Wednesday, January 13, 2016

I sincerely believe the Arab Nations are not feeling abandoned by the USA.

13 January 2016
By Agencies

Washington: US President Barack Obama (click here) flayed Republican presidential candidates for anti-Muslim rhetoric and accused critics on Tuesday of playing into the hands of Daesh in his last State of the Union speech to Congress before leaving office next year.
In a direct slap at Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, Obama said insulting Muslims hurt the United States and “betrayed” its identity.
“When politicians insult Muslims ... that doesn’t make us safer,” he said, drawing applause from the crowd in the House of Representatives chamber. “It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals.”
Referring to Daesh, Obama said: “Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks and twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages, they pose an enormous danger to civilians and must be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence.” 


Our Arab allies were just as worried about the Americans in Iran as anyone else. I am sure it was a difficult time for the sailors. They did very well in being patient with diplomacy to bring about their return.

Our Arab allies are more familiar with the USA than Iran has been. The diplomacy with Iran only started with the Obama Administration. I am sure trust will increase the longer Iran has exposure to the US State Department. 

13 January 2016

Less than a day after 10 US Navy sailors (click here) were detained in Iran when their boats drifted into Iranian waters, they and their vessels were back safely Wednesday with the American fleet.

US Secretary of State John Kerry tapped the personal relationship he has formed with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif in the three years of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, speaking with him at least five times by telephone. Kerry credited the quick resolution to the “critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country secure and strong.”

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter thanked Kerry after the sailors’ release and couched the incident in humanitarian terms, noting that “the US Navy routinely provides assistance to foreign sailors in distress.”

For Tehran, the Americans’ swift release was a way to neutralize a potential new flashpoint days before it was expected to meet the terms of last summer’s nuclear deal, which will give Iran significant relief from painful economic sanctions....