I wonder how we could invite about ninety foreign countries for our Marathon in Boston, without a prior check and preparation with the security institutions. For example, checking the entire area every day with bomb sniffing dogs and sending helicopters or drones with sensors for bombs all the time, during the entire Marathon and during the time that the city of Boston was full of national and international guests. How come that we as a technology Country and in particular Massachusetts, could not protect ourselves from such a disaster?
Just by saying “we want peace” or “we will not attack any country” this will never bring calm. Obama’s philosophy after so many years has only strengthened the Al Qaida and the Muslim extremists. The Arab Spring, helped partly by our people, has not brought any resolution or any improvement; the opposite is right. Those revolutions have awakened the Arab masses and brought the opposite of want Obama expected, which was “Democracy”.
I understand that Obama was elected with a majority of our people, but it is not this majority that can save us from the extremists and the rogue states, such as North Korea and Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood or organizations like Al Qaida. The fact is that Obama decided to unilaterally disengage from the international war against terrorism and not to react to the rhetorical challenges from Iran, North Korea or from the terrorist organizations. I believe a president must be vigilant and not come with so many changes and rules that scare some of our population and cannot make any challenges disappear.
One can describe the Arab Spring as a natural uprising of the young generation. Alas this young generation has no strength or courage to rebel against the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt or against the Ennahda in Tunisia, where everyone is unhappy and complaining. The illusion that the Arab Spring can only bring progress was unrealistic. In my view, to change the Middle East it will take a century or more. We cannot change the educational level, the habits and the culture of an entire population. Can we compare the European evolution with the Middle East? It took centuries with wars and with the last wars which involved the Americans and the British and millions of deaths to succeed to change the mind of the European populations. I understand that many people had a dream. Who doesn’t like such a dream?
It is understandable that gun control didn’t pass the Senate in such a troubled situation, where the people, after almost a dozen years since September eleven do not feel secure at home and Obama, despite his rhetoric, does not inspire confidence in the entire American people. Yes, he inspired more confidence among those who voted for him, among whom there are many minorities, who saw only their personal benefit.
Copyright 2013 Emile Tubiana
Love ya!
Jane