Monday, February 23, 2009

US Foreign Policy - The First 30 Days

The Obama administration inherited the following: The absence of another 9/11, the removal of two dictatorships, the stubborn presence of democratic governments in Afghanistan and Iraq, a positively changed dynamic from Lebanon to Libya, and finally, friendship and support from key countries such as France, Germany, India, most of Eastern Europe and most of Asia.

Now what? We argued during the primaries that it was hard to take seriously the heart of both Democratic contestants foreign policy - punish America’s friends and encourage her enemies. For example - dialogue with Iran but threats to Pakistan. We were further discouraged when during the campaign Clinton highlighted the Pakistani "presidential election" when in fact is was for the pm. Likewise, when Obama ludicrously associated the death of Bhutto with the Iraqi war and the need for a pre-emptive action in Pakistan, we were worried.

Both of these individuals were novices in the way of international affairs, especially Obama. Now, it appears that neither has learned a thing. Obama destructively criticizes Afghanistan’s Karzai, congratulates Venezuelans on constitutional change that will allow Chavez to be pres-for-life, sends George Mitchell off to the Mid East to strike a more "balanced" posture between Israel and Hamas, delivers an entirely gratuitous apology for American behavior towards the Islamic world, and finally, adopts what one observer called a "catch and release" policy towards the world’s most dangerous terrorists held at Guantanamo.

Not to be outdone, Clinton has just returned from overseas, berating America for being a poor listener, apologizing for our excesses and wearing out three pairs of knee pads in the process.

How will these two deal with such problems as the one presented to NATO forces in Afg., or that by the Kyrgyzstan government’s decision to evict the US from a major forward air base, or the reality of an emboldened Iran, or for that matter, Russia’s warning that the American-sponsored missile defense of E Europe is unpalatable, or N Korea’s recent announcement that it plans to launch a new missile capable of reaching the US? Look no further than this for a tiny clue: The soon-to-be-released report from the Asia Society (a think tank started by Richard Holbrooke, the new Special Envoy to Afg and Pakistan), "..recommended that the US declare an end to President Bush’s ‘war of terror’ and negotiate with Taliban members willing to separate from al Qaeda," as the NY Times put it. Really? The Taliban are religiously inspired jihadists just like al Qaeda and given that they currently have both Pakistan and NATO forces on the run, what in the world is Holbrooke going to offer these clowns that would cause them to abandon a fight against the infidels -- Listen guys, I want you to disobey Allah’s order, "to fight the infidels until they say there is no god but Allah." If not I’m going to be very upset with all of you.

The administration’s spirit of appeasement applies as much to N Korea and Russian as it does to Muslim thugs.

Of course our lefty pals in Marin believe a friendly chat will do the trick. We’ve spent the last eight years telling Muslims how much we love their religion, invited imams and mullahs to the White House, begged their forgiveness for our various sins of past years and even ignored the last honor killing (beheading) in the US - by a TV producer whose program spotlights the warm and cozy side of Islam, and whose wife (victim) was about to leave him. Well, then again, it’s only second degree. Poor guy, surprised the left doesn’t have him out cleaning a highway - certainly wouldn’t want to offend that fine culture.

We’ve given billions in aid to Palestinians and Egyptians, bombed Serbian Christians to save Bosnian Mulims, had our guards at Guantanamo wear gloves when they handle the Koran, and put marks on the cell floors pointing to Mecca, all so these murdering fanatics can worship in comfort. Still, these guys don’t like us very much. A shame.

In the course of world affairs, there is nothing new under the sun. We are about to witness Carter’s failings repeated in exact duplicate.

Robert Craven