Obama's Massive Foreign Policy Failure is Becoming Clearer to All
The media collaborated to push their narrative that, Mitt Romney questioning the apology reaction of this administration is not a good political step, but Romney’s comment was appropriate and he was right to raise the issue.
(1) If the media were doing their job they would be asking why we are apologizing in the wake of an attack on our embassy? I know the president is their guy, but there are serious questions this administration needs to answer beyond just its failed appeasement policy. We heard the presidents reaction to the Romney statement, where he copied what Carter said of Reagan about “Shooting first…”. But he needs to be asked to answer more serious questions. Why were there no Marines at an Embassy in country that it appears we had warning of a possible attack 48 hours before?
(2)Why are we - days later focused - on the movie when we know that these attacks were coordinated and going to happen even if there was no movie? Even if they still believe the line they are pushing why continue to be apologetic suggesting there is any justification for the actions taken against our embassy?
We hear a lot from Obama Campaign about how Osama Bin Laden is dead on their watch, but this one success does not outweigh the administrations massive foreign policy failures. His failure has been brought back into focus again this week with the apology after attacks on the Cairo Embassy. Despite the killing of Bin Laden the world is a much more unstable and dangerous place now then when Obama took office. President Obama in the week leading up to the attacks was too lazy to attend intelligence briefings. President Obama has missed almost 3/5 of his intelligence briefings, but you would think leading up to 9-11 he would be more concerned. But let’s review just few of the major foreign policy problems under Obama.
President Obama started his presidency by going on an “Apology Tour”. Including a speech in Cairo where he invited the Muslim Brotherhood as guests. (3)This has not succeeded in making the United States more liked but made us appear weak. He followed this up with doing nothing during a brewing Revolution in Iran.
President Obama agreed to do everything the Russians wanted in an arms deal, and then bragged how great the relationship was. But we did not get any increased help in dealing with issues like Iran’s Nuclear program. Recently he told the Russians after the elections he will have more flexibility. What does he want to do that he cannot tell voters?
In Afghanistan Obama first dithered then decided to expand the war without a real goal to be achieved. Now for political reasons he withdrawing earlier than the generals recommend. If it is not worth sticking to it, then it was not worth expanding the war. Since he has no goal and he has no conviction to achieve anything, we should have looked to get out rather than expand the war.
President Obama inherited a war in Iraq that was won by using a strategy he opposed. Now he is withdrawing under the plan set up under the Bush Administration. But it was always assumed we would examine the conditions on the ground and renegotiate to extend. After spending $400- $500 Billion to win the war we are leaving to save a few billion and potentially create another headache in that region.
Then we had the revolution in Egypt which was encouraged by this administration to transfer from a dictator who was a good partner, to install the Muslim Brotherhood in power. Likely this will lead to another Dictator who is a thorn in our side.
Then in Libya again he dithered until he was dragged in by Europe. Again it looks like the new regime is going to be more of problem than the one we forced out. Gaddafi had not been a problem for us since the war in Iraq led him to decide to give up his nuclear program. Even if the choice to go into Libya was right, the dithering and lack of leadership is disturbing.
President Obama has not been supportive of Israel the only true ally in the Mideast. He called for going back to the 1967 borders, and was insulting to their leader when he visited. Now we have Iran and Israel approaching a possible war and he turns down a meeting with Netanyahu, but don’t worry he will be on the David Letterman Show.
Then this year we have leaks from top level officials to make the President look better on foreign policy. But this sends the message to our friends we cannot be trusted. It also hurt the usefulness of the programs underway.
The world is far more a dangerous place due to Obama’s foreign policy, allies can’t trust us, and enemies see us as weak. We can see this with the acts of Terrorism this last week and situation in general. But the biggest issue is Obama is making decisions based on his faulty world view. Maybe even worse, he apparently views free speech as the problem for these recent attacks.(4) Like his domestic policy, President Obama’s foreign policy has been a disaster. Clearly Romney could do no worse, but more to the point he will be better just because he has the proper world view. At least under Romney we will likely have Marines to defend our ambassadors in dangerous countries, and they will probably be allowed to have loaded guns too.
2) http://video.foxnews.com/v/1841603837001/is-the-us-funding-radicalism/?playlist_id=86858
Bert
11:32 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
Brent - even John McCain has debunked your Fox News-parroting narrative on this. Libya democratically elected a moderate (non-Islamist) government. The mere fact that there are now democratically elected governments in Libya and Egypt, without significant US military involvement, is a tremendous achievement.
I fully understand that neo-cons like yourself still view our adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan as models for Middle East foreign policy, but the vast majority of Americans and our allies around the world take a decidedly more sane view. Launching a ground war in Libya, Egypt, Iran, Syria, and wherever else people who don't like America may reside is neither prudent nor effective. (However, I do look forward to your next rant about the federal deficit, which will no doubt overlook the role of neocon foreign policy in order to lay blame at Obama's feet).
The reason the media is blasting Romney for his obnoxious anti-American political attack in the midst of a crisis is because his attack not only undermines his credibility on foreign policy, but it was completely inappropriate. First, the embassy did not in any way, shape, or form "apologize" for anything. It condemned religious intolerance and stated clearly that this film represents neither the US government nor its people. It also asserted free speech as a universal right. But, if you believe the bogus claim that Obama went on an "apology tour", I suppose you'd believe anything.
H.E. Pennypacker
11:51 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
Tell you what, why don't you liberals go over the Egypt or Iran and bow before the Moslems and apologize. Instead of staying here and being traitors. Ok? We don't really need a group of traitors collaborating with our enemies. You love Moslems, you think America deserves to be attacked - no problem. Go bow, crawl before the Mullahs. Lazy dumb cowards.
Michael McClusky
3:03 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
I have read that the youth of the Arab world are taught to distrust and despise the West at a very early age. This could be one big reason that many of them do not want Westerners on their soil. There is a resentment towards the West that goes back centuries. Maybe that is why there has been so much opposition to US troops iin Iraq as well as Afghanistan. They just don't like foreigners. We should just pull out of the region period.
Bert
4:29 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
It's hysterical reading Pennypacker's post (absolute loathing of "Moslems" (sic)) followed by McClusky's post about how young Arabs are taught to despise westerners. When we continually elect ignorant hatemongers who believe what Penny believes, it's NO WONDER the "Arab world" would despise westerners! If I thought Penny was truly representative of Americans, rather than the small, ignorant, hate-filled slice that rears it's ugly bigoted head every now and then, I'd hate America too.
Randy1949
3:20 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
More delusions from Planet Divelbiss.
An even bigger question is why you are reporting the President Obama apologized "in the wake of an attack on our embassy"? The apology, made by the US embassy in Cairo, over the content of a scurrilous film about Muhammed, came hours before either the Cairo embassy or the embassy in Benghazi were attacked.
Chris
3:28 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Randy,
The question is why even apologize over something of which you have no control of, and of which you should be proud of(our citizens have the right to freedom of speech...even if it is offensive). To say the Embassy in Cairo had no direction from the White House is naive.
H.E. Pennypacker
3:37 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
The Embassy in Cairo is Obama, you putz.
Randy1949
3:38 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Why express sympathy to people whose venerated religious figures have been crudely slandered? I think it's called diplomacy, which is what embassies and ambassadors do.
But that's not the point. Divelbiss doesn't know what hes talking about. The apology, statement, whatever, did not come AFTER the attacks.
Bren
3:41 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
We have freedom of speech in this country it is true. However, it's important to realize that people in foreign countries' understanding of our government system's complexities may be imperfect. Especially those that may not be as technologically advanced as Europe and Asia. It's not unreasonable for someone accustomed to living in countries that were once regimes to believe that our government controls negative speech.
Yes, we have free speech but we also have to realize that technology makes all things accessible around the world to a degree never previously known. Thus an ill-considered video in America led to the death of an American diplomat and others. We do not all receive the highly-specialized training of our diplomatic corps, but we can employ basic common sense and not post offensive material on a public site. If the need to circulate is overwhelming, a private YouTube video link to an email list, or DVDs might be a more tactful way to go. This is better than letting people get killed.
Randy1949
3:44 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Try to pay attention, Pennypacker. I know it's hard. Divelbiss is . . . misrepresenting the timing. It did not come 'in the wake of' attacks.
By the way, it's raining outside. I'm sure that's Barack Obama's fault too.
The Anti-Alinsky
4:00 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Randy, the Obama Administration apology came the same day of the attacks. If that's not "in the wake of", nothing is!
Randy1949
4:05 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
'In the wake of' means after or as a result of. The Cairo embassy's statement came several hours BEFORE the attack in Benghazi So now you're accusing them of precognition?.
Chris
7:38 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Bren,
You say that other societies can't possibly know that this country has freedom of speech as a protected right because of a lack of ability to know this, yet you believe these same people are rioting because of a video (advanced technology) posted on a website (advanced technology), and viewed on some type of computer (advanced technology) using the internet (advanced tech.) on either a wireless network, or a cabled network.
Why issue a statement from Cairo, if the people who were supposedly so offended had no way of receiving the statement...you know, the ones with no access to technology, and spontaneously attacked the safe house.
Explain to me then, if these rioters don't have the technology to understand our freedoms, how did the attack happen spontaneously? Or, perhaps a different scenario is that a few leaders saw the video, used it as an excuse to rile up a certain constituency, and planned this heinous act? Doesn't that seem a bit more plausible?
The Anti-Alinsky
11:06 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Randy, I will give you that the attacks came shortly after the Cairo apology, but the protest had already started.
Which means Obama's apology meant nothing to the protesters. Shows that his appeasement policy is working just as well as Neville Chamberlain's!
Richard
6:47 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Think outside the box, the embassy apology merely was mistimed, was supposed to be after the attack, you all can fill in the rest of the story!
James R Hoffa
1:01 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
@Chris -
Nice debunking of Bren!
Steve ®
4:13 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
►Yes, we have free speech but we also have to realize that technology makes all things accessible around the world to a degree never previously known. ◄
Terrorist sympathizers talk like this and the apology tour continues. Blame a video no one saw or ever herd of, blame anyone else besides the Muslim's responsible and a president who has no grasp at how much hate for his America there is.
Keep spiking the football about Osama, that really is making the Muslim world sing kumbaya.
St. Swithin
4:26 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Thank you Bryant for demonstrating your total cluelessness on foreign policy. I don't think a single thing you said in this article is accurate. But of course, look at your sources. Do you have any experience or understanding of foreign affairs? Please go do some real research before you attempt to discuss this topic again.
Steve ®
6:44 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
If this holds up seems like Obama was caught in another lie. Lol you libs think this was set off by a movie on the internet? lol
"There was no protest, and the attacks were not spontaneous," the intelligence source said. "The Libyan attack was planned and had nothing to do with the movie."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/17/administration-walks-tightrope-in-carefully-worded-accounts-libya-violence/#ixzz26m1x3n89
Randy1949
7:01 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
What lie? Here is the statement the Cairo embassy made BEFORE the attack in Benghazi:
"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/romneys-apology-frame_b_1888729.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
Demonstrations in Cairo had indeed been set off by news of the Youtube video, but does that sound like an apology to you? It now appears that the attack in Benghazi was planned ahead of time, but how does that change anything?
GearHead
8:30 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
@ Swithin: Hmmm. With a Masters in engineering and an MBA, I'm guessing Bryant has at least as much foreign policy expertise as a community orgainzer and the wife of a former President. Or you, with your ad-hominen attacts, with no proof of your own regarding your alleged inacuracies.
Nuitari
3:03 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Swithin give Obama the same advice.
H.E. Pennypacker
4:40 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
During the Democratic National Convention, fourteen Democrats, one after another, gloriously celebrated how Barack Obama personally hunted down and killed Osama Bin Laden with his bare hands. These enraging statements were telecast across the world one week before the 9/11 embassy attacks. How inciteful. The blood of the embassy employees in on the Democrats’ hands
Nuitari
8:19 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
OBAMA OBAMA WE ARE ALL OSAMAS
The Anti-Alinsky
11:11 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Remember when the Berlin Wall came down and the Eastern Bloc Communist states fell? It happened under Bush 41, but who got the credit? Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator.
So why does Barack Hussein Obama get all the credit for the Bin Laden kill? The intelligence sources were developed during the Bush 43 years. Navy Seal Team 6 did most of it's training during the Bush 43 years.
Ah yes, it must be because Navy Seal Team 6 didn't do that, someone else (Barack Hussein Obama) did.
The Audacious Epigone
8:28 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
The election is coming down to Ayn Rand’s central thesis of the producers versus the moochers. Might as well just get it out in the open.
Lyle Ruble
7:23 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
@Bryant Divelbiss...What are you doing? Do you have any understanding at all about the world outside of the nation's borders? The Middle East is a place that is particularly sensitive and is always ready to ignite. Something that must be understood is that most in the region don't understand freedom of speech. They have lived under conditions where all information has been controlled by regimes and they can't understand how the U.S. government doesn't control information. Therefore, conspiracies abound all through the region. As usual you have limited comprehension when it comes to history. Just as with everything else that has occurred since George W., we have had to clean up mess after mess created by the neocons. Just as others have stated to you; start using other sources. Limbaugh; you've got to be kidding!
Bob Sacamano
8:18 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Rush Limbaughs last bowel movement has more IQ than the average lefty Democrat.
SkinnyDude
12:31 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
@Lyle
The Obama White House has once again been caught in LIES to cover Obama's completely irresponsible foreign policy decisions. Is that how you clean up messes? The situation in the middle east has never been worse. Clueless Barry must go. I am sure Lyle doesnt mind his liberal leader telling BOLD face LIES to the american people. The White House version of events and this non sense about a youtube video no one ever heard of until the WHITE HOUSE put it out there. Meanwhile Americans are dead because these idiots didnt listen to the intel or the Slain ambassador Stevens own fears. They lied about the 2 former navy seals roles as they were not a security detail but just came to the aid when the events occurred . Two brave men roles deserved to be honored with the truth .As for ambassador STEVENS even with his own fears he had no security detail . He was a sitting duck. AMAZING !
. Its Obama's international version of fast and furious . Bold Face Liars from the top down and this time they are caught once again with there pants on the ground, looking like a fool with there pants on the ground. I don't expect Lyle to have the integrity to admit the obvious. This administration is Lying about the truth. Romney initial statement was DEAD ON about Obama's foreign policy. Than Obama accused Romney of not knowing the facts and shooting from the hip.......while he and the administration tell bold face lies on the facts.Are you serious?
SkinnyDude
12:32 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
(continued ) Lyle do you agree with the Obama's handling on this matter? They have choose to lie to the American people have clearly caught in the web of there own making. Obama stated HE CANT SHOOT FROM THE HIP........So they made the POLITICAL decision to LIE .Because the fact is this administration is clueless. There version is changing because the fact is they LIED REPEATEDLY. THIS IS CLEAR.
James R Hoffa
1:06 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
@Lyle -
So, the rest of the world can't use the internet to learn about our freedoms of speech, but it can use the internet to view a low budget video about Islam and the prophet Muhammad?
Can you explain further, as Hoffa just doesn't get the disparity that you appear to be arguing here!
Jason J
7:47 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
We could just re-write our embassy policy to solve these issues. The embassy is considered US land just as all the embassies in the US are considered the land of the respective governments. When we hear of threats of violence or attacks we increase the number of Marines and arm them with heavy weapons and shoot to kill all those that invade the embassy.
Or better yet for all the appeasers out there, just remove our embassies from the great land of cat litter and let them have at it with each other. Our embassies provide apology after apology and that doesn't seem all that necessary any more. We can also stop sending the money to these countries as well no need for us to fund attacks on our people as well.
Bob McBride
8:01 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Either of those options would constitute a bold move and I don't think we can count on that happening. It's easier and less controversial to absorb the blame (as you can see above, we've got a couple of folks here who've rationalized the attacks based on a supposed difference in the understanding of "freedom of speech") and essentially do nothing. Unless it's pretty much assured we'd be shooting fish in a barrel (bin Laden), all talk (of an appeasing nature, or otherwise) and no action is the way we roll, currently.
Jason J
8:12 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bob you are right. Bold move and this country don't seem to go together anymore. We have a nutless President and he seems to believe that if we accept being the victim over and over then maybe people will like us if they can walk all over us.
I am waiting for the leftists to try to repeal the first ammendment for all but those whose ideas they approve of, and make Youtube go through a government filter before release to the net.
Nuitari
4:31 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Here is another video to piss off the Muslims
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQu2SVFF-cU
SkinnyDude
12:32 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
@ Lyle ( CONTINUED)Lyle do you agree with the Obama's handling on this matter? They have choose to lie to the American people have clearly caught in the web of there own making. Obama stated HE CANT SHOOT FROM THE HIP........So they made the POLITICAL decision to LIE .Because the fact is this administration is clueless. There version is changing because the fact is they LIED REPEATEDLY. THIS IS CLEAR.