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THE UNITED NATIONS -- President Barack Obama today urged Arab nations undergoing radical changes to commit to democracy and tolerance, which he said were not exclusively American or Western values but ones to which all successful nations must adhere.
He made his speech here at the United Nations General Assembly against a backdrop of spiking violence in the Middle East and a domestic election with a newfound focus on foreign policy.
On Tuesday, President Obama spoke to the United Nations general assembly in an emotional speech about the recent violence against Americans. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Standing in front of the Assembly's familiar green marble, the president condemned the violent reaction across several Arab nations to a video featuring the prophet Mohammed that led to the deaths of U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three others.
But he said that in order to end such bloodshed, new leaders must support the principles of freedom and self-determination, which Obama called “universal values” -- no matter how tempting the thought of clamping down on protests or funneling anger towards a foreign target.
President Obama addresses the United Nations General Assembly, spotlighting the Arab Spring's impact while calling on world leaders to resist the temptations of cracking down on dissidence and harboring extremists.
“True democracy -- real freedom -- is hard work,” he said. “Those in power have to resist the temptation to crack down on dissent. In hard economic times, countries may be tempted to rally the people around perceived enemies, at home and abroad, rather than focusing on the painstaking work of reform.”
The president, who has been criticized by Republican presidential opponent Mitt Romney for not responding to the protests against the video forcefully enough, noted that real change would not come just through putting “more guards in front of an embassy or to put out statements of regret.”
He added that leaders must respect freedom of speech, noting that while millions of Americans took offense to the anti-Muslim video, censuring such expression would be futile in today’s information age, and responding with violence was unacceptable.
“In 2012, at a time when anyone with a cell phone can spread offensive views around the world with the click of a button, the notion that we can control the flow of information is obsolete. The question, then, is how we respond. And on this we must agree: There is no speech that justifies mindless violence."
Former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is a Romney campaign surrogate, joins The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd to talk about foreign policy and the differing views between Obama and Romney on it.
And Obama said that just as all nations should respect Muslim traditions, the inverse must also be true.
“The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam. Yet to be credible, those who condemn that slander must also condemn the hate we see when the image of Jesus Christ is desecrated, churches are destroyed, or the Holocaust is denied.”
He continued, quoting Gandhi: ‘Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit,’” he said, garnering applause at the last line.
Don Emmert / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama delivers his address during the 67th United Nations General Assembly meeting August 25 at the United Nations in New York.
As he prescribed broad solutions for the entire Middle East, the president also gave his vision for specific conflict-ridden countries, though he did not offer any new policies or changes to existing ones.
Obama said he was committed to stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “The United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he said.
And he repeated his call for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down, one year after he stood before the same assembly to urge U.N. Security Council sanctions against the country, which members China and Russia are still blocking.
He also reaffirmed his vision for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “The road is hard but the destination is clear -- a secure, Jewish state of Israel; and an independent, prosperous Palestine.”
While the president shied away from overtly political rhetoric, he did tout what he perceives as his accomplishments in foreign policy, an area seen as his strong suit but one which Romney has been increasingly critical.
“The war in Iraq is over, and our troops have come home. We have begun a transition in Afghanistan, and America and our allies will end our war on schedule in 2014. Al Qaeda has been weakened and Osama bin Laden is no more. Nations have come together to lock down nuclear materials, and America and Russia are reducing our arsenals.”
And the president urged listeners to put aside “political debates” and focus not on what divides the world but unites it.
“When you strip that all away, people everywhere long for the freedom to determine their destiny; the dignity that comes with work; the comfort that comes from faith; and the justice that exists when governments serve their people -- and not the other way around,” he said.
“The United States of America will always stand up for these aspirations, for our own people, and all across the world.”
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I watched the whole speech . Iran should choose a course to peace . In case you folks got a different VIBE . President Obama just put Iran on notice .
Wow, Odumbo put Iran on notice! I'm sure that they are shaking in their boots! Carney and Gibbs say that Odumbo is a pussy and a jellyfish, and is just a useless fixture in the white house! NO ONE is afraid of this BOZO!
So you want Myth Robme in there to get all "chicken hawk" with minimal evidence and start a nuclear war? There's a bump in the road for ya.
Mr. Obama's speech was a good balance of carrot and stick on all the issues he addressed. One of these times he puts Iran on notice will be the last time and talk will end.
Of course we could offer them Thorium power reactors, that cannot feed a weapons program, and see if they will show some sense.
We have a wimp for president and the world is laughing
How many terrorists have been taken out under this President unlike George Bush's victims who were innocent victims.
If Bush had not been focused on killing innocent people he could have and should have taken him out several years ago. No matter how few that have been taken out br Obama they cannot compare to the 100,000 taken out by Bush. You do understand 100,000 right?
With the world in crisis, Obama does not have time to meet with foreign leaders at their requests; but Obama does have time to appear on a mindless show like 'The View'. And where was Obama when our ambassador and 3 other Americans were massacred on American soil in Libya? Fundraising again! Where is your outrage America?! OBAMA FUNDRAISES AS LIBYA BURNS! This shows the true face of the anti-god, Marxist, Muslim Obama and the nature of his Liberal Democratic supporters who also hate America. Obama tells United Nations that 'Muslims have suffered the most at the hands of extremism'. I do not know of one such incident; but history is replete with atrocities by Obama's Islamist friends. Further, Obama hid these atrocities from the American people by directing the State Department to remove the sections covering religious freedom from the Country Reports on Human Rights released on May 24. However, the 2012 report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom does take note of the Arab Spring.
-- In 2011, in Egypt, Coptic Christians were among 25 people massacred during a demonstration over an Islamist attack on a church.
-- In the month of January 2012 alone, the Islamist group Boko Haram was responsible for 54 deaths in Nigeria – 42 of them Catholics killed at church on Christmas Day. In 2011, it killed more than 500 people and burned down or destroyed more than 350 churches in 10 northern states of Nigeria.
Myth Robme is also fund raising while Libya burns, who're you foolin'?
No, Icantbeliveyou..., Mr Obama had to actively manage and direct and improve and fund that which W "put in place". Show some sense, and stop such a juvenile phantasy that complex policies just run themselves on "auto-pilot". Silly argument.
" Whatever It Takes " In diplo speak means Keep pushing fool , we will stop you . That was said in front of the U.N. . the stance just got a little clearer . Suit up boys n girls . we going places .
Yeah, I can sure see why the Repubs are lighting up the President with foreign policy criticism. Did you hear the remarks he made to the UN today? What a SNOB! How UNREASONABLE! Why make speeches, when America should just roll into Syria and Libya with TANKS! Show 'em who's BOSS! Right, conservatives? Yeah, that's it!
MIKE, great idea. As long as we don't send THEIR KIDS to do the bleeding and dying. You would have thought that after the ten year debacle that was Iraq, these goons would have learned a little something about war not always being the answer but no, that would be hoping for too much.
Most of the International "Experts" in Romney's camp are retreads from Dubya's administration. The same Neo Cons with the same tired, worn out theories that have been proven so disasterly wrong. Dan Senor, the genius who made excuses for the Iraq debacle is back at it again.
We cannot win a war in the Middle East. We spent 10 years fighting in Iraq to built a nation that is a good friend to Iran now. What else do you people need to see that we do not need any more Middle East wars.
Agree these people have been killing each other since day one why should we stop them let get our people out and our money.
Sorry "myth " lovers . watch and see , RobME , just became a little more Irrelevant . Hide and watch . @ Prog . I do not see us rebuilding that . This time .
Can you use a bigger Font and try Italic's with your bold . It makes your argument MUCH more believable .
Sure JIMMY, you sound like a real objective and intellectual observer. Your say so is good enough for me.
You want a coalition? What, to start another shooting war? Haven't had enough after Bush's disasters, eh buddy??? Obama has plenty to be arrogant about, Dubya, not so much.
There was a coalition for the 1st war with Iraq and that didn't work out very well either.
Exactly whose side is Obama on??
On Saturday, a Pakistani government minister announced a $100,000 bounty for the killing of an American citizen, and Obama has remained silent.
It's been almost four days now. What is he waiting for? Is he hoping that if he ignores it long enough, people will just forget? By ignoring it Obama is saying to the world that "Oh, we don't really believe in free speech - that's just part of our silly Constitution. We are much more concerned about Muslim paranoia."
We desperately need a President, like Mitt Romney, who has a clear idea of what this country stands for, and is willing to express it. Romney would never have let this much time go by without responding to a death threat against any US citizen. Obama is a coward.
Yes, we desperately need a president like Mitt Romney, another tough talking Republican who is in reality, just another shameless draft dodger. Your party seems to have a real affinity for them.
What do you propose Obama do to Pakistan? We have an extremely tenuous "friendship" with them. It was no different under Bush. Did you bitch half as much when they where allowing Taliban to stay on the Pakistan side of the border?? No, you didn't, did you. You just like beating up on Obama, regardless of what he does.
Maybe he shouldn't have run an apologetic commercial on Pakistani TV.
Maybe he should have made a public statement about that Pakistani Minister's $1 Mil. bounty.
Maybe he should have stop payment on Pakistan's Foreign Aid.
Or perhaps just a simple statement at the UN, like "A founding principle of the United States is that our citizens have the right to express themselves, even if their message is offensive. When one of our citizens is threatened by an official of a foreign power, our country is threatened. We will not condone such a threat!"
What is the purpose of responding to that? If he did respond you would just say he is not acting presidential. He does not need to respond and there is not anyone interested on trying to appease people like you.
Obama: Failure around the world and America.
See ya! on Nov. 2012.
What shows will Obama be booked on this week while the Middle East preaches hate to America. Something Obama knows a lot about.
Obama is the biggest threat America has ever had.
If what the people in the Middle East say bothers you don't listen to them. Very simple solution.
prog.1 - If what a moronic film maker says bothers you, you don't watch his film. Very simple solution.
Obama has much more support from world leaders than Bush did. Have you forgot some wanted to try Bush for a war criminal.
In the past 4 years America has lost most of it's ALLIES and has no respect arouund the world.
Thanks Obama.
Bush lost most of our allies haven't you noticed most of those countries did not appreciate his lies about Iraq and his threatening of their countries. Most Western Europe countries have finally learned that war is counter productive.
American's have the choice to move forward with a proven winner (Romney)
or stay in the destruction of America, the economy and jobs with a President that Hates America & Americans.
What Obama has done to this country is not by accident. You can't do this much damage to a Country in only 3 years without American People seeing It is by design.
This is the Obama plan for America.. Do all the damage he can.
Obama must go on Nov. 2012.
From the way it is looking now the majority of the country will be voting for him again.
PROG1..... The surprise is yours!! The majority IS NOT Voting for Obama.... unless you buy into the heavily scewed polls that weight votes in record numbers as in 2008, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE in 2012! PEOPLE are NOT ENTHUSED, and now KNOW the real obama! The 2008 fluke will NOT BE REPEATED!
It is said “never attribute to malice, that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” So I should probably just chalk it up to Obama's incompetence. Nevertheless, I have a nagging suspicion that it is deliberate on Obama's part. I believe he wants irrational, unthinking, us-against-them, support from his followers, rather than rational discussion among all the people.
Obama is in desperation mode and pandering to the illegal’s and welfare crowd.
That's all he has left..
America hates him and he knows it.
WOW! the article was on Obama's dismal performance at the UN and most of these posts are bashing Romney! The people with that mindset, CAN NEVER STAY ON MESSAGE! .....and these are the posts who are supporting Obama! Obama can't stay on topic, because it is about the economy and poor leadership here and abroad... he has NO accomplished record to run on, so he has to go off message and try to distract and devert! Additionally, Iran's prime minister is HITLER reincarnated, swearing to anialate Israel and the jewish people, and Obama is Neville Chamberlain reincarnated! Neville Chamberlain sold out as prime minister of England to apease Hitler and thought,mistakenly, that it would keep England from invaison.... history has shown US, how that turned out!!! LIKEWISE, Obama has sold out to Iran's clone of Hitler, in an attempt to "be their friends" and to join hands and sing Kumbihah! *******NO ONE with a funtional brain and thought process will vote to retain Obama and ALL THE FAILURES HE STANDS FOR! *********
Good Post Eric.
NBC always post a story that will get the looney Liberals into a licking frenzy.
It's all Obama has left.
They know he is finished on Nov. 6, 2012.
Obama was to busy with Moo chell today on the View to meet with world leaders.
Is this the Obama downfall or what.
Thanks for your support of Romney/Ryan PreMr. Obama.
Keep doing nothing for America.
Nov. 6, 2012 is getting close and your finished.
I really think he should "Use his favorite and most effective Foreign Policy...Lead from Behind...It just intimidates our enemies and brings so much of the World Respect we are looking for...What do you guys think?
America's Leader and Our Future:
Romney - Business man
Romney - Business Leader
Romney - Business Smart
Romney - Good Family man
Romney - Knows how to create Jobs
Romney - Will put people back to work.
Romney - Will repeal Obama care
Romney Plan - Will get America back in the right direction, by cutting taxes,
creating jobs and cleaning out the lying fraud in the WH.
Romney – someone America can trust.
Lucky, you forgot Romney- Blithering Idiot!
"When you have a fire in an aircraft, there’s no place to go, exactly, there’s no -- and you can’t find any oxygen from outside the aircraft to get in the aircraft, because the windows don’t open. I don’t know why they don’t do that. It’s a real problem." -Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney made a joke about not having "roll down windows on airplanes." The audience that heard the joke roared with laughter. Apparently, the Democrats here are a lot stupider than Mitt's Republican audience.
You know, ICan't, I would be flattered if weren't for the sad fact you mean nothing to me.
And Kannin, nobody was laughing when Mitt made his asinine comment, least of all Mitt.
Once again Sailcat, you have embarrassed yourself in public. I would feel sorry for you, but I know you will ignore proof to the contrary and keep posting exactly the same propaganda.
The Los Angeles Times story that relayed Romney’s airplane remark to the world was based off a pool report written by the New York Times‘s Ashley Parker. When Parker was asked whether it seemed as if Romney made the mark in jest, she left no doubt. “Romney was joking,” she e-mailed. William Everitt, vice president of Investment Real Estate Associates (IREA), was at the Romney fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Saturday. He said Romney was absolutely joking when he said he doesn‘t know why airplane windows don’t open.
“Basically he was retelling the story and when he said ‘I don’t know why they don’t have roll down windows on airplanes,’ he looked at the audience and everyone laughed. It was a clearly delivered joke…There were 1,000 people there that will tell you the same thing.”
Really? Because the article itself said nothing at all about it being a joke. So that would mean your truth comes in the form of tweets and emails, while the rest of us get our information from newspapers. Very nice.
Here are four articles that specifically mention the quote, including the article from the LA Times, and not one says, "Ha! He was just joking!"
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-romney-beverly-hills-fundraiser-20120922,0,2317962.story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/mitt-romney/9564529/Mitt-Romney-why-dont-aeroplane-windows-open.html
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/09/24/899441/romney-plane-windows/
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/09/romney-wonders-why-airplane-windows-dont-open.html
You never seem to get embarrassed by your posts. Are you numbed from all of the alcohol you drink or have you just stopped caring?
I guess it just proves that there truly is a media Bias.......Thanks for your help there Sailcat....
Hey Sailcat...I think it is embarassing for you to post that you actually think any adult would think there are roll down windows in a plane....
Here is another one for you...I hope i didnt ruin this for your parents...
The Easter Bunny is not real!!!! My god the things that are said on here are Pathetic!!!
Hey Mike, given the asinine things that Romney has been repeatedly saying, I am quite sure he is capable of thinking aircraft windows would roll down. I am not so concerned about Mitt, though, because he is going to lose the election: I more worried about the mentally deficient bottom feeders like you who would actually waste your votes on him.
And, by the way, there is no media bias in quoting Mitt when he opens his mouth to drop such gems as this one:
"When you give a speech you don't go through a laundry list. You talk about the things you think are important." —Mitt Romney, when asked about failing to mention the troops in his nomination speech at the Republican National Convention, Fox News interview, Sept. 7, 2012
Mitt Romney is the candidate you deserve, Mike. A loser.
Hey SailCat ... and Obama is a winner ?
He has time to talk to the Woman on the View about his feelings rather than spending his time at the U.N talking face to face with the Leaders of the World...about the largest U.S Foreign Policy blunder in over a Decade..Yea he is not only a Loser but a Jack ASS! I am sure his "Lead From Behind" Foreign Policy is really intimidating our enemies..Lets see you are upset with Romney for not mentioning troops in his Nomination Speech ...but you are ok with a White House Cover up on Libya ??? Really what world do you live in? Look at your Posts ....they are rediculous!! AGAIN ..YOU JUST DEFENDED YOUR stupid comment again about an adult not knowing if a Plane has roll down windows or not..You really believe thaT?? Cmon now railcat unless your a little kid ..you have some growing up to do. Again I can easily say if you actually believe that stupid ass statement ..you really can be the only person in The United states that would think that...but i am guessing from your goofy posts ..that really may have found the dumbest person alive.....Hey Sailcat ..Christmas is coming make sure you are good for SANTA..BYE BYE NOW...
First, no president in 20 years has visited the UN and spoken directly to heads of state. Why hold Obama to a different standard? The rest of your post appears to be generally incoherent childish name calling. Are you upset because your candidate is failing? You'll get over it in November when your president is reelected, trust me.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html
Loser.
Yes ..,. The Administartion had 12 meetings with the Heads of state in the meetings last year. You are wrong !! That information came derectly from the Administration..Again you really have no substance......
Please Sail Cat ...tell everybody again how you think the Founder of Staples thinks there are roll down windows on a Plane ...and you believe that.....
Cmon ...show everybody how smart you are Please!!!!....
By the way ...the President had 13 Bi-lateral meetings with other World Leaders at the Un Last year instead of airing his feelings out on the View...
Goodness, Mikey! Have I humiliated you so badly on this site that you would beg me to do it again? Your self esteem must be at least as low as your IQ! Lower, even!
And your failed candidate has said so many stupid things, not only is he going to lose this election, but nobody believes him when he says, "Ha! Just Joking!" I bet you have the same problem, too, loser. Right?
Thanks SailCat...I am so humiliated...I would prefer you to keep posting it...
Oh..yea..again ,...Obama had 13 Bi-lateral meetings at the U.N last year with World Leaders...
I am sure you missed that part.
By the way SailCat ..i dont find you to be a loser ..probably should not have insiuated that your dumb...you are obviously not... I disagree with Posts insinuating something that is not true ...and then continuing to pass it off as if it is true. That is my objection to the post..only...If you like where the Country is heading ..that is the freedom you have. Take care ...not out to hate people because the politically disagree..
P.S I am just as much at fault... I should have posted my issue that way to begin with.
SLODON & CO, this mean YOU Righties.
I hear an awful lot from the Right about Obama "Apologizing" for America. For starters, I have yet to hear him denigrate his country nor "apologize" for it. Having said that, do you think this nation has never done anything worth apologizing for? What about 400 years of slavery? How about the theft of land from Indians and then their almost totall anhiliation? We have done far more good than bad but that does not mean we are above critcism.
And FYI folks, your boy Dubya APOLOGIZED on NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. He apologized to Muslims when soldiers shot up copies of the Koran. He also apologized form the actions of our troops to Muslims on a number of occasions. Does that mean he was weak and selling out to fanatical Muslims? No, he was actually doing the sane and correct thing. Bush was trying to diffuse anger of Mulims over actions of Americans, regardless of whether they were right or wrong. Words are far cheaper to expend than blood. It's just your hatred of Obama that causes you to condemn him for something he hasn't even done. And if in fact he had apologized, why would you automatically assume it was the wrong thing to do and that his motive was one of weakness and not strength?
On Saturday, a Pakistani government minister announced a $100,000 bounty for the killing of an American citizen.
It's been four days now. What is Obama waiting for? Is he hoping that if he ignores it long enough, people will just forget? By ignoring it, Obama is saying to the world that "Oh, we don't really believe in free speech - that's just part of our silly Constitution. We are much more concerned about Muslim paranoia." We desperately need a President, like Mitt Romney, who has a clear idea of what this country stands for, and is willing to express it. Romney would never have let this much time go by without responding to a death threat against any US citizen. Obama is a coward!
Obama could have made just a simple statement at the UN, like "A founding principle of the United States is that our citizens have the right to express themselves, even if their message is offensive. When one of our citizens is threatened by an official of a foreign power, our country is threatened. We will not condone such a threat!"
Unfortunately, President Hussein doesn't seem to believe in our founding principles.
Where do you get 400 years of slavery?
We should apologize for nothing. That's history folks. Civilizations knocking off others. The US is one of the few truly civilized countries. I hate to break this to you but that's as good as it gets. It's all downhill from here if you progressives keep destroying the Constitution and my country. Europe, Africa, Asia, Egyptians and the pre-Columbian Indians all had slaves for thousands of years. Yet the people in the US carry the brunt of your abuse for a couple hundred years of cotton picking. Get over it.
So the day of the attack Obama said terrorism. Then for a week or so blamed a months old video. Then evidence, including a rueters video, showed a concerted attack with mortars and rpg's. The administration then had to admit terrorism. But wait, back at the UN, BO now goes back to blaming the video again mentioning it almost 10 times. This guy is an embarrasment and never passes up a chance to blame someone.
Day of the attack he doesn't go to Washington but a Vegas fundraiser. Next day...nope... had to go to New York to do Letterman.
We got a very well guarded place in Tripoli, what the heck was this place in Benghazi even open for? We had a warning from the Libyian govt days before and at a MINIMUM we should have had a forward marine unit there on 9/11. Incompetance that probably cost the 4 Americans their lives. I wonder if anybody in the white house has a clue about this stuff?
The NFL replacement referee's are Democrats and act just like the Obama Administration. They are out of control, do not know what they are doing, believe in mediocrity, and are basically the "C and D" students. But they are smart in the fact that no one can say anything about how bad they are or they get fined. They can make all the wrong calls and everyone is just suppose to except it. As a result the games are out of control, the players and coaches are all mad, the games are ruined, and the fans have lost respect for the game. If it continues the NFL will be ruined for good.
Same goes for the country. The Obamanites are making all the wrong calls, the country is out of control, everyone is mad, but if you say anything you can get fined or arrested. If this continues the country will be ruined for good.
Lets get the Republican referees back on the gridiron and back in theWhite house.
Prior to the credit market freeze in September 2008, the highest monthly unemployment rate during 2001-August 2008 was 6.3 percent. The overall average monthly unemployment rate during the 8 years was 5.3 percent. America moved out of the recession of 2001 leading to six years of uninterrupted economic growth and a record 52 straight months of job creation.
During that timeframe the dow soared to a 14,000+ point record high
When Barack was sworn in Jan 2009 the unemployment rate was at 7.7%.
By Dec 2009 he had allowed it to climb to a staggering 10.0%, even with the $830 trillion Stimulus, we would never see that 7.7% again
Barack has been unable to bring the unemployment rate below 8.0% in 4 years
He has not even been able to bring it back to the "Bush level" he inherited....
Less we forget
All4..."Barack has been unable to bring the unemployment rate below 8.0% in 4 years"
You must realize that Barack was able to bring the unemployment rate to below 8% but by design, he purposely did not. He does not want the unemployment under 8% or even under 10%. This is all part of the plan to keep as many people dependent on the government as possible and there are enough people willing to be dependent on government that in reality, Obama is a success(to the libs) having furthered his socialistic agenda.
No one wants to hear facts! If they had to justify why they were voting for Obama based on facts.....they would lose the debate!
The Federal Fiscal year is October through September. So Fiscal year 2009 was October 2008 – September 2009. Bush Administration policies.
In January 2009, the economy was losing around 700,000 jobs per month.
Obama's financial policies didn't take effect until September 2009. Within one fiscal quarter of Obama's policies kicking in, the unemployment peaked and has been dropping ever since.
29 consecutive months of job growth. 4.6 million jobs created.