The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
President Obama desperately wants his administration's foreign policy to be summed up (covered up) with the promulgations: We got Osama Bin Laden. We ended the Iraq War. Even if we put aside the way he politicized the Bin Laden raid and the intemperate way he withdrew from Iraq - thus crediting him with these accomplishments - the broader view reveals a foreign policy devoid of serious national security strategy and shockingly inattentive to American ideals.
At its best, American foreign policy combines moral and practical concerns. ... no significant American foreign policy initiative has emphasized neither American power nor American ideals. And yet, this is precisely what President Obama has done. He has rejected American principles for the sake of a relativist doctrine that views all cultures and ideas as valid. He has decreased American military power and surrendered our strategic advantage for the sake of an accommodation that makes little distinction between enemies and friends. He has abandoned both the pro-democracy spirit and the defensive alliances of “containment” – a foreign policy initiative which stands, perhaps, as the most brilliant and successful of the twentieth century.
As I observed in my Foreign Policy Mythology series on Ricochet,
The Obama administration: embraced a minimalist response to Iran’s nuclear program; sought a “reset” in relations with Russia by offering nuclear reductions and turning a blind eye to Russian resurgence and oppression; revoked plans to install missile defenses on Polish and Czech soil; chose Syria’s Assad as “peace intermediary” in the Middle East; made public, preemptive demands upon the Israelis while making no such demands upon the Palestinians; centered policy around “talking” with the world’s worst tyrants and offering them concessions in exchange for keeping their ruthlessness confined within their own borders; bowed to Hugo Chavez and sent fawning letters to the “Supreme Leader” of Iran; was mute in response to the cries of brave young Iranian protestors; said nary a word for innocent Iranians languishing in notorious prisons or innocent North Koreans suffering in concentration camps; focused on economic disagreements with China while ignoring the plight of Chinese democracy advocates; and came very close to ignoring the bloodbath in Syria (and did ignore it at first).
Nowhere is the lack of humanity and the lack of "grand strategy" more evident than in the Obama administration’s Syria policy – a policy so indifferent to human suffering, so devoid of initiative and so counterproductive to Middle Eastern struggles for democracy that it can only be called abhorrent.
If Romney exposes the startling, sobering truth about Obama administration foreign policy, he will come out on top in tomorrow's debate.
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Dec '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Judging by Russia's blustering, Romney may turn out to be prescient in saying the Russia is our biggest security threat. They see our weakness as a perfect opportunity for resurgence. As if the Middle East and Islamism aren't enough to worry about.
May '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
My initial response on reading the headline was "Obama has a foreign policy? Who knew?"
Maybe if Bob Schieffer lets him get a word in. Bob's probably been working out for weeks to get in shape for all the water- carrying he'll be doing for PBO tomorrow.
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Nick Stuart: My initial response on reading the headline was "Obama has a foreign policy? Who knew?"
Maybe if Bob Schieffer lets him get a word in. Bob's probably been working out for weeks to get in shape for all the water- carrying he'll be doing for PBO tomorrow. · 1 minute ago
Right - If the past is a guide, Obama will be offered open-ended questions allowing him to define and summarize his policy, while specific questions that potentially highlight policy fiascos and potentially point to ways his ideas diverge from the American mainstream will be avoided (with the exception of the Libya debacle, which is so front and center that it cannot be avoided.)
Edited on October 21, 2012 at 10:26pmJul '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
While I doubt there is any serious disagreement that America hasn't had a foreign policy (the debatable point would be for how long), there may BE a serious debate about what American foreign policy should be.
The libertarians will say that we have no business in sticking our nose in most other people's business. A total such approach would probably lead to a really nasty world where we would once again have to go to war with the great unwashed, to defeat yet again an idiotic ideology.
But the other side of that coin is that we do best - as a nation - when we don't get involved in other issues. We may need a strong military to deter others from taking us on militarily, but we hardly need to then actually use that military around the world for this or that cause.
Standing on the sidelines, cheering on this or that side is fine, but one then has to ask just what you believe our "proper" role IS in the world. The several embargoes we have ginned up have been mostly useless, and some of the military escapades have had "suboptimal" results.
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Devereaux: While I doubt there is any serious disagreement that America hasn't had a foreign policy (the debatable point would be for how long), there may BE a serious debate about what American foreign policyshould be.
The libertarians will say that we have no business in sticking our nose in most other people's business. A total such approach would probably lead to a really nasty world where we would once again have to go to war with the great unwashed, to defeat yet again an idiotic ideology.
But the other side of that coin is that we do best - as a nation - when we don't get involved in other issues. We may need a strong military to deter others from taking us on militarily, but we hardly need to then actuallyusethat military around the world for this or that cause. ........
I personally see Truman's containment strategy, which depended upon the projection of both American power and American ideals -but not upon direct military involvement, and Reagan's strategy which built upon the same, as models deserving of study. They found various ways to assert American "influence," understood importance of human rights speeches, etc.
Edited on October 21, 2012 at 11:36pmJul '11
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Romney should point out the security leaks and blame Obama for multiple American deaths related to them. Romney needs to do the job of the moderator in his answers.
"I noticed we haven't discussed Russia's rise of aggression corresponds to our increasing weakness,was this intended by the flexible Mr Obama?"
""Our tire tariff failed to do anything other than hurt our auto industry, there are better ways to get tough with China than that."
"Your questions to the president have not addressed the serial orchestrated lies and misinformation about Libya that even the press has discussed. Is it possible to make it through three debates without the president actually being made to answer for weeks of lying?"
"Is our Fed going to continue to prop up a faltering Europe after this election or was it just done to keep the world from collapsing fiscally until November 7th?"
"Why do we pay Brazil to drill and allow China to have access to oil we should be getting?"
"Why have we failed our greatest allies economically and morally?"
"Can we discuss the keystone pipeline at some point?"
Romney has a tough task ahead. He will be up to it.
Edited on October 21, 2012 at 11:43pmRe: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
DocJay: Romney should point out the security leaks and blame Obama for multiple American deaths related to them. Romney needs to do the job of the moderator in his answers.
"I noticed we haven't discussed Russia's rise of aggression corresponds to our increasing weakness,what's this intended by Mr Obama?"
""Our tire tariff failed to do anything other than hurt our auto industry, there are better ways to get tough with China than that."
"Your questions to the president have not addressed the serial orchestrated lies and misinformation about Libya that even the press has discussed. Is it possible to make it through three debates without the president .....
"Is our Fed going to continue to prop up a faltering Europe after this election or was it just done to keep the world from collapsing fiscally until November 7th?"
"Why do we pay Brazil to drill and allow China to have increasing access to oil we should be getting?"
"Why have we failed our greatest allies economically and morally?"
"Can we discuss the keystone pipeline at some point?"
Romney has a tough task ahead. He will be up to it. · 1 minute ago
Good questions.
Nov '11
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Obama's foreign policy is to do whatever furthers his domestic political agenda of the moment. Right now his agenda is to remain in power.
Aug '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
To draw a comparison , killing BinLaden was about as effective as imprisoning Rudolph Hess. Leaving Iraq in Iran's tentacles was either naivete or horribly calculating due to the now evident negotiations .
Let's see Valerie Jarrett's job description. Clinton described hers the other day as she fell on a rubber sword. Susan Rice's job description became obvious as " shill" when she did the spin tour . Carney was jealous. And Gibbs got paid $60k for one month, what would you do for that kind of dough ?
Edited on October 22, 2012 at 2:57amJul '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Anne R. Pierce
I personally see Truman's containment strategy, which depended upon the projection of both American power and American ideals -but not upon direct military involvement, and Reagan's strategy which built upon the same, as models deserving of study. They found various ways to assert American "influence," understood importance of human rights speeches, etc. · 3 hours ago
Edited 3 hours ago
Truman's "containment" strategy included the Korean "police action". Since the day we began "police actions" instead of wars we won, we have had only marginal luck, and often not that even. One can easily argue that if we need to do yet another "police action" it ought to be a real war, with clear objectives - and no fear of "possible" other opponents. Our behavior in 73-75 towards South Vietnam and now Iraq are simply inexcusable. I am not sure "containment" would do, unless it is a lot more robust.
Oct '12
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Yup, that about sums it up. So sad, yet so true.
May '11
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
flownover:
And Gibbs got paid $60k for one month, what would you do for that kind of dough ? · 2 hours ago
Edited 1 hour ago
You would have to pay me more than that to lie like Robert Gibbs.
May '11
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Unfortunately the real foreign policy issue is what does Honey Boo Boo think?
May '11
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Devereaux
Anne R. Pierce
I personally see Truman's containment strategy, which depended upon the projection of both American power and American ideals -but not upon direct military involvement, and Reagan's strategy which built upon the same, as models deserving of study. They found various ways to assert American "influence," understood importance of human rights speeches, etc. · 3 hours ago
Edited 3 hours ago
Truman's "containment" strategy included the Korean "police action". Since the day we began "police actions" instead of wars we won, we have had only marginal luck, and often not that even. One can easily argue that if we need to do yet another "police action" it ought to be a real war, with clear objectives - and no fear of "possible" other opponents. Our behavior in 73-75 towards South Vietnam and now Iraq are simply inexcusable. I am not sure "containment" would do, unless it is a lot more robust. · 1 hour ago
Being both pessimistic and naive is a handicap for me but I think there is a place for vigorous defense of human rights, forceful retaliation of aggression against our interests but without open ended nation building.
Aug '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Southern Pessimist
flownover:
And Gibbs got paid $60k for one month, what would you do for that kind of dough ? · 2 hours ago
Edited 1 hour ago
You would have to pay me more than that to lie like Robert Gibbs. · 23 minutes ago
Or as I prefer to refer to him as- Beltway Bob
Kinda like Baghdad Bob without the humor.
Jul '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Southern Pessimist
Devereaux
Anne R. Pierce
. They found various ways to assert American "influence," understood importance of human rights speeches, etc. · 3 hours ago
Edited 3 hours ago
I am not sure "containment" would do, unless it is a lot more robust. · 1 hour ago
Being both pessimistic and naive is a handicap for me but I think there is a place for vigorous defense of human rights, forceful retaliation of aggression against our interests but without open ended nation building. · 1 hour ago
I guess you will have to define "vigorous defense of human rights". I get forceful retaliation, but am not sure just what you have in mind for the above term.
Aug '12
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Anne Pierce
[Truman's containment strategy]
But how, specifically, would you apply this to Iran today? And would you say that containment worked with Saddam Hussain, or were there some limitations to the model that resulted in misleading WMD claims (with the fallout for US allies like Tony Blair), the second Gulf War and the current frightening empowerment of the most regressive (and aggressive) religious elements in Iraq (and Iran)?
Edited on October 22, 2012 at 1:07pmSep '10
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
I well never understand why it is a bloodbath when Islamist kill each other by engaging each other in battle, but it is a noble endeavor when Americans are getting killed. Face it Afghanistan is a bloodbath, Iraq was a bloodbath and Syria is a bloodbath. I for one much rather see Islamist kill each other. Getting Americans involved so neo-cons like you can start calling it a noble endeavor seems wrongheaded at best.
Re: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
Zafar: Anne Pierce
[Truman's containment strategy]
But how, specifically, would you apply this to Iran today? And would you say that containment worked with Saddam Hussain, or were there some limitations to the model that resulted in misleading WMD claims (with the fallout for US allies like Tony Blair), the second Gulf War and the current frightening empowerment of the most regressive (and aggressive) religious elements in Iraq (and Iran)? · 2 hours ago
Edited 2 hours ago
Zafar, You make a very good point about Iraq, and you're right - containment doesn't always work. But, it's better to project American power and American principles while trying containment strategies than to project weakness and relativism.. While Obama admin.was supposedly trying to contain Iran, they projected uncertainty and weakness. They even weakened containment measures themselves - for example by obstructing and diluting the Kirk-Menendez sanctions bill.
A couple related points about the way "international community" tried to contain Saddam Hussein. Sanctions were inconsistent, as were inspections; we often fell for his propaganda; we projected uncertainty and hypocrisy about our principles by occasionally abetting the ruthless butcher Saddam in order to counter Iran.
Edited on October 22, 2012 at 3:57pmRe: The Sobering Truth About Obama's Foreign Policy
If we adopt your approach - indicated here and in your other comments to my other posts - we have learned nothing from the holocaust and WWII. How sad for all those who suffered, sacrificed and perished. You know it 's not as simple as Islamists killing each other. Assad is one of world's worst butchers, a terrorist and terror sponsor, supporter of Iran and Hezbollah, destroyer of Lebanon. How did ignoring such men in the past turn out? Once totalitarians have their own populations under control, they always turn outward.
Edited on October 22, 2012 at 4:11pm