[CitizensTruth] Gaza strikes challenge for Obama

[Edward Rynearson]

Gaza strikes challenge for Obama  
 
By Tom Ackerman in Washington DC
 
The violence in Gaza will be one of Obama's top challenges when he takes office [Reuters] 
 
While the Gaza Strip erupted at the weekend Barack Obama remained in holiday mode in Hawaii, sticking to his regular gym routine and otherwise relaxing.

The military action comes just three weeks before Obama is sworn in as president and poses a great challenge for a man who has promised to work for Middle East peace from his first day in office.

But although the president-elect has received briefings on the situation, David Axelrod, Obama’s top political adviser, said it would be inappropriate for the incoming chief executive to comment while George Bush is still president.

Nevertheless, he said Obama stood by his defence of Israeli actions when he visited the southern town of Sderot last July, a frequent target of Hamas rockets.

"He said then that when bombs are raining down on your citizens there is an urge to respond and act to put an end to that," Axelrod told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday.

"That's what he said then, and that’s what he believes."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/12/200812291463395447.html