Mar 06 2009
Feltman, new state department official, reflects a different tone re Mideast
By Daoud Kuttab
The United States Middle East policy appears to be slowly but gradually changing. US officials are beginning a charm offensive following a successful four day tour in the region for the new secretary of state.
In a briefing by Jeffery Feltman the newly appointed Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, it was clear that Washington’s tone has changed. Feltman listed all the public steps taken by President Obama since his first days in office. He called Arab leaders in the region (including King Abdullah of Jordan and President Abbas of Palestine) even before calling some of America’s European’s allies. On his first visit outside the White House he visited the state department and announced the appointment of George Mitchell as his special envoy to the region. His first interview was with an the Arab satellite station, Al Arrabiya.
Following the briefing with the US diplomat, Jordanian columnist Jamil Nimri was quick to reflect “there is a new tone coming out of Washington. The new tone coming out of Washington was more than symbolism. The visiting US official repeatedly state that President Obama has made it clear to all that he is “result oriented.†Obama has publicly said that people in the Arab and Islamic world should evaluate him on his deeds and not just his words. Feltman repeated that the new administration is totally and completely focused on the two state solution.
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