Just What Are Presidential Assurances Worth These Days?

We’re going to have to be engaged and we’re going to have to be involved and we’re going to have to reach out. But I’m actually confident that 10 years from now we’re going to be able to look back potentially and say this was the dawning of an entirely new and better era.
President Obama to a group of Jewish leaders at the White House last Tuesday about the protests in the Middle East

Putting aside Obama's hedging--"we’re going to be able to look back potentially and say this was the dawning of an entirely new and better era"--I wonder what would be the point of such a comment?


Just what is supposed to be the source of Obama's confidence, which we assume is based on his knowledge and expertise?

We know that Obama had minimal experience and even less in the way of accomplishments when he was elected President.

We know that during the first 2 years of his term, Obama has had no unqualified success on the international scene.

If anything, we have seen events in the Middle East deteriorate:

• The Palestinian Arabs and Israel not talking
• Settlements--which were not a sticking point before and were supposed to be negotiated at a later point during talks have now become a major issue
• Iran has become more brazen
• Lebanon is under the control of Hezbollah
• The future of Egypt is uncertain, and will have a major impact both for Israel and the US
• The future of Libya is uncertain
• Prime Minister Cameron appears ready to fill the void created by Obama's lack of progress

So again--when Obama says:

I’m actually confident that 10 years from now we’re going to be able to look back potentially and say this was the dawning of an entirely new and better era.

What in the world is his basis for saying this?
And why should supporters of Israel find his words reassuring?

Technorati Tag: Obama and Middle East.