Obama says chances of Mideast peace deal ‘less than fifty-fifty’
The U.S. president spoke about his decisions made in the Middle East
U.S. President Barack Obama said that he was not confident that a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement could be reached, according to an interview with New Yorkermagazine published on Sunday.
All three of Obama’s main initiatives in the Middle East – the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program, and Syria’s civil war – had a “less than fifty-fifty” chance of reaching a final agreement.
The U.S. president added that all three events were connected.
“On the other hand, in all three circumstances we may be able to push the boulder partway up the hill and maybe stabilize it so it doesn’t roll back on us,” he said.
Untenable
Obama said the Middle East was going through “inexorable change.”
“The region is going through rapid change and inexorable change. Some of it is demographics; some of it is technology; some of it is economics. And the old order, the old equilibrium, is no longer tenable. The question then becomes, What’s next?”
Obama also spoke about his handling of the Syrian crisis last year – when U.S. military action seemed likely after a deadly chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb in August.
“I am haunted by what’s happened,” Obama said, referring to the humanitarian crisis which has forced millions of Syrians to flee to refugee camps. Adding that he did not regret deciding not to engage in a fresh Middle Eastern conflict, the president said that it would have been “difficult to imagine” a scenario where U.S. involvement in war-torn Syria would have had a “better outcome.”
Obama added that a hypothetical situation whereby the U.S. armed and financed opposition groups leading to a peaceful transition of power “magical thinking.”
-
Mideast peace deal… and they lived unhappily ever after
The internal discussion within the U.S. Department of State, for many years, has been one of “Return On Diplomacy Invested” Middle East -
Arab League rejects U.S. peace proposal
Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby said no peace deal would work with Israeli presence in a Palestinian state Middle East -
Kerry: Mideast peace deal possible by April
The Secretary of State has made nine visits to the region since taking office in February in campaign to gain momentum and bridge a vast gulf of mutual mistrust Middle East -
Obama: spying essential for national security
The president says the collection of billions of data records by the NSA would go on to protect America World News -
Obama surveillance pledge will change little, says Assange
Obama said bulk data collection must be allowed to continue in order to protect America from terrorists Digital -
Michelle Obama won’t rule out plastic surgery, Botox
America’s First Lady says “women should have the freedom” to choose plastic surgery as an option to feel better Fashion and beauty