Posted by
Andrews on Friday, April 10, 2009 11:37:52 AM
Once I thought
Clinton had created the
world's worst deal when he sold Israel
on Oslo. That was until Obama tried to quietly
sell out eastern Europe to Russia, only to have Russia rebuff him while publicly humiliating him by publicizing his efforts. However, even that pales in comparison to the recent European tour.
So, what did Obama accomplish? He managed to simultaneously embarrass the US, with his apologies for slavery, torture, his predecessor, and pretty much anything else the US has ever done, while simultaneously
offending heads of state. (Does anyone think an iPod for the queen came across as a sophisticated gesture by a mature head of state?) Not only that, he made promises, such as
nuclear disarmament, that are every bit as harmful to our long term interests as the
disastrous G-20 agreement (about which I still need to write) is to our economic future. And finally, in his bow (now declared officially an un-bow) to the Saudi king, he managed to make himself look both unsophisticated and obsequious while sending a message that our foreign policy is going to return to the Foggy Bottom pro-Arab
"stability" faction, which means
carte blanche for every Arab (
and Persian) dictator. (As if his
rejected peace overtures to Iran didn't already send that message.)
So, what did Obama receive in exchange for abasing himself and his nation so greatly? Nothing. The Europeans refused absolutely every single request he made. And not even politely.
And so, in the end, what do we have? An immature, unsophisticated, bumbling president who simultaneously lowers his nation in the eyes of the world, and surrenders much while gaining nothing. In other words, Obama did in reality what the left always accused George Bush of doing. He has destroyed our world image while gaining nothing in return. At least with Bush the world knew the nation was strong, was leading, and would defend itself and its allies against aggression. Now, there are likely many nations just biding their time before acting, as they know
Obama really is a paper tiger. Actually, not even a tiger, a tiger would never be as obsequious as Obama has been. No, Obama is a paper mouse.
POSTSCRIPT
After I wrote this, I noticed
Charles Krauthammer wrote an almost identical piece. Though I have
once or twice taken Mr. Krauthammer to task for specific posts, I generally am impressed by his thoughts, and this is no exception. So after reading my piece, I suggest reading his superior take on the same events.
POSTSCRIPT II
A long while ago I wrote a piece on Obama's
boundless faith in negotiations, and
how destructive it could be. Sadly, the president is not proving me right, instead he is demonstrating that I was
far too restrained in predicting
the damage.
POSTSCRIPT III
Strangely, Obama's efforts to sell out eastern Europe seem to have the same
support on the left as Clinton's disastrous Oslo agreement (and all subsequent idiotic "two state solutions") has. Which convinces me that his plans for nuclear disarmament, negotiation with Russia, and ending missile defense system will see similar support.
Is it just me, or is Obam's foreign policy
sounding very familiar?