Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently asked, “. . . Can you think of any place in the world where we’re better off than we were when he [Obama] came into office?” Or, can you name one country that respects and admires the United States more today than in 2008? Name just one country. Okay, maybe Aruba.
Since the beginning of his administration in 2009, Obama’s clumsy handling of foreign crisis, self-inflicted or not, has been breathtaking. Four Americans, including our Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were murdered, slaughtered, by heavily armed terrorists (most probably aligned with Al Qaida). The Obama administration response: it was unaware of any requests for additional security (there were many). Then our Ambassador to the United Nations intentionally obfuscates by blaming the entire episode on an amateur video. The serial lying continues to this day.
The Obama administration alignment with the Muslim Brotherhood (at least four members have been appointed to administration posts) seems at odds with Saudi Arabia’s classifying the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. It also is at odds with Egypt’s anti-Muslim Brotherhood stance.
Interestingly, the Barack H. Obama Foundation (BHOF) is managed by Obama’s half brother, Malik Obama. When BHOF sought tax-exempt status, the IRS was quick to lend a hand, giving tax-exempt status retroactively at the apparent direction of Lois Lerner. Malik Obama also is the Executive Secretary of the Islamic Da’wa Organization (IDO). The IDO, created by the Sudanese government, is considered a terrorist state by the State Department with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. Why hasn’t the mainstream press investigated this relationship?
Considering Egypt’s importance as the largest Arab nation and its strategic relationship with Israel, one has to wonder where the Obama administration was when Mohammed Morsi was removed from office. Oh yes, Secretary of State John Kerry was on his yacht in Nantucket when the “transfer of power” took place. But at least Obama and Kerry eventually heard about the noisy disturbance.
When North Korea began rattling its proverbial saber (again), the Obama administration intentionally softened its rhetorical tone in response, while simultaneously denying that it was softening its tone. Is there anyone in charge?
With regard to Iraq and Afghanistan, Mitt Romney correctly asked, “And how can it be that Iraq and Afghanistan each refused to sign the status-of-forces agreement with us – – with the very nation that shed the blood of thousands of our bravest for them?” Bush won the war in Iraq, but Obama gave it back. Today, the black flag of Al Qaida flies above Fallujah. Nice job, Mr. President.
Afghanistan is destined to repeat history. Once American forces leave, the vacuum will be filled by Al Qaida and Taliban terrorists. So, what was the purpose of Obama’s “good war” – especially when former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote that Obama did not believe the Afghanistan surge would work anyway? So Obama sent American troops in harm’s way, into a battle he didn’t support? For what purpose?
Then Obama drew the line in the sand with regard to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, “who had to go.” Then came the “redline on chemical weapons.” First there was going to be a surgical strike: a short, symbolic shot across the bow . . . to achieve what? Then, boldly, Obama made an unplanned appeal to Congress, an abject admission that Obama could do little or nothing in Syria, while Vladimir Putin ran circles around Obama.
Obama’s foreign policy regarding Iran is a failure. Even John Kerry now concedes Iran is even closer to having nuclear weapons: “If they keep pushing the limits and not coming with a serious set of proposals or prepared to actually resolve this, obviously the risks get higher and confrontation becomes more possible.”
Now, we have the Ukraine and Crimea. Putin has declared Crimea independent. Obama whines that it is unfair. This will cost Russia dearly, Obama declares. So Obama froze the assets of eleven Russian officials, including top advisors to Putin, for their support of Crimea’s vote to declare independence. Wow! That was the equivalent of sending a State Department sharp note of protest under John Kerry’s signature. Jimmy Carter wasn’t this inept.
Not since June 28, 1914, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, drew first Germany (that had a treaty with Austria) and Russia (that had a treaty with Serbia), then France and Britain (both had treaties with Russia) into the conflict within thirty days of the assassination, has the danger of global conflict been greater.
The United States and Britain have treaties with Ukraine to protect its borders after it gave up post-Soviet Union nuclear weapons. Neither the United States nor Britain is living up to the treaty. Crimea allegedly declared independence. Russia is prepared to annex Crimea. Ukraine has mobilized all its reserves and ordered its military to be combat-ready as soon as possible.
Russian troops have moved into Crimea and even parts of Ukraine, taking Ukrainian border guards hostage. Meanwhile, Obama warns of severe costs to Russia. Putin ignores Obama’s miniscule sanctions.
Meanwhile, Iraq is in an internal state of war. Iran moves closer to nuclear weapons while its Revolutionary Guard agitate inside Iran. Afghanistan is deteriorating under Obama’s inability to seal a status-of-forces agreement. Syria and Russia are laughing and mocking the ineptness of Obama. Putin outmaneuvered and out-strategized Obama in Ukraine and Crimea. Ukraine is mobilizing, calling up all reserves.
It only takes one false move, one small insignificant act, to plunge the globe into World War. And Obama will have set the stage through his incompetent and reckless foreign policy as America’s Appeaser-in-Chief.