Al-Jazeera on Obama’s Iraq plan
I have previously translated Arabic al-Jazeera articles (and comments) in order to give readers of The Platform some idea of how the election is being followed around the world. Despite some alarming stories about what’s happened to other bloggers who have decided to translate articles on al-Jazeera’s website, I’ve decided to make a habit of it.
After Obama’s widely discussed NYT editorial on Monday, in which he laid out his “plan for Iraq,” I was curious to see how it was playing in the Arab media.
Here’s al-Jazeera’s take, as well as a few comments (note the last one):
Obama calls for end to war in Iraq
American Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wrote an article [al-Jazeera's translation of the full text] in the New York Times newspaper Monday in which he called for an end to the war in Iraq, and cited a request by the Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki to set a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq as an opportunity that should not be missed.
Obama declared that he will end the war in Iraq if he becomes president, and called the war a grave mistake on a country that did not threaten America and did not have any ties to the September 11 attacks, and said this war diverted Americans from fighting al-Qaeda and Taliban.
He went on to say that withdrawing American forces was the only way to put pressure on Iraq to reach widespread political equalization and complete transition to responsibility for security and stability to the Iraqis sucessfully.
Barack accused the American president George Bush and Republican presidential candidate John McCain of refusing to transfer responsiblity to Iraqis, and considered that strategy of continual refusal contradictory to the will of Iraqi and American people and American security interests.
In the article Obama detailed his new policy and repeated that he would withdraw American forces from Iraq within 16 months after he is elected.
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Reader’s comments:
Al-Amoury, Muhammad:
If Obama was honest/sincere then he would challenge with Muslims and demand jail and judgment and stop the government from extermination/annhialation of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and Muslims…Haider al-Hamdani:
If the Arab governments were committed and united then we wouldn’t have to worry who will win the White House.Jalil:
Obama just like previous American presidents will not delay in backing the unjust Israeli entity because his destiny in the White House is connected to the despotic Jews in the wheels of the American economy and money and therefore it will not matter to the Arabs which choice/variation in American politics.
The fact that such anti-Semitism is alive and well in the Arab world shouldn’t surprise anyone. But I think it’s interesting that even Obama — who is already rather popular in the Arab world — is still considered by some to be part of the “Zionist conspiracy,” despite this story about his plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Yes, it is very “interesting” that there are some comments on Arab websites that are misinformed. Just like it is very “interesting” that there are comments on right-wing sites in the United States like “Little Green Footballs” and “Pajamas Media” that are far more racist and misinformed. What an interesting world we live in!
Pity poor Senator O.
Preparing to wave the white flag of surrender and only too soon will learn it’ll never be enough.
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IMAGES/CARTOONS/toon071508.gif
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Alex,
It would be best if you post their actual arabic comments then translate them for us, some of your readers can read what is said for themselves because much can be lost in translation.
Adam S, I also found it interesting on democraticunderound.com comments that Tony Snow was a Nazi, and things like that after he died. But I guess in your world only “right wing” websites can be racist, anti-semetic and the like.
sorry, democraticunderground.com. Must fix that mistake or risk the chance of having the all amd mighty Adam S come down on me.
GTB,
I am very honored that you think I am “all amd mighty”. I also thank you for misinterpreting my comments in exactly the right way to make my point. It would of course be absurd to jump to the conclusion that all Republicans are racist from the fact that you can find racist comments on Republican blogs. Likewise, it is absurd to make inferences about *any* culture by quoting a few comments from a blog. The fact that Alex claims that he is telling us something interesting about the Middle East by pulling a couple of comments off of a web site suggests that he has ulterior motives.
Sorry, Found the comments, didn’t realize that I could click the highligted blue to get the actual comments. I’m a little embarassed over the goof.
“Just like it is very “interesting” that there are comments on right-wing sites in the United States like “Little Green Footballs” and “Pajamas Media” that are far more racist and misinformed”
How about citing some examples? If you dont want to post them here, mail them to me at nomoonbats-other@yahoo.com.
Since you brought up racism, is this comment racist:
“Barack…he’s talking down to black people…telling n—s how to behave.”
And who do you think the speaker is talking about?
This is what I gather from the statements concerning Israel:
Al-Amoury, Muhammad:
If Obama was honest and sincere then he would demand to bring Bush/Chaney to justice for the unjust war on Iraq which murdered innocent people, he also feel they did the same thing in Afghanistan.
My take of what is being said:
Many Americans feel that the war in Iraq was unjust, and that Bush, Chaney and their administration should be brought to justice. These ones have much blood on there hands. I am not all that on top of the circumstances or what Americans feel about Afghanistan, but I do know that not many of us were awake then. This opinion of Al-Amoury, Muhammad is not anti-Semitism.
Haider al-Hamdani:
If the Muslims were united and committed they would not have the problems of foreigners running things and having such a strong presence in their part of the world and it wouldn’t matter who was in the White House.
My take of what is being said:
My take is, that this is not considered anti-Semitism, but distaste for American politics. Neither does most Americans want strong foreign presence in the U.S. This isn’t proof of anti-Semitism either.
Jalil
The opinion that Israel is a unjust entity. He thinks that the Israeli government is tyrannical, repressive and cruel and is tied to the American economy and money. He doesn’t think that it matters who the President is, he believes nothing will change concerning these things that he feel are tyrannical, repressive and cruel about the Israeli government.
My take of what is being said:
For the life of me, I do not see how anyone can call these comments anti-Semitism. Many Americans and many Blacks feel the same way about the U.S., our own government. In fact, these comments show much hope and a possibility that maybe with change and compromises their hope for some kind of peace and understanding.
I am certain that you can find things that are really anti-Semitism coming out of this part of the country, I have seen many before coming out of the Middle East but this is a poor, poor example of it. You should be shame of yourself for claiming such and flaming the fire of more discontent, this is the very reason that even Americans have issues with Conservatives. This is not anti-Semitism, but a hate from you that one’s opinion and vision of how they see things are different than yours.