Iran and al Qaeda: Both clueless how to handle Obama

By Jim Arkedis

In conjunction with our new relationship with the Truman Project, I am happy to announce that Jim Arkedis, who runs the excellent All Our Might blog at the Progressive Policy Institute, will be a (hopefully frequent) contributor here at The Reaction. Jim is one of the most thoughtful writers I've come across in the blogosphere, with a truly impressive grasp of national security and foreign policy issues. If you don't know it, or haven't done so already, please take the time to acquaint yourself with All Our Might. It should be a frequent read. And please welcome Jim to The Reaction. -- MJWS

*****

Statement by statement, it's becoming clear that those who exploited the Bush administration's world view as a source of power are clearly unsure how to handle the potentially transformational nature of Obama’s presidency:

Even the new American president, who came to office with the slogan of bringing change in the policies of the Bush administration, avows unconditional commitment to Israel’s security... This commitment to Israel's security means the defense of state terrorism, injustice, oppression and a 22-day-long massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children,

said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Sound like anyone we know? Here's Al Qaeda #2, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the day after Obama's election:

America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always... You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims, and pray the prayer of the Jews.

Iran's and AQ's PR aims and intended audiences (the wider Middle East for Iran; funders and potential operatives for AQ) are hardly in perfect alignment, but the same broad theme runs through these statements -- paint Obama just like every other American leader and link him to Israel as much as possible.

The fact that Obama doesn't fall into prototypically neat American presidential stereotypes notwithstanding, Iran and AQ are hoping to orient their "bases" against Obama, so his "extended hand" will have to make more concessions in any diplomatic effort, whether public or private. But that's where the trouble lies: People the world over see with their own two eyes how different Obama is, and they are more likely than ever before to give an American president the benefit of the doubt.

(Cross-posted from All Our Might.)