By Arthur Solomon
Why is it when I listened to President Obama talk about Libya, I thought I was listening to President Bush II?
Why is it when I listened to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talk about Libya, I thought I was listening to Secretary of State Colin Powell talk about Iraq?
Why is it when I listened to Obama talk about removing Colonel Qaddafi, I thought I was listening to President Bush talk about regime change?
Why is it when I listened to Obama talk about the Arab League supporting the U.N. resolution against Qaddafi, I thought why don’t they offer troops and money instead of talk support?
Why is it that when President Obama said, “Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable,” I thought he was reading from a recycled President Bush speech?
Why is it that no matter what happens to Qaddafi, I feel that the Arab Street will blame the West for attacking another Muslim country?
Why is it that no matter what the outcome of the Libya situation, the Arab Street will say that the West just got involved in order to ensure a supply of oil?
Why is it when I think of U.S. intelligence in Libya, and the other countries in the Mideast, I think of our military intelligence prior to our sending troops to Iraq?
Why is it whenever I hear Sen. John Kerry say that the U.S. must act against Qaddafi, I think I am listening to Sen. John McCain?
Why is it that whenever I hear Sen. McCain urge action against Qaddafi, I think I am listening to Sen. Kerry?
Why is it that when I hear Sen. Joe Lieberman talk about action against Qaddafi, I think I am listening to someone who should have retired years ago?
Why is it that when Obama said, "American leadership is essential, but that does not mean acting alone," he means that if military action is needed, many more U.S. servicemen lives will be put at risk than that of all other nations combined?
Why is it that when all is said and done, I fear that any Libyan military action will be similar to that of President Bush’s “coalition of the willing,” prior to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003?
Why is it when I think of the U.S. again getting involved in a war against another Muslim country, it reminds me of Iraq and Afghanistan?
Why is it that I feel that the U.S. never has enough money to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, provide decent housing for the homeless, make certain that all our citizens receive the health care they need, but always has money enough to provide tax relief for the wealthy or for another war?
Why is it that I no longer believe anything that Obama says about America’s foreign policy?
Why is it that I feel certain that the U.S. has no idea of what type of government will emerge from Libya, or any other of the Mid-East countries now facing revolutions?
Why is it that the U.S. doesn’t wake up to the fact that not all successful revolutions work to America’s benefit?
Finally, why is it that when I listen to the Obama administration speak about its Mid-East policy, I think I am listening to the Bush agenda?
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Arthur Solomon was a Senior Vice President/Senior Counselor at Burson-Marsteller, where he handled national and international accounts and traveled worldwide with top foreign government and Olympic officials as a media consultant. He is available at [email protected].
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