Posted on 02/03/2010 2:10:20 PM PST by seanmerc
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama does have a foreign policy. It’s called war.
Unfortunately, the president has not defined any real difference between his hawkish approach to international issues and that of his predecessor, former President George W. Bush.
Where’s the change we can believe in?
Bush left a legacy of two wars, neither of which was ever fully explained or justified. Obama has merely picked up the sword that Bush left behind in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Both wars lack a formal congressional declaration of war.
In the struggle against terrorism one might say, "Who cares?"
Well, one group that cares consists of Americans who follow the rules of the road and think we should honor all the treaties we have promoted and signed over the years.
The president gave short shrift to foreign policy in his State of the Union address, mentioning neither the lives lost nor the cost of the global hostilities that the U.S. has involved itself in. He also didn’t mention U.S. policies in the Middle East, though those are the root cause of many of our problems.
While U.S. special envoy George Mitchell has a hopeful outlook for the resumption of the stalemated talks between the Israelis and Palestinians after a year of trying, Obama seems to have temporarily thrown in the towel. Obama did say he was keeping his promise to leave Iraq "to its people" by the end of August.
"Make no mistake,” the president said, "this war is ending and all of our troops are coming home." Meanwhile, frequent suicide bombings continue in that beleaguered country.
Afghanistan is a different story. U.S. forces there are involved in manhunts and the drone-rocketing of al Qaida and Taliban leaders. But the cost in civilian life is heavy when drones are used and whole families have been wiped out to get one suspected leader.
The U.S. seems to have convinced the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan that it’s their war too. The Washington Post said the loss of Hakimullah Mehsud -- the top Pakistani Taliban leader who reportedly died from wounds suffered from drone missile attack -- has dealt a fatal blow to his ruthless followers.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military web has spread to Yemen, where American intelligence teams have joined Yemeni troops in planning missions against -- but not actually fighting -- al Qaida elements. Scores have been killed there.
Then there’s the ramped-up U.S. saber-rattling toward Iran.
In his speech, Obama warned Iran of "consequences" if it didn’t play ball and cooperate on nuclear inspections. It’s unclear whether those consequences are of the financial sanction variety or, more ominously, of a pre-emptive military strike by the U.S. or Israel.
All this comes at a time when the U.S. has bolstered its naval presence in the Persian Gulf and the neo conservatives are calling for "regime change" in Iran. Sound familiar?
But one prominent neo-con, Robert Kagan, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment, sees the possibility of peaceful regime change in Iran.
Writing recently in the Washington Post, Kagan said it would be a tragedy "if Israel damaged the likelihood of regime change" with an air strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Organic regime change -- rather than a military strike -- could change the Iranian equation dramatically, Kagan concludes.
Iran, reacting to Western pressure or from fear of an attack, recently offered to send its uranium abroad for enrichment for industrial use.
There are new tensions in other parts of the world. For example, China is upset with the U.S. $6 billion-plus arms sale to its nemesis, Taiwan. China’s also irked at Google for its belated push-back against Chinese hacking into Google’s Gmail accounts.
Obama will add to his world travels soon, going to Indonesia, where he spent some of his childhood, and Australia. In April he will attend a world conference in London on ways to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons.
So while the president’s Democratic base of support mutters about his abandonment of health reform, immigration reform and other choice policies, Obama can take solace in support from the Republican Party -- the "party of No" -- whenever he flexes U.S. military muscle.
And so this president takes his place among other U.S. chief executives who have sought the glory of leading the nation in military conflict. He has attained the desired status of "War President."
Now THERE’S an image I could’ve lived without.
Will Obamacare include mandatory plastic surgery?
LOL sorry LOL I could not resist that. LOL
Wow! Belly-girl!
I wondered what happened to Belly-girl. Hot and smart. Unbeatable combo.
Helen should do some reading. Specifically how many wars the US has fought since its existence where a formal congressional declaration of war occured vs. not.
Wars in which a formal congressional declaration of war occured: 5
Wars in which president acted without prior express military authorization from congress (aka undeclared wars): atleast 125.
Helen also should read up on "military engagements AUTHORIZED by Congress", but short of a formal declaration of war.
Desert Storm (Iraq), Enduring Freedom (Afganistan), and Iraq war were all authorized by congress.
Just to drive the point home, lets take a look at Enduring Freedom. Initial authorization on S.J. Res. 23, Sept 14th, 2001. Senate vote 98-0 House vote 420-1
Helen Thomas = Epic Fail
Obama is the Cpl. Klinger of the Afghan War.
You are sick and twisted! :-0
I think that kid might have also been watching “2 girls one Cup”. Same thing as seeing Helen in a bikini.
O gosh that’s funny...can’t stop laughing!
Unfortunately, the president has not defined any real difference between his hawkish approach to international issues and that of his predecessor, former President George W. Bush. Where's the change we can believe in? Bush left a legacy of two wars, neither of which was ever fully explained or justified.Change we can believe in would consist of the timely demise of this lying old bag of crap. Thanks seanmerc.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh! My eyes!!!!!
She is ugly dog of the year Helen Thomas LOL!
Monk I think we got successor of US uglist dog you won’t believe who it is LOL!
Ping 34
OMG! I laughed till I had heartburn!
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