Obama Unprepared for Foreign Policy
Courtesy of jasolater and Tim Shipman in the Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4953523/Barack-Obama-too-tired-to-give-proper-welcome-to-Gordon-Brown.html
particularly this quote from the Telegraph article:
But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama’s inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.
Like Clinton, Obama seems to have become President without grasping that (1) foreign policy would be his main job, and (2) hostile foreign powers hate America, not just Republicans. Like Carter, he seems to believe that his main influence on other Powers comes from preaching at them.
Obama also doesn't seem to grasp what being at war means. He is snubbing our closest allies and wants to cut the defense budget. And he seems not to grasp that this will weaken his position badly down the road. Probably, he really believes the Euro-crap about a "post-military" world.
He's going to get a painful education. Unforutnately, we're going to pay for it. Even more unfortunately, after his single disastrous term, Obama will probably fail to learn from what happened to him, and spend his time lecturing his successors on the proper way to behave.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4953523/Barack-Obama-too-tired-to-give-proper-welcome-to-Gordon-Brown.html
particularly this quote from the Telegraph article:
But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama’s inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.
Like Clinton, Obama seems to have become President without grasping that (1) foreign policy would be his main job, and (2) hostile foreign powers hate America, not just Republicans. Like Carter, he seems to believe that his main influence on other Powers comes from preaching at them.
Obama also doesn't seem to grasp what being at war means. He is snubbing our closest allies and wants to cut the defense budget. And he seems not to grasp that this will weaken his position badly down the road. Probably, he really believes the Euro-crap about a "post-military" world.
He's going to get a painful education. Unforutnately, we're going to pay for it. Even more unfortunately, after his single disastrous term, Obama will probably fail to learn from what happened to him, and spend his time lecturing his successors on the proper way to behave.