Aide: Obama "Committed To" Mideast Peace

David Axelrod Tells Face The Nation That President-Elect's Agenda Growing With Mideast Strife

(CBS)  As if the downward spiraling economy, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a host of domestic issues weren’t enough, the renewed conflict in the Mideast is now a major agenda item for President-elect Obama. Speaking on CBS News' Face the Nation, Obama senior White House advisor David Axelrod told guest host Chip Reid that Obama's conversations with Secretary of State Rice are "largely in the area of fact-finding for him. I would hardly describe him as passive."

Axelrod said that the president-elect "recognizes the special relationship between the United States and Israel" and that he wants to help bring about peace.

"Obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks, as Hamas began shelling, Israel responded. But it's something that he's committed to," Axelrod said.

Alexrod explained that regarding the Middle East the President-elect "wants to get a handle on the situation, so that, when he becomes president on January 20th, he has the advantage of all the facts and information leading up to that point.”

Yesterday Obama discussed the Mideast situation today with Secretary of State Rice. “They discussed the situations in Gaza and in South Asia. The president-elect appreciated the call and the information from Secretary Rice. He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events. The call lasted approximately eight minutes and was initiated by the president-elect," a transition aide said.

Obama foreign policy team, which would be led by Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State if her appointment is approved, would likely follow a similar policy to the current administration, which has supported Israel’s right to defend itself against rockets fired into southern Israel.

In July, Obama said, “If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”

[themajority1]

You cannot let them occupy lands illegally and expect to be treated squarely.
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Posted by noloyalisti

You sound like some towel-headed Arab.

GOT GOAT ARAB?

[noloyalisti]

You can''t have peace in the middle east if you support a right wing imperialistic country like Israel. You cannot let them occupy lands illegally and expect to be treated squarely.

[themajority1]

The media helped elect Obama, now they will be intent on tearing him apart.


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Posted by assemblyofso

[allmymarbles]

Obama: I thought you were a man of peace. That is one of the big reasons we voted for you. Are you going to stand by and see the Palestinians obliterated? Is that your path to Mid-East peace? This is a very bad start for your administration. We don''t need another warmongering Bush.

[assemblyofso]

Axelrod is the same person who told us he was sure B Hussein had spoken directly with the governor of Ill but was lying.

He also would not release the full report of the "internal investigation" regarding selling the senate seat.

The media helped elect Obama, now they will be intent on tearing him apart.

[themajority1]

Aide: Obama "Committed To" Mideast Peace.

= Obama thought he''d get some strange from an Iraqi princess.

[indivthinker]

You know what, I want to get a job in the government paid for by taxpayer money just so I can wholeheartedly jump on the Barack Obama bandwagon! I want to be a part of this heavenly administration as world peace, free socialist healthcare for all (even the illegals!), the creation of enough alternative energy sources to get the US off of fossil fuels, and the creation of millions of amazing PUBLIC jobs, are all instituted by the Messiah. I also want to be a part of Obama''s masterpiece of an administration as he taxes all of the evil, corrupt, greedy, lazy rich people and redistributes it to the hard working, humble, innocent, victims in the lower and working classes.

[indivthinker]

A father who is Muslim... a mother who is Judeo-Christian... it''s almost as if God created Barack Obama just to bring peace to the Middle East because he represents the both of us. He''s also half white, half black, and I''m sure he has some kind of Arabic and Asian blood in him too. He just understands us too well and he is going to finally bring the people of the world together with his godly speeches. He really is the Messiah! The world will cease all violence. Osama will turn himself in, but he will be forgiven by the Messiah. Iran will stop its nuke program, Hamas members will hug the Israelis, Russia is going to stop bullying everyone around, and even Hugo Chavez will get a tattoo of an American flag right on his forehead. And this is all because Barack Obama is just infinitely wise, powerful, and perfect. (sarcasm)

[irmcvet971]

OH PLEASE The Messiah will bring peace to the whole world, not just the Mideast! Don''''t you people know who your dealing with

Posted by jedi23231 at 01:02 AM : Dec 29, 2008

Ummm! After 8 years of complete and total failure??? You bet you swastika we know!!

[irmcvet971]

When Governments say thing''''s like "Committed To" Mideast Peace. You can be sure that it is going to be a disaster just look at the past. Governments are a Ultimate Religion they surly fool the masses by the bucket load of fake money fake people fake promises
on and on and the people just keep returning to there own vomit every 4 yrs and the neo cons just laugh at you all

Posted by WarDogLRS at 02:50 AM : Dec 29, 2008

You say look at the past and failed to point to ONE single event! I have reviewed the past and find that ONLY those you freaks call "Liberals" have progressed the mantel of Peace in the Middle East. Carter with Egypt/Israel and Clinton and his efforts that were so close. With fascist like you it''s just more killing and more of the same. Glad to see you freaks gone... just wonder how many Generations it will take to find one that will again buy the tried trash you freaks sell.

[longtree-2009]

obama and staff should be committed if they truly believe there is such a thing as middle east peace. israel has been under constant attacks since it was founded as a nation state in the late 40s. anytime there have been truces, peace of some kind, israel''s enemies take the time to rearm, reposition, then launch more attacks. there never will be peace in the middle east because it is most likely a religious war.

[whitewolf60]

IMHO, they''ve been fighting over there for SO long, they don''t know what they''re fighting about anymore! Just a buncha brain-dead idiots fighting for the sake of fighting.... *sheesh* And have you noticed there aren''t any WOMEN in the crowd? I think the WOMEN over there should stage a revolt againt the men, THROW ALL THE MEN OUT OF OFFICE and take over the government themselves.... THEN maybe something would get done!

[wardoglrs]

When Governments say thing''s like "Committed To" Mideast Peace. You can be sure that it is going to be a disaster just look at the past. Governments are a Ultimate Religion they surly fool the masses by the bucket load of fake money fake people fake promises
on and on and the people just keep returning to there own vomit every 4 yrs and the neo cons just laugh at you all

[pizzanick]

Aide: Obama "Committed To" Mideast Peace

CBS News at its finest. This headline is ridiculous. What alternative is there?

Aide: Obama "Committed to" Mideast WAR???

Besides, Obama already remarked, %u201CIf somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I%u2019m going to do everything in my power to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.%u201D He already tied his hands with this response. There is nothing to do at this point but to watch and see if it impacts any other areas of interest to the US.

[flsunjnky]

Yea, we know who we are dealing with...it is Bush. Check you calendar.

[downtowner97]

Remember Bush''s first week as president? A US spy plane had to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil. Bush responded by demanding the Chinese apologize.

[flsunjnky]

Do you know how much we owe the Chinese banks? Do you know what is going to happen to American if they recall the debt? Do you know who put us there?

[flsunjnky]

Haha! What world do you live in? Most of us know how we got here, I suppose you would say that he didn''t outsource American jobs too?

[jt_lancer]

FLSunJunky - ''I guess you would like to see another 4 years of deregulation.''

Name ONE thing that was ''deregulated'' under Bush? Neraly every Bush policy expanded the role of the state and increased govt involvement. He didn''t deregulate ANYTHING.

[flsunjnky]

Israel has the right and the responsibility to protect it''s citizens. It''s a done deal. I would suggest that Hamas stop their aggressive behavior. But, what does your comment have to do with this topic???