Obama less popular than G.W. Bush in Mideast

[Dachs]

The wandering Eastern European Germanic tribes didn't like the Romans much, either.

Okay, I'm going to pass over the very 1980sesque use of the word "Germanic", which really ought to be in abeyance by now, and focus on something else, namely, what the heck kinda comparison are you making there?

 

[tonberry]

To anyone who are surprised by this, can you tell me what Obama has done that would justify him being more popular than Bush?

 

[GenMarshall]

To anyone who are surprised by this, can you tell me what Obama has done that would justify him being more popular than Bush?

Other than that he aint Bush and did not invade Iraq like a bull moose in a china shop?

 

[FriendlyFire]

To anyone who are surprised by this, can you tell me what Obama has done that would justify him being more popular than Bush?

Killing Osama Bin Laden ?

 

[Tani Coyote]

Well, apart from the fact Bush was more socially conservative(so there was some common ground), it probably has to do with the fact that Arabs were fooled like Americans were - they thought Obama would bring something new to the table.

Nope, he's either a liar or incompetent. Pick your poison.

That and there's only one thing worse than a foe - a neutral who's indecisive.

 

[NovaKart]

Didnt he promise to do something about Guantanamo Bay and that never ended up happening?

 

[Formaldehyde]

It wasn't exactly all Obama's fault. Congress passed laws as part of defense appropriations bills which forbids them from being transferred to the US for either imprisonment or trial. Many of them aren't capable of being tried because they were tortured, or the information against them come from dubious confidential sources. And now, many of them cannot even be released due to the new laws.

But I agree that Obama should have done more:

Obama rips budget bill's Guantanamo restrictions

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama Friday signed into law a sweeping defense bill that specifically thwarts his goal of closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, then issued a "signing statement" against it.

It's the second time the president has enacted into law Congress' ban on civilian trials for any of the last 172 Guantanamo captives and, in an echo of his predecessor, George W. Bush, the second time he blasted it as "a dangerous and unprecedented challenge to critical executive branch authority."

Since the first time, in December, Attorney General Eric Holder bowed to the will of Congress and just this month overruled himself and decided to let the Pentagon, not his Justice Department, prosecute the five alleged 9/11 conspirators as mass murderers, chief among them confessed mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has been at Guantanamo since 2006.

The new law also includes tough new congressional mandates that Obama administration officials have said interfere with the effort to resettle captives abroad. Such captives are now cleared for release by what Pentagon officials call "enhanced" review processes, which considers each captive's future on a case-by-case basis.

During the Bush years, the Pentagon repatriated Guantanamo captives by the planeload. For example, it released some to the custody of Saudi Arabia, which subsequently revealed that 11 former Guantanamo captives had made a Saudi wanted list of extremists who fled the or were suspected of engaging violence.

Since then, Congress imposed even greater conditions on transfers which, Obama said, "would hinder the conduct of delicate negotiations with foreign countries and therefore the effort to conclude detainee transfers in accord with our national security."

Meet the new Congress. Same as the old Congress.

 

[asbestos]

here is the full report from the AAI, but the poll questions within the pdf didn't survive the translation.
http://www.aaiusa.org/reports/arab-attitutes-2011

• After improving with the election of Barack Obama in 2008, U.S. favorable ratings across the Arab world have plummeted. In most countries they are lower than at the end of the Bush Administration, and lower than Iran's favorable ratings (except in Saudi Arabia).

• The continuing occupation of Palestinian lands and U.S. interference in the Arab world are held to be the greatest obstacles to peace and stability in the Middle East.

• While many Arabs were hopeful that the election of Barack Obama would improve U.S.-Arab relations, that hope has evaporated. Today, President Obama's favorable ratings across the Arab world are 10% or less.

• Obama's performance ratings are lowest on the two issues to which he has devoted the most energy: Palestine and engagement with the Muslim world.

• The U.S. role in establishing a no-fly zone over Libya receives a positive rating only in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, but, as an issue, it is the lowest priority.

• The killing of bin Laden only worsened attitudes toward the U.S.

• A plurality says it is too early to tell whether the Arab Spring will have a positive impact on the region. In Egypt, the mood is mixed. Only in the Gulf States are optimism and satisfaction levels high.

 

[Tristan_C]

The Middle East isn't popular with America. And that's what really matters.

 

[Dreadnought]

Okay, I'm going to pass over the very 1980sesque use of the word "Germanic", which really ought to be in abeyance by now, and focus on something else, namely, what the heck kinda comparison are you making there?

Come on, it's not that hard to see what I'm getting at.

 

[MobBoss]

To anyone who are surprised by this, can you tell me what Obama has done that would justify him being more popular than Bush?

Bowing all over the place?

Killing Osama Bin Laden ?

I thought the guys in Seal Team 6 did that.

 

[Dachs]

Come on, it's not that hard to see what I'm getting at.

Perhaps. But I'd like you to say it straight out. Don't be shy.

 

[Dreadnought]

Perhaps. But I'd like you to say it straight out. Don't be shy.

Leaving it open to interpretation makes the conversation more interesting. As the statement stands, I see two interpretations of it.

 

[Dachs]

Leaving it open to interpretation makes the conversation more interesting. As the statement stands, I see two interpretations of it.

Stop *********ing around and say what you mean.

 

[FriendlyFire]

I thought the guys in Seal Team 6 did that.

I guess Osama didnt attack the US on 9-11 then, because some random Saudi Arabians just hijacked several planes and flew them into buildings.

But seriously Obama's given the Gates-Petraues a free hand to craft US policy. Maybe it was a wise choice by an inexperienced president.

 

[NovaKart]

Leaving it open to interpretation makes the conversation more interesting. As the statement stands, I see two interpretations of it.

Someone who derides the use of Germanic but uses the term 1980sesque. I mean maybe you could say 1980sesque about the word ghettoblaster or in reference to the Joan Rivers show but it's kind of a stupid word.

Anyway, just ignore it. This reminds me of the comic book guy in the simpsons - OMG, your command of klignon is frighteningly sub-par. How could you possibly confuse Mary Worth with Apartment 3G?? Such an elementary mistake. Except apply all of this to history instead of comic books. Typical of many posts I've seen before from certain sources.

 

[MobBoss]

I guess Osama didnt attack the US on 9-11 then, because some random Saudi Arabians just hijacked several planes and flew them into buildings.

But seriously Obama's given the Gates-Petraues a free hand to craft US policy. Maybe it was a wise choice by an inexperienced president.

Well, fwiw, Osama came up with the plan for 9/11 and was directly involved in its execution. Obama wasnt any of that for the killing of OBL. All he did was say 'do it'.

Sure he will get credit for it happening on his watch and he absolutely should get that. But lets not make it sound like he went in himself, guns blazing.

 

[RedRalph]

Not surprising. Obama is a pretty crappy leader. Definitely better than Bush though.

 

[Theige]

Well, fwiw, Osama came up with the plan for 9/11 and was directly involved in its execution. Obama wasnt any of that for the killing of OBL. All he did was say 'do it'.

Sure he will get credit for it happening on his watch and he absolutely should get that. But lets not make it sound like he went in himself, guns blazing.

No, Osama did not come up with the plan for 9/11.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning_of_the_September_11_attacks#Origins_of_9.2F11