BCT Editorial – 2/4/09

This page was last updated on February 4, 2009.

Good start; Editorial; Beaver County Times; February 4, 2009.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Al-Qaeda is afraid of the influence President Barack Obama could have on the Muslim world, which is why his interview with an Arabic satellite TV network was of such symbolic importance.”

[RWC] This editorial is an exercise in revisionism.

“Obama’s first formal television interview as president was with the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel.

“The Associated Press reported it was part of a concerted effort to repair relations with the Muslim world that were damaged under the previous administration.”

[RWC] This is more of the “everyone loved the U.S. before President Bush” BS. The “Muslim world” so loved the U.S. it launched multiple attacks against the U.S. during the 1970s, 1980, 1990s, and up through 9/11/01.

“The interview served another purpose as well — isolating extremists like al-Qaeda from the Muslim mainstream.”

[RWC] Just as President Bush did in every interview and speech. Mr. Bush repeatedly claiming Islam was a “religion of peace” was frustrating to hear.

“Al-Qaeda leaders are certainly aware of Obama’s mainstream appeal in the Muslim world. The Washington Post reported in an article written before the Al-Arabiya interview that the ‘terrorist group has unleashed a stream of verbal tirades’ against Obama, including calling him a ‘house Negro.’

“‘The torrent of hateful words is part of what terrorism experts now believe is a deliberate, even desperate, propaganda campaign against a president who appears to have gotten under al-Qaeda’s skin,’ the paper reported.”

[RWC] There’s nothing new here. Al-Qaida used exactly the same vile language with respect to Sec. of State Colin Powell and Sec. of State/National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Then again, so did Harry Belafonte, though Mr. Belafonte used the term “house nigger.”

“Whether Obama’s personality and policies will work remains to be seen. One thing is certain, though. He’s off to a good start.”

[RWC] FYI, regardless of al-Qaida’s response, this would have been a “good start” editorial. When our enemies made similar comments during the Bush administration, editorials told us this showed Mr. Bush’s foreign affairs incompetence. Now that Mr. Obama is President, comments like these are presented as a “good start.”