last White House interview

Obama speaks on Israel, Trump

The increase of Israeli settlements has “gotten so substantial” that it is inhibiting the possibility for an “effective, contiguous Palestinian state,” President Barack Obama said Sunday, in his final interview as president, reports AP from Washington.
Speaking to CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Obama dismissed the idea that there is a “major rupture” in the relationship between the United States and Israel after last month’s decision by the US to abstain from a United Nations vote condemning Israeli settlements.
“Because of our investment in the region, and because we care so deeply about Israel, I think (the US) has a legitimate interest in saying to a friend, ‘This is a problem,’” Obama said. “It would have long-term consequences for peace and security in the region, and the United States.”
The outgoing president reflected on his legacy and his biggest challenges during his eight years in office during the hourlong interview. A number of his policies  from health care to his contentious relationship with Israel  could be short-lived as President-elect Donald Trump becomes the 45th president later this week and vows to reverse some of those policies.

Trump has been vocal about his disapproval of many of Obama’s policies, often voicing his disagreement or engaging in public disputes with the president on Twitter. 
Most recently, Trump lashed out over hypothetical comments Obama made that he would beat Trump if they ran against each other in a general election.
Over the holidays, Trump accused Obama of throwing up “inflammatory” roadblocks during the transition of power and his administration of treating Israel with “total disdain.”
Obama acknowledged it’s been an “unusual” transition, adding, “I suspect the president-elect would agree with that.”
“We are moving into an era where a lot of people get their information through tweets and soundbites and some headline that comes over their phone,” the president said. “There’s a power in that. There’s also a danger  what generates a headline or stirs up a controversy and gets attention isn’t the same as the process required to actually solve the problem.”
He warned people not to “underestimate the guy” and urged congressional Republicans and Trump supporters around the country to be sure “that as we go forward, certain norms, certain institutional traditions don’t get eroded, because there’s a reason they’re in place.”
Obama said there needs to be a focus on “making sure that our democracy stays healthy, and making sure that we maintain that sense of solidarity.”
With that, he said he’s been “disturbed” about intelligence reports over Russia hacking the US election.
“I have been concerned about the degree to which, in some circles, you’ve seen people suggest that Vladimir Putin has more credibility than the US government,” he said. “You’re not going to be able to make good decisions without building some relationship of trust between yourself and that community.”
Obama also reflected on his approach to the civil war in Syria, as it approaches its sixth year with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced around the world.
The president acknowledged that his “red line” declaration about the use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government wasn’t in his 2012 speech and that he didn’t have to use those words. 
They later prompted harsh criticism, since the US did not follow through on the threat.
“I would have, I think, made a bigger mistake if I had said, ‘Eh, chemical weapons. That doesn’t really change my calculus,’” he said. “And regardless of how it ended up playing, I think, in the Beltway, what is true is Assad got rid of his chemical weapons.”

last White House interview

Obama speaks on Israel, Trump

The increase of Israeli settlements has gotten so substantial that it is inhibiting the possibility for an effective, contiguous Palestinian state, President Barack Obama said Sunday, in his final interview as president, reports AP from Washington. Speaking to CBS 60 Minutes, Obama dismissed the idea that there is a major rupture in the relationship between the United States and Israel after last months decision by the US to abstain from a United Nations vote condemning Israeli settlements. Because of our investment in the region, and because we care so deeply about Israel, I think (the US) has a legitimate interest in saying to a friend, This is a problem, Obama said. It would have long-term consequences for peace and security in the region, and the United States. The outgoing president reflected on his legacy and his biggest challenges during his eight years in office during the hourlong interview. A number of his policies fromhealth care to his contentious relationship with Israel could be short-lived as President-elect Donald Trump becomes the 45th president later this week and vows to reverse some of those policies. Trump has been vocal about his disapproval of many of Obamas policies, often voicing his disagreement or engaging in public disputes with the president on Twitter. Most recently, Trump lashed out over hypothetical comments Obama made that he would beat Trump if they ran against each other in a general election. Over the holidays, Trump accused Obama of throwing up inflammatory roadblocks during the transition of power and his administration of treating Israel with total disdain. Obama acknowledged its been an unusual transition, adding, I suspect the president-elect would agree with that. We are moving into an era where a lot of people get their information through tweets and soundbites and some headline that comes over their phone, the president said. Theres a power in that. Theres also a danger what generates a headline or stirs up a controversy and gets attention isnt the same as the process required to actually solve the problem. He warned people not to underestimate the guy and urged congressional Republicans and Trump supporters around the country to be sure that as we go forward, certain norms, certain institutional traditions dont get eroded, because theres a reason theyre in place. Obama said there needs to be a focus on making sure that our democracy stays healthy, and making sure that we maintain that sense of solidarity. With that, he said hes been disturbed about intelligence reports over Russia hacking the US election. I have been concerned about the degree to which, in some circles, youve seen people suggest that Vladimir Putin has more credibility than the US government, he said. Youre not going to be able to make good decisions without building some relationship of trust between yourself and that community. Obama also reflected on his approach to the civil war in Syria, as it approaches its sixth year with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced around the world. The president acknowledged that his red line declaration about the use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Assads government wasnt in his 2012 speech and that he didnt have to use those words. They later prompted harsh criticism, since the US did not follow through on the threat. I would have, I think, made a bigger mistake if I had said, Eh, chemical weapons. That doesnt really change my calculus, he said. And regardless of how it ended up playing, I think, in the Beltway, what is true is Assad got rid of his chemical weapons.