Foreign Policy 2009 - A Review

With a flower child wanabe at the helm there is little to cheer in this sketch. Foreign policy making is one big 60's college sensitivity session to Obama. You know, all standing together in the dark in their socks, lava lamps about - Assad, Chavez, BO, Putin, Kim, Ahmadinejad, Castro - now Vladimir, it’s ok, we’ll catch you, come on now, fall back, it’s ok, we’ll catch you, we’re all brothers, there’s only love here. See! See! Hugo, you’re next. Come on, only one human race here guy, caring and loving one another, only peace and love, feel it, let go, trust us.

We warned our readers during the primaries that BO was profoundly ill equipped for the role of commander-in-chief. Most understand now that we were correct.

Obama made a modest move to address the Afg situation, committing the minimum number of troops. The rest is failure.

Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Cuba consider Obama an in-house joke. Recall any of these accepting his outstretched hand?

His policy in response to events in Honduras was completely backwards; more, it was revolting. His lack of support for the brave dissidents in Iran, even more so.

Meanwhile, as we hear from Robert J. Lieber, professor of government and international affairs at Georgetown University, "Obama's assertive Middle East initiative has left the Israeli-Palestinian peace process worse off than before, has failed to gain support from Arab states and has lost the support of the Israeli public." Swell.

What is wrong here? We’ll tell you. Obama thinks negotiating with foreign powers is nothing more than the equivalent of a contentious faculty meeting. He talks about good intentions, and interdependence, and even (gag) emotions. He figures if they figure he means well that’s all that counts. He has no idea whatsoever, even after one year in office, that world governments look only to their own interests, or, that he was elected to look too ours.

Those who are not posted in history suffer under a handicap in trying to sort current affairs. Those who are vested with the responsibility of leadership of the free world and not posted in history do not only suffer under a handicap, but they endanger all those whom they have been elected to serve.

Recall the battle for Ft Donelson, 1862. Rebel commander Simon Buckner, looking for time, trying to gain some leverage, sent a proposal to Grant at dawn on Feb/16th asking to discuss surrender terms. Back came the reply: "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately on your works." Thirteen thousand men surrendered.

BO needs a little more U.S. Grant in his makeup and a little less Neville Chamberlain.

Robert Craven