At His First United Nations General Assembly, President Obama’s Plate Filled with Hearty Fare
EmailPresident Obama had quite a full plate today — trying to save the planet, lift up the impoverished continent of Africa, avoid a trade war in China, and of course bring peace to the Middle East.
Climate change was first on the president's agenda this morning.
"The security and stability of each nation and all peoples, our prosperity, our health and our safety are in jeopardy," Obama said at today’s summit on climate change.
There was lofty language, but it remained unclear what actions would be taken by the two nations that emit the most greenhouse gases — the U.S. and China.
The Democrats' climate change legislation is stacked up in the Senate behind health care reform.
And while Chinese president Hu Jintao said his country would cut carbon dioxide emissions by a "notable margin" by 2020, he was vague on the details — none of which bodes well for the global climate change agreement set for December.
"I'm here to say that difficulty is no excuse for complacency, unease is no excuse for inaction, and we must not allow the perfect to become the enemy of progress," Obama said.
Next up is a lunch with the leaders of Sub-Saharan Africa and then an issue where progress is glacial at best — the Middle East.
In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mr. Obama expressed impatience with the Palestinians for not doing enough to stop inciting violence, and with Israelis for not taking enough steps to halt the construction of settlements on Palestinian territory.
"Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations. It is time to move forward. It is time to show the flexibility and common sense and sense of compromise that's necessary to achieve our goals," Obama said.
By mid-afternoon, it was time to ward off a trade war with China.
Earlier this month the U.S. imposed tariffs of up to 35 percent on Chinese tires and China has started taking action against imports of U.S. auto parts and poultry. A senior administration official reported that no progress was made on resolving the dispute.
Tomorrow the president 's day doesn't get any easier — the president will address the entire UN, meet with Russia President Dmitri Medvedev, and host an event with the countries contributing the most UN troops to Afghanistan.
Watch my World News report HERE.
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Meanwhile, he’s got goys dying in Afghanistan while he sits for three weeks on a request from the field for more resources.
The top US military officer in Afghanistan has ordered his forces out of sparsely populated areas where American troops have fought bloody battles with the Taliban for several years and is redeploying them to protecting major Afghan population centres, reports said yesterday.The strategy shift, which amounts to a retreat from some areas, has drawn resistance from senior Afghan officials…
When is the Commander-in-chief going to start leading?
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | September 22, 2009, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
…he’s got *guys* dying…
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | September 22, 2009, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm
Hmm… considering the fact that Obama started the trade war with China in order to pay back one of his favored labor unions… he needs to practice what he is so fond of preaching to everyone else.
Impatient over a 5000 years of friction between the Arabs and the Jews? My, my, my… not much of a student of history is he? Ooops, he already proved that one in numerous speeches..
Ok, ok… snark off.
Posted by: SjB | September 22, 2009, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
“When is the Commander-in-chief going to start leading?”
_________________________________
More noise from the one-note right wing symphony. Yawn . ..
Posted by: tierra | September 22, 2009, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
IF OBAMA WILL NOT ADD MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN AS REQUESTED, HE NEEDS TO PULL EVERYONE OUT…… NOW!!!! OF COURSE THAT WILL ALSO MEAN THE LOSS OF PAKISTAN. DUH!!
Posted by: Temagami | September 22, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IS LEADING US. LEADING US ON A ONE WAY TRIP SOUTH!! FAILED IDEAS THAT ARE GOING TO FAIL AGAIN. AND WHILE THAT IS GOING ON WE ARE REALLY GETTING RIPE FOR MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS. BUSH KEPT THE BAD GUYS AWAY. LOOKS LIKE THAT ERA HAS COME TO AN END. BOY WERE WE EVER SUCKERS. “08″ VOTERS LED LIKE SHEEP BY THE NEWS MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA AND ACADEMIA. AND OF COURSE THAT FAMILY VALUES GROUP….ACORN!!
Posted by: Temagami | September 22, 2009, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
I think Obama is doing a wonderful job, while he is meeting world leaders, bush and the republicans are working on a propaganda to divide the country led by their favourite cable “Fox News” and Rush the big balloon. Comments already made above are obviously those that lost in the election, take it on the chin….your boy lost..
Posted by: John | September 23, 2009, 3:31 am 3:31 am
2009 Apology Tour
U.N. Style
I’m sure his plate is full!
Meanwhile our country goes to hell in a handbag while he rubs noses with despots from under the world carpet. S-W-E-E-T!!!
When is he going to drop the Campaign Drive and do the business at hand?
Someone wanna tell Barry America is drowning because of him?
Posted by: American Infidel | September 23, 2009, 6:01 am 6:01 am
Shame on each and everyone of you Obama attackers, I can only see twisted, embittered hypocrites behind their monitors who still cannot stand the idea of a colored president. Obama is a great leader, a hard-working, smart passionate man, who will be remembered by history the way Washington and Lincoln are. And what you do not know that the populations of the other 191 nations wish to have him as a leader. I know my own people do. You guys are so brain-washed you do not know how lucky you are to witness this man’s era.
And need I remind you that the Afghanistan war you are holding him reponsible for its mess is initiated by your good old Bush. I wish you will be fair enough to acknowlege that this man is your last chance to fix the centuries accumulated messes. So count your blessing instead of spreading hate and bias. If ever this guy was to be attacked by another Osborne you should know that each and everyone should be condemned for inticing him.
Posted by: Shereen | September 23, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
I’m glad to see climate change was on the top of his agenda. I just wish that the US Senate could see it the same way. After Health Insurance reform is done, hopefully tackling climate change is next on the agenda! Our Senators should pass the clean energy bill with a carbon cap.
Posted by: PJ88 | September 23, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am
American Infidel:
We tried it your way and YOUR way is what caused this country to go down the tubes. You had 12 years in Congress and 8 years of the presidency. Next election, let the adults handle it from now on.
Posted by: JV | September 23, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm