WASHINGTON: Even as Israelis and Palestinians plunged deeper into conflict, US President-elect Barack Obama remained silent, refusing to budge from his one-president-at-a-time mantra. Obama takes office on January 20 but has not commented on the Middle East crisis since Israel launched attacks on Gaza nine days ago. His advisers insist that only President George W Bush can speak for America until then.
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While most prominent US politicians have backed Israel, critics have noted that Obama joined Bush in condemning the killing of civilians in attacks in November in Mumbai, India. They would have liked him to say something about the fate of Palestinian civilians caught in the fighting. The president-elect also has commented on the global economic crisis and his plans to try to pull the US economy out of recession.
Asked about the apparent contradiction, an Obama transition aide who asked not to be named said on Sunday: “President Bush is our nation’s president until Jan. 20, and he is responsible for our nation’s diplomacy with the world.
“During this transition period, we are not engaging in any action that could send confusing signals to the world about who speaks on behalf of the United States.”
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Americas&month=January2009&file=World_News20090105389.xmlPersonally, I feel the Obama is correct not to speak out on this issue at this time. The time for him so speak is when he is President, and his administration is in place.