle 
against terrorism and extremism [THE "WAR ON TERROR,' JUSTIFIES OUR KILLING 
PEOPLE IN AFPAK -- AS MR. BUSH SAID.]. There, as in the Middle East, we must 
understand that we cannot deal with our problems in isolation.

There is no answer in Afghanistan that does not confront the Al Qaida and 
Taliban bases along the border, and there will be no lasting peace unless we 
expand spheres of opportunity [WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? REMOVE TALIBAN?] for the 
people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is truly an international challenge of 
the highest order.

That's why Secretary Clinton and I are naming Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to be 
special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ambassador Holbrooke is one 
of the most talented diplomats of his generation [AND A DISGUSTING DEMOCRATIC 
RIGHT-WINGER WHO HAS SAID THAT "AFPAK" IS THE CENTER OF SW ASIAN WAR.]. Over 
several decades, he's served on different continents and as an outstanding 
ambassador to the United Nations.

He has strengthened ties with our allies, tackled the toughest negotiations, and 
helped deliver a hard-earned peace as an architect of the Dayton Accords. He 
will help lead our effort to forge and implement a strategic and sustainable 
approach to this critical region.

The American people and the international community must understand that the 
situation is perilous and progress will take time. Violence is up dramatically 
in Afghanistan. A deadly insurgency has taken deep root. The opium trade is far 
and away the largest in the world [THE EMBARRASSMENT IS THAT OUR PUPPET GOV'T IS 
BEHIND IT; KARZAI SHOULD REMEMBER NGO DINH DIEM].

The Afghan government has been unable to deliver basic services. Al Qaeda and 
the Taliban strike from bases embedded in rugged tribal terrain along the 
Pakistani border. And while we have yet to see another attack on our soil since 
9/11, Al Qaida terrorists remain at large and remain plotting. [I.E., 9/11 IS 
OUR EXCUSE FOR KILLING PASHTUNS!]

Going forward, we must set clear priorities in pursuit of achievable goals that 
contribute to our collective security. My administration is committed to 
refocusing attention and resources on Afghanistan and Pakistan and to spending 
those resources wisely. That's why we are pursuing a careful review of our policy.

We will seek stronger partnerships with the governments of the region, sustain 
cooperation with our NATO allies [WHO ARE LEAVING IN DROVES], deeper engagement 
with the Afghan and Pakistani people, and a comprehensive strategy to combat 
terror and extremism.

We will provide the strategic guidance to meet our objectives, and we pledge to 
support the extraordinary Americans serving in Afghanistan, both military and 
civilian, with the resources that they need [GUNS & MONEY TO KILL PEOPLE IN AFPAK].

These appointments add to a team that will work with energy and purpose to meet 
the challenges of our time and to define a future of expanding security and 
opportunity [IN THE US-OCCUPIED MIDEAST].

Difficult days lie ahead. As we ask more of ourselves, we will seek new 
partnerships and ask more of our friends and more of people around the globe, 
because security in the 21st century is shared. [YA HEAR, NATO?]

But let there be no doubt about America's commitment to lead. We can no longer 
afford drift, and we can no longer afford delay, nor can we cede ground to those 
who seek destruction [SELF-REFERENTIALITY ALERT!]. A new era of American 
leadership is at hand, and the hard work has just begun. You are going to be at 
the front lines of engaging in that important work. [THE MILITARY METAPHOR ISN'T 
AN ACCIDENT.]

And I'm absolutely confident that, with the leadership of Secretary Clinton, 
with wonderful envoys like Richard Holbrooke and George Mitchell, with the 
dedicated team that is before me today, that we are going to be able to 
accomplish our objectives, keep America safe, and bring better days not just to 
our own country, but all around the world.

Thank you very much, everybody.

(APPLAUSE)

END

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012202550.html