Like many Americans, I was busy working hard to earn my daily bread while President Obama addressed the world from Egypt.  But unlike many Americans, I do not rely on the mainstream media to give me a politically-convenient sound bite or two in order that I may deceive myself that I’m on top of what’s going on in the world.  Instead, I have read the transcript of his speech – several times now – and while soaring rhetoric is always nice, and while addressing the diverse factions in the Middle East is rather akin to walking a tightrope without a net, I cannot throw myself into the camp claiming the President did a good job of it.

Indeed, I find his speech troubling on many levels.  On the surface, it is a pretty bouquet of pandering – “(peace be upon them)”.  While one must never be outright rude to one’s hosts, I find the President was yet again too quick to apologize for America and the West: 

“…tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations.” 

“Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice … events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible.”

“9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals.”

“…in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. “

In the same manner as the debate over interrogation techniques required context, so, too must the actions of the United States and any other country also be viewed and understood in context.  And frankly, while no country is perfect, since her inception it is America who has been the most giving and forgiving and I see no need for apologies to those in the Middle East.  For the President did get one thing right:  Islamic extremists have killed more Muslims than anyone else.

The other troubling aspect to Obama’s speech comes when you understand that an America who is now so broke it cannot even pay interest on its current-yet-still-increasing debt is also being set on a course to fund various Middle East initiatives.  He promised $1.5 billion each year for 5 years to Pakistan, $2.8 billion to Afghanistan; an expansion of exchange programs and increased scholarships; investments in on-line learning and a “new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.”  He spoke of a “new fund” in support of “technological development in Muslim-majority countries” and opening “centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia”, complete with the appointment of “new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops.”  He committed the United States to a “new global effort” to eradicate polio and expanding “partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.”

 Warm and fuzzy and feels good but, like so many of Obama’s ideas that use the government to duplicate what already exists within the private sector, exactly how will we fund all of this?  Along with many others, I am still reeling from the unprecedented  lawlessness of the dismissal of legitimate bond holder claims in favor of the UAW in the Chryler and GM bankruptcies (unprecedented unless you’re a Chicago politician, of course).  It’s old news now that Obama promised “no new taxes” yet continues to dessimate the middle and lower classes through socialistic tactics that only serve to redistribute radical progressives’ perceptions of “wealth” to those to whom he is politically in debt.  In much the same manner as Sonia Sotomayor practices “identity advocacy”, Obama practices “identity politics”.  I can’t help but wonder if the inspiration for this particular line in his speech came to him while gazing adoringly into his mirror, for his own words provide us with perhaps the best description of his administration to date:

“…there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others.”