In both politics and diplomacy, actors must think at least one move ahead. They need to be reasonably sure that when they say or do A, then the other party will say or do B. And they should want the other party to say or do B, otherwise it makes no sense to say A in the first place. The purpose of action isn’t just to act, in other words, but to make sure that the reaction you get advances your purposes and your interests.
Which is why the administration’s behavior in deepening and perpetuating its latest confrontation with Israel is actually rather bewildering. Let’s start out by acknowledging that what happened during Vice President Biden’s trip last week — the announcement of new housing starts in East Jerusalem — was an affront to the United States. I believe Israel has every right to do what it is doing, but the view of the visiting representative of the administration is that what it is doing is wrong and injurious to future prospects for peace, and this conflict of visions is not going to be resolved. Biden was embarrassed, his visit overshadowed, and expressions of diplomatic dismay appropriate as a result. The Israeli prime minister, who did not know about the announcement, apologized to the visitor, and was embarrassed as well by the way in which the dysfunctional Israeli political system was exposed to international view.
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Obama’s political upbringing and rise to prominence have been a blend of “Workers of the world unite” and “Show me the money” with some cosmetic overlays of ethnic consciousness. Don’t be dazzled by today’s disposable policy positions or tomorrow’s.
Really a well written post, Peter. Deserves more comment, but perhaps you’ve summed it all up.
Most of the classical sophists were great orators–and they didn’t need teleprompters. The Anointed One is halfway there. He doesn’t have the oratory skills to be a sophist, so I guess he’s just a classic bull$hit artist.
Pete, the only people Obama has pissed off with this are Arianna Huffington and Glenn Greenwald. That ought to make you happy.