Obama’s first call to a foreign leader: the PA’s Mahmoud Abbas
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Abbas, you will recall, is “moderate” in the eyes of the world because he wants to destroy Israel more slowly than Hamas does.
Another from our Not An Auspicious Beginning file: “President Obama’s first call ‘was to President Abbas,'” by Tom Baldwin in the Times, via JW
“Closing Guantanamo Bay presents a clear and present danger to all Americans”
ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: President Obama is facing growing criticism from Republicans over hisorder to close the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with his decision to fulfill a well-known campaign pledge bringing an early test of his promised bipartisan cooperation.
A group of House Republicans quickly filed a bill that would prohibit federal courts from ordering the transfer or release of Guantanamo detainees into the U.S.
“Closing Guantanamo Bay presents a clear and present danger to all Americans,” said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
*Â Expect little help on Guantanamo inmates: German minister
*Â Obama begins ‘new era of responsibility’ /hysterical laughter ensues…
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama Thursday ordered the closing of Guantanamo prison and may start naming troubleshooters for world hot spots like the Middle East and Iran as he moves swiftly to repair America’s tarnished image abroad.
More from Reuters: Obama orders Guantanamo shut
* Hamas: “We ain’t buying any Hope ‘n change”
*Â Obama vows he’ll ‘aggressively’ seek Middle East peace (Let’s throw the Jew down the well..”)