RiceLad15
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RE: Trump Administration
(05-22-2017 07:22 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: (05-21-2017 11:54 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote: (05-21-2017 11:26 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: (05-21-2017 10:18 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote: (05-21-2017 09:56 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: He leaned over to let the much shorter King put a medal over his head. He didn't go 90 degrees like his predecessor.
I am not sure what the left wants him to do about "radical Isalm". Do they want him to say it or not? I think they would find a reason to criticize either way. Personally, I am happy he is using some good judgement in what to say and where to say it.
Jonathan Carl on ABC News (on This Week with George Stephanopolous) this morning said The King met Trump at the plane, a gesture of respect he never extended to Obama. Both Karl and Roger Zelazny (CNN. State of the Union with Jake Tapper)) said there was lots of signs of welcome there, including billboards with Trump's image on them and (I think) an image of Trump played on the side of the hotel.
Oh, I'm happy he avoided the term radical Islam. It was not inline with his, or his supporters, way of looking at the terrorist threats in the Middle East, but well inline with the best approach for actually discussing the challenges there. That line had become such a totem for Right that I wasn't pleasantly surprised he decided to avoid its use (not sure why you thought otherwise). I think those on the left after generally happy as well. Speaking for myself, I would rather someone use their head, regardless of how hypocritical it is, than be stubborn and risk angering and insulting a huge swath of people.
And, this is silly, but watch the video again, Trump does a little bow after having the medal put around his neck. The only reason I bring this up is because of how stupid it was that obama got dinged for it and the fact that I saw a Fox article that mentioned how Trump didn't bow when he met the King, but then he didn't so during the medal ceremony. The fact that there was the Fox article in the first place is laughable.
But like I said, it looks like the Saudis are willing to work with trump, despite all of his bluster on the campaign trail and before that. They can be a powerful ally in the Middle East.
I guess people will see what they want to see in the video. I wonder how tall the King is. Trump is 6'2', same height as Obama.
There are times and places to properly use the words "radical Islam". In the heart of Saudi Arabia on a state trip is probably no the best place for that. Of course, not using those words opens him up to cries of "hypocrisy" from the left. I'm glad he chose diplomacy over appeasing his critics. I understand from reports today on CNN he made a well worded speech that was well received.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/21/politics/t...ranscript/
Actually, choosing the words he did, DID appease his critics, as the critics said he shouldn't use the term "radical Islam" to begin with.
My comment is less about Trump, and more about the fact that his base was (rightfully) left in the cold on this trip because their strange fascination with the previous admins decision to avoid the term was not as crazy as they thought it was.
Trump's first stop on this trip has been a breathe of fresh air. And it is the first time he has actually gone in public and, IMO, acted presidential and not either divisive or childish - you'll see I'm not knocking him or critiquing him in these posts. For example, I have no problem if he did bow - I find it hilarious that others did for Obama and now some are trying to say he didn't (because guess what, it doesn't matter).
I guess it was the same bow that Olympic medal winners give their presenters, especially the taller winners. You want to call it a bow, go ahead. As you say, it really doesn't matter. I just don't think it is the same as this
The thing about Obama's insistance in not using the phrase "Islamic terrorism" or "Radical Islam" is that it was an Administration wide ban ,and led to such travesties as the "workplace violence" of Nidal Hasan. I have no doubt Trump will continue to use the phrases in appropriate settings here in the US. It would appear Obama's fears of insulting all Muslims are baseless, if Trump's welcome in Saudi Arabia is any indication.
Not quite total avoidance
"During the speech to leaders of more than 50 Muslim-majority nations, the president did use terms such as "Islamist extremism" and "Islamist terror groups."
I am glad we are in agreement that it is a good trip so far.
To your first comment - the fact that anyone even made a YouTube video of that moment is my point. It's hilarious that people cared that Obama bowed when he met the Saudi King and wrote articles like this: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/...to-do.html
And by the way, I'm not talking about Trump bending as he had the medal placed over his head, I'm talking about the little bow/cursty he did immediately afterwards.
And I think it would be poor form for Trump to go back and start using the phrase Islamic extremism as opposed to the carefully chosen Islamist extremism. The difference is subtle, but would be akin to saying right-wing extremism as opposed to Christian extremism. He will hopefully not regress to speaking without thinking about the consequences of his actions and using more incendiary language to fire up his fervent base.
And I don't think the Obama fears were baseless - epecially since they were primarily related to the propagation of terrorism and not having bad relations with the Saudis. I read a number of pieces that suggested the Saudis saw a weak president (from a approval %) who would be willing to work with them to get anything positive done, and a president who needed to be, in essence, coddled and fawned over. That if they did not roll out the red carpet, they would not be able to get anything done. And it looks like it worked. And that isn't a critique, just an analysis of the situation and why I think the Saudis did that.
Everyone was willing to play ball. Even is it was a weird, glowing ball.
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