Belmont Club

In giving his speech the president may have done three things, none of which he quite intended. First, he has essentially denounced as evil and misguided, though in a lukewarm fashion, decades of American policy in the Middle East. Second, he has delegitimized Israel, at least within the context of its current borders. Third, he has by implication suggested that the rule of many of his allies is undemocratic and, in consequence, declared himself King of Arabia.  He has assumed ultimate responsibility for the political development of the region now. He’s declared it broken. Now he owns it.

Can these blunders be nullified?