The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has expressed criticism and concern over specific statements and claims contained in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last week. Below is President Obama’s specific statements, followed by ZOA’s critique:

• “Today, the organization that      attacked us on 9/11 is a shadow of its former self. Different al      Qaeda affiliates and extremist groups have emerged – from the Arabian      Peninsula to Africa.  The threat these groups pose is evolving.       But to meet this threat, we don’t need to send tens of thousands of our      sons and daughters abroad, or occupy other nations. Instead, we will      need to help countries like Yemen, Libya, and Somalia provide for their      own security, and help allies who take the fight to terrorists, as we have      in Mali.  And, where necessary, through a range of capabilities, we      will continue to take direct action against those terrorists who pose the      gravest threat to Americans” [ZOA: Although President Obama correctly      admits that al-Qaeda groups are appearing in new places across the Middle      East and North Africa, he wrongly insists that it is “a shadow of its      former self.” However, not only is it on the rise, but it has been      strengthened by Obama Administration policies – such as assisting the      Muslim Brotherhood into power in Egypt, where other Islamist groups,      including al-Qaeda, have been strengthened. The Obama Administration’s has      assisted the rise of political Islamists in elections in Egypt, Tunisia      and Libya. Libya is filled with al-Qaeda affiliates and other Islamist      groups, many of which have gotten their hands on the weaponry of the      former Gaddafi regime. Al-Qaeda is growing in strength in Egypt’s Sinai      and in Yemen. The terrorists in Mali, who were gunning down people in the      streets and torching the town hall and libraries with priceless manuscripts      in Timbuktu last month, are in large part affiliates of al-Qaeda. A      portion of the rebels in full-scale hostilities with the Syrian      dictatorship to take over in Damascus are al-Qaeda-linked groups. To say      that al-Qaeda is a “shadow of its former self.” is demonstrably wrong and      misleading].

• “America will continue to lead      the effort to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous weapons …      the leaders of Iran must recognize that now is the time for a diplomatic      solution, because a coalition stands united in demanding that they meet      their obligations, and we will do what is necessary to prevent them from      getting a nuclear weapon” [ZOA: Worryingly, President Obama did not      spell out what he would do if Iranians fail to “meet their obligations.”      For his first year in office, President Obama prevented Congress passing      any sanctions against Iran. He subsequently watered down Congressional      sanctions, sought to delay their passage and, when they had passed,      delayed implementing them. UN Security Council sanctions passed with U.S.      advocacy contained many loopholes for countries like Russia and China,      thereby minimizing their potential effectiveness. In short, President      Obama gave no reason to think that the strategy of seeking to stop Iran by      a combination of diplomatic effort and sanctions has been effective. He      also outlined no new steps he would take in order to stop Iran].

• “In defense of freedom, we      will remain the anchor of strong alliances from the Americas to Africa;      from Europe to Asia.  In the Middle East, we will stand with citizens      as they demand their universal rights, and support stable transitions to      democracy.  The process will be messy, and we cannot presume to      dictate the course of change in countries like Egypt; but we can – and      will – insist on respect for the fundamental rights of all people.       We will keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own      people, and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every      Syrian.  And we will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of      security and a lasting peace.  These are the messages I will deliver      when I travel to the Middle East next month” [ZOA: President Obama      says that the U.S. cannot dictate the course of change in countries like      Egypt but in 2011, he did just that by insisting that the Mubarak      government step aside “now” and that elections in this deeply repressive      society be held immediately and that they involve “non-secular actors” –      meaning the Muslim Brotherhood. This greatly assisted the ascendancy of      the Muslim Brotherhood, a viciously anti-Jewish, anti-American anti-Israel      Islamist organization that promotes jihad and seeks to end the      Egyptian/Israeli peace treaty. As mentioned earlier, the Obama      Administration’s has helped the rise of political Islamists in Egypt,      Tunisia and Libya. Not only has this not secured the rights of the peoples      in question, but the region has become far more dangerous for the U.S. and      its ally Israel].