This position is entirely predictable.
The left sees ALL leadership of every country as the intellectual elite, simply by virtue of being in power. Since they are so intellectually superior, they will respond to reasoned diplomacy, every time, and all we have to do is “stop being belligerent” and defensive.
Seems like a twisted form of the old "Divine Right of Kings". If you're at the top, you much be brilliant, legitimate, and chosen by God -- otherwise you wouldn't be there, right? I can certainly see Obama thinking along these lines.
Sure they will.
I think the various world heads of state are still in 'observe and test' mode with President Obama. Nothing serious, just watching him interact with his environment to gauge his responses. Were I a foreign dictator, I'd have the following observations thus far:
1. Popularity is his strongest attribute, and he is overconfident when his popularity is high. The inverse will likely be true as well.
2. He enjoys intimidation, but lacks the nerve to push anyone who can push back.
3. He is naiive, and passionately so, meaning he can be manipulated by using his own ego as leverage against him.
4. He is intelligent but fancies himself a mastermind, and is unaware that he telegraphs his moves clearly.
5. Not only is his bark worse than his bite, but he seems to think that barking is by itself the stronger weapon.
Most world leaders are calm, unblinking cutthroats or pompous liberal automatons. They had to be so, to get to their position. Obama's ability to impress the later comes at a direct loss of his ability to impress the former.
You've nailed it.
Devoid of reality.