Question Mark Hovers Over the U.S.

It is beginning to dawn on some people that Barack Obama’s recent victory in passing his groundbreaking health-care bill has done more harm than good to the president’s ambitions in the Middle East, particularly on the Palestinian-Israeli front. Not surprisingly, American priorities in the region are moving elsewhere.

Obama’s health package was a heavy meal for the United States to digest, regardless of its merits or demerits. The legislation polarized attitudes in the country, at a time when Americans fear a heavier future tax burden because of the health bill, but also because of the massive rescue plan following the financial meltdown of 2008.