Obama has finally begun to act like a leader. On a recent tour, the outcome was enviable.
Barack Obama’s triumphant Asia-Pacific tour was a major foreign policy achievement for the president. By bolstering security alliances with pivotal nations and promoting a regional free trade area, he left no doubt that—after a costly decade of distraction in Iraq and Afghanistan—“The United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay.” The trip also underscored just how much China’s dramatic rise has unsettled its neighbors, both in the realms of economics and security.
But President Obama did more than offer deft reassurance to U.S. allies. He articulated a political vision for the Asia-Pacific as an open system in which all countries (and notably China) “play by the rules” and no single country (China, again) throws its weight around. His message was implicit but unmistakable: It’s time for an “Atlantic Charter”for a Pacific Century.
That “play by the rules” part will be the toughest. Anyone who has had business dealings with the Chinese knows that they have their own rules from contracts to accounting. However, word is the dragon was surprised that the eagle was so missed in the region it was begged to come back to maintain balance. Stay tuned. It is one thing to set something up; quite another to keep it moving forward. Still, Obama is making a lot of good moves lately that have enhanced his position. Republicans will have a tough road to take back the White House.
James Crawford
December 7, 2011
By November, Obama’s foreign policy will be an obvious catastrophe.
Obama has so badly offended the Iraqis that they were unwilling to amend the status of forces agreement to retain a US contingent to deter Iranian aggression or influence.
Meanwhile; Obama’s success in transforming Pakistan from an uneasy ally into a radicalized Islamic State that already has some 100-200 nukes will be irrefutable. The troops that remain inAfghanistan will then become landlocked and surrounded by Pakistan, Iran and Tukmenistan. It will be a reenactment of Dunkirk but without the sea lift.
Of course the coup degra will be when the Arab Spring that VP Joe Biden just waxed so poetic about completes the transformation of Morocco, Tunesia, Libya and Egypt into a confederated if not unified Islamic State. How much you bet we get another Embassy hostage crisis just in time for the election?
Meanwhile; the Muslim Democracy founded by Kemal Ataturk after WW-I that was once an ally of Israel is morphing into an Islamic Theocracy.
I seem to recall only one prominent politician who had the brains to publicly question why we were overthrowing Mubarak when he had been a loyal ally for three decades and had honored the Camp David Peace accords. This was the same Governor with no foreign policy credentials who had advocated that the US goal in Libya should be limited to killing Daffy Gadaffy for past sins because he had broken an agreement that Obama had approved to keep the Lockerbie bomber in custody as part of a deal to allow BP to have off shore oil concessions rather than regime change. Now what was this Governor’s name? Think now about what she looks like. Long, wavy brown hair, outstanding attributes and a well rounded personality.
Better a woman with ovaries for President than a man with no testicles or brains. This latter description applies to most of the GOP field.
samhenry
December 9, 2011
She is a good head to be sure. Perhaps she and Newt will share a ticket?
James Crawford
December 9, 2011
Might happen.
Palin will bring both the social conservatives and the anti corruption voters to the ticket.
I still think Newt should not be the nominee. Too much hypocrisy. Too much infidelity which isn’t unrelated to how honorably an elected official will performing office. Too much blatant corruption. Given Newt’s flip flopping on critical issues,he could become Obama 2.0 just like Romney. Might be better to let Obama stay in office so Republicans don’t have to take the blame for the inevitable economic implosion. However; if Newt is the nominee and Palin is his VP, I’ll enthusiastically vote for him while praying that he succumbs to venereal disease the day after inauguration.
James Crawford
December 9, 2011
Wheredid you get the fantastic photo of Pellossi? This really reflects her personality.
I still regret archiving a photo of her on her first day as Speaker of the House. She celebrated by buying that really big gavel and wearing a dress that flaunted her formidable cleavage.
samhenry
December 9, 2011
I got the Pellosi portrait by going to google images and googling something like Nancy Pellosi witch photos or something.
James Crawford
December 9, 2011
I suppose it would be grossly unfair and humiliating to Representative Pelossi to post a link to the YouTube video of Governor Palin competing in the Miss Alaska swimsuit competition? It would certainly refute the rumors that were circulating last year after her attendance at the Belmont Stakes that Governor Palin had gotten implants.