Drifting and Roland, what's your thoughts on Samantha Power? I mean there's been a thread here about her for a couple of days, but it doesn't seem to have caught much interest. I very much like this lady, and while i'm not sure just how much influence she will have, i see her likely place in the state deaprtment as nothing but positive. Obama clearly thinks highly of her.
I think, judging by Obama's actual appointments, that there is very little room for her opinions within the inner circles of his administration.
I would be rather suprised if she made it through to an actual position in his administration, beyond the "transition team".
Two quotes that i just love,
that i doubt anyone already appointed by Obama, or Obama himself, is likely to agree with:
Another longstanding foreign policy flaw is the degree to which special interests dictate the way in which the "national interest" as a whole is defined and pursued.... America's important historic relationship with Israel has often led foreign policy decision-makers to defer reflexively to Israeli security assessments, and to replicate Israeli tactics, which, as the war in Lebanon last summer demonstrated, can turn out to be counter-productive.
The war scare that wasn't [the recent incident between Iranian speedboats and the U.S. Navy in the Straight of Hormuz] stands as a metaphor for the incoherence of our policy toward Iran: the Bush Administration attempts to gin up international outrage by making a claim of imminent danger, only to be met with international eye rolling when the claim is disproved. Sound familiar? The speedboat episode bore an uncanny resemblance to the Administration's allegations about the advanced state of Iran's weapons program-allegations refuted in December by the National Intelligence Estimate.
She thinks Israel has way too much influence over America, and to our decided detriment, and she thinks the scare over Iran is a bunch of drummed up political hogwash.
And I think one would have to be a fool, given the kind of appointments we've seen so far, to think that these kinds of sentiments have any bearing upon actual policy decisions that this administration is likely to make.
To sum up?
Powers ...
nice pick.
No actual power so far,
not likely to get any.
Who cares?
Number of corporatist and CFR scum already appointed by Obama? Can't even count 'em.
Number of people with seemingly rational opinons on certain subjects?
One.
???-to-One
And she isn't even appointed to anything yet.
Still not holding my breath for anything resembling change.
Although, i will comment on one thing that does keep me constantly guessing WTF is really going on.
Power re-added to the lineup now makes THREE people around Obama that have been vocally opposed to excessive Israeli influence on US policy.
She, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Joe Biden make three.
Given the known character of Biden and Brzezinski, it ain't enough to actually make me believe in "change", but it sure is enough to make me wonder.
That was my thread, and I think she's a great thinker. I don't want to speak for people, but knowing what I know of Drifting and Roland's post and threads, I'd have a feeling that they're not fans in the slightest. She strongly approves of foreign intervention in genocide.
Yeah, i believe in a limited Federal government, strictly bound by The Constitution.
I guess that means i hate all children, infirms & elderly, and black people too, since the Federal Government is partly responsible for education, welfare, and affirmative action?
:rolleyes:
If I was to smile and I held out my hand
If I opened it now would you not understand?
I think, judging by Obama's actual appointments, that there is very little room for her opinions within the inner circles of his administration.
I would be rather suprised if she made it through to an actual position in his administration, beyond the "transition team".
She thinks Israel has way too much influence over America, and to our decided detriment, and she thinks the scare over Iran is a bunch of drummed up political hogwash.
And I think one would have to be a fool, given the kind of appointments we've seen so far, to think that these kinds of sentiments have any bearing upon actual policy decisions that this administration is likely to make.
To sum up?
Powers ...
nice pick.
No actual power so far,
not likely to get any.
Who cares?
Number of corporatist and CFR scum already appointed by Obama? Can't even count 'em.
Number of people with seemingly rational opinons on certain subjects?
One.
???-to-One
And she isn't even appointed to anything yet.
Still not holding my breath for anything resembling change.
Although, i will comment on one thing that does keep me constantly guessing WTF is really going on.
Power re-added to the lineup now makes THREE people around Obama that have been vocally opposed to excessive Israeli influence on US policy.
She, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Joe Biden make three.
Given the known character of Biden and Brzezinski, it ain't enough to actually make me believe in "change", but it sure is enough to make me wonder.
Hmm.
Well, first of all, to discount Power as someone with 'little influence' on Obama goes against everything we know about their professional relationship. Ever since she took a leave of absence from her job to work for Obama's Senate office as a foreign policy fellow, Power has been one of, if not the, most senior foreign policy adviser to Obama. He has mentioned her repeatedly as one of his most trusted foreign policy associates. They only had to publicly sever ties in March when Power had to resign due to some dumb comments she made about Clinton which then got tossed all over the place. However, according to Power herself, she has continued to serve as an unofficial adviser and now looks likely to have a prominent position in the State Department. So, say she's not Secretary of State, but considering that background information, I think it's a little far-fetched to say her impact on Obama's foreign policy advice is minimal. If it wasn't, what was she doing in his Senate office all that time? I can't speak on what you think Obama's foreign policy is going to be, as we haven't seen Obama's foreign policy yet. But he's made clear his support for a two-state settlement and increased diplomacy. I can't say for sure, either, but for now I have his proposals. You have predictions. We'll have to see what happens, then. But my primary point is that it's a tough case to make, considering their history, to say that Power has little to no impact, or say, in Obama's foreign policy analysis and decision-making.
Yeah, i believe in a limited Federal government, strictly bound by The Constitution.
I guess that means i hate all children, infirms & elderly, and black people too, since the Federal Government is partly responsible for education, welfare, and affirmative action?
:rolleyes:
Lord, talk about taking an inch and making a mile out of it. There are plenty of reasons one might oppose intervention in regards to genocide and ethnic cleansing, and very few of them have anything to do with racism or apathy. There are soverignity issues, issues of self-governance, questions about the effectiveness of sanctions, etc. In other words; calm down. You were the one who posted an article in which the author called 'humanitarian interventions' a symptom of the establishment of a New World Order in countries.
Comments
I think, judging by Obama's actual appointments, that there is very little room for her opinions within the inner circles of his administration.
I would be rather suprised if she made it through to an actual position in his administration, beyond the "transition team".
Two quotes that i just love,
that i doubt anyone already appointed by Obama, or Obama himself, is likely to agree with:
She thinks Israel has way too much influence over America, and to our decided detriment, and she thinks the scare over Iran is a bunch of drummed up political hogwash.
And I think one would have to be a fool, given the kind of appointments we've seen so far, to think that these kinds of sentiments have any bearing upon actual policy decisions that this administration is likely to make.
To sum up?
Powers ...
nice pick.
No actual power so far,
not likely to get any.
Who cares?
Number of corporatist and CFR scum already appointed by Obama? Can't even count 'em.
Number of people with seemingly rational opinons on certain subjects?
One.
???-to-One
And she isn't even appointed to anything yet.
Still not holding my breath for anything resembling change.
Although, i will comment on one thing that does keep me constantly guessing WTF is really going on.
Power re-added to the lineup now makes THREE people around Obama that have been vocally opposed to excessive Israeli influence on US policy.
She, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Joe Biden make three.
Given the known character of Biden and Brzezinski, it ain't enough to actually make me believe in "change", but it sure is enough to make me wonder.
Hmm.
Yeah, i believe in a limited Federal government, strictly bound by The Constitution.
I guess that means i hate all children, infirms & elderly, and black people too, since the Federal Government is partly responsible for education, welfare, and affirmative action?
:rolleyes:
If I opened it now would you not understand?
Well, first of all, to discount Power as someone with 'little influence' on Obama goes against everything we know about their professional relationship. Ever since she took a leave of absence from her job to work for Obama's Senate office as a foreign policy fellow, Power has been one of, if not the, most senior foreign policy adviser to Obama. He has mentioned her repeatedly as one of his most trusted foreign policy associates. They only had to publicly sever ties in March when Power had to resign due to some dumb comments she made about Clinton which then got tossed all over the place. However, according to Power herself, she has continued to serve as an unofficial adviser and now looks likely to have a prominent position in the State Department. So, say she's not Secretary of State, but considering that background information, I think it's a little far-fetched to say her impact on Obama's foreign policy advice is minimal. If it wasn't, what was she doing in his Senate office all that time? I can't speak on what you think Obama's foreign policy is going to be, as we haven't seen Obama's foreign policy yet. But he's made clear his support for a two-state settlement and increased diplomacy. I can't say for sure, either, but for now I have his proposals. You have predictions. We'll have to see what happens, then. But my primary point is that it's a tough case to make, considering their history, to say that Power has little to no impact, or say, in Obama's foreign policy analysis and decision-making.
Lord, talk about taking an inch and making a mile out of it. There are plenty of reasons one might oppose intervention in regards to genocide and ethnic cleansing, and very few of them have anything to do with racism or apathy. There are soverignity issues, issues of self-governance, questions about the effectiveness of sanctions, etc. In other words; calm down. You were the one who posted an article in which the author called 'humanitarian interventions' a symptom of the establishment of a New World Order in countries.