It’s good to be home. My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well-wishes we’ve received.
President Barack Obama. (Nam Y Huh, AP)
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Washington — 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 on Sunday in his final interview as president.
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. »
Keeping democracy healthy
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. »
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