Dan Riehl has the video:
The Beeb’s Middle East correspondent says,
It [the interview] will confuse some in the Middle East even further – in particular, perhaps, persuading Iran’s most senior leaders that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not perhaps the best man to counter the Obama appeal.
No More Miser Nice Blog points out that
George W. Bush gave interviews to Al-Arabiya in May 2004, January 2005, October 2005, October 2007, January 2008, and May 2008 — six interviews, which, as far as I can tell, is six more than Bush gave as president to MSNBC.
Bush was also interviewed on Al-Hurra in May 2004 (the media blitz at that moment was Abu Ghraib damage control) and January 2008.
All that said, it’ll be interesting to see what Obama means by
“…If America is ready to initiate a new partnership [with the Muslim world] based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.”
Right now George J. Mitchell, his special envoy for Middle East peace,
on the road until Feb. 3, according to the State Department. He will travel to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, France and England. He also hopes to go to Istanbul, the site of talks between Israel and Syria.
If, as prior Middle East “peace” missions have attempted, Mitchell is intent in negotiating peace by having Israel make more and more concessions, we all know how that’s going to turn out.
Update
Meanwhile, Al-Hopiyah, Al Changiyah!
The timing of this interview reveals a great deal as where his priorities lie. It’s fine to try and improve the US’s image in the world, but at this stage, should that be the main priority?
If Obama has success with any of this, it wii be because Bush and the US military and our “torturing” interrogators have laid one helluva foundation. They have done the bad cop part and now Mr. Smoothie tries to come in for the haul.
I forgot to say that I am certainly not convinced. He may pick up a few brownie points because he gives people a CYA excuse for a little more cooperation.