Sunday, October 23, 2011President Obama wants to help Iraq's economy
“Obama said he has invited al-Maliki to visit the White House in December to 'plan for all of the important work that we have to do together' to strengthen the Iraqi economy, culture and education.” (Politico) Emphasis the author’s.
President Obama is inviting the president of Iraq to Washington to plan ways to strengthen the Iraqi economy. How is the miracle man going to accomplish that? What about all of the important work he has to do to strengthen the American economy? When is he going to get serious about that?
What kind of economic strengthening advice can Obama give Mr. al-Maliki? Will he suggest a tax on Iraqi millionaires and people making over the Iraqi equivalent of $250,000 per year? Perhaps he'll suggest thousands of new regulations on Iraqi businesses and industry? al-Malikicare? Major investments in green technology to jump start Iraqi businesses and create Iraqi jobs of the future?
Will he advise Iraq on politically correct forms of secularism and multi-culturalism? While he is fixing their economy, why not strengthen their culture?
Obama has not been able to strengthen the American economy in almost three years. That's the economy he was elected to work on, the only economy he should be focused on.
There are probably guffaws in the international community over Obama’s offer to al-Maliki, much like the incredulity that met Timothy Geithner when he travelled to Europe to tell Europeans that they had to control their government spending and put their fiscal houses in order.
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Iraqis should be up in arms and furious. President Obama, whose economic policies have failed, is going to start giving them advice on theirs? Can't he just bomb them some more and be done with it?
Obama's priorities are badly misplaced. His foreign policy has shown itself excellent at one thing: killing obnoxious foreign leaders, terrorists, and American propagandists. He should stick to that. He wastes time advising Iraq how to fix its economy, and if he actually knows how to do it, it's an outrage that he hasn't applied that expertise at home. How can he even consider helping a foreign nation strengthen its economy when ours is in the dumpster?
Perhaps his idea of fixing Iraq is to send it some money? Do we now have to share the added burden of propping up the economy of Iraq? Haven’t we sacrificed enough, born enough pain, carried a heavy enough burden? When does it stop?
Obama is not paying attention. America's economy needs fixing. If he has any great ideas, he should be trying them here first.
Americans are focused on their thinning wallets. They don't have the resources or energy to care about the economy, culture or educational system of Iraq. They're too tired from trying to make ends meet.
It’s no wonder Obama’s ratings are so low. He never listens to Americans. His agenda and personal politics aren't really about America. He finds it more satisfying to focus on the world's problems while ours fester and suppurate.
You cannot solve other people's problems if you can’t solve your own. No one will take you seriously. No one can take Obama seriously.
If Obama wants to bring the troops home, that’s all fine and good. It's his call. President Bush had planned to bring the troops home this year, so there should be no controversy, and the Iraqis have made it abundantly clear they no longer want our military assistance.
The merits of the Iraq war will be argued by historians for years, as will the aftermath. But it's abundantly clear that it's time to draw this episode to a close.
Who will Obama help next? Will he invite the Libyans over to help them strengthen their economy, culture and education? Will he help create green jobs in Afghanistan, or offer Palestinian firms multi-billion dollar loans to build solar panels so they can jumpstart the non-existent economy of their non-existent nation?
China is the rising superpower. If the president wants to extend American primacy to the end of the century, he should do his best to give the Chinese the benefits of his economic genius. Let him invite their leaders to Washington for lectures in finance, educational reform, and the green economy. We've done enough to Iraq. Let him help a country that's more deserving. Like North Korea. Or turn his talents to wiping out that country's ruling family.
But he should still pretend to be focused on America. It's the very least he can do, and the very least is what we expect of him.
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