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Obama’s 5 Worst Foreign Policy Decisions
Townhall.com ^ | August 30, 2014 | John Hawkins

Posted on 08/30/2014 1:25:41 AM PDT by Kaslin

Since Barack Obama has been the Hindenburg of Presidents on the domestic front, there hasn't been as much commentary as you'd expect about the fact that he has been the Titanic of Presidents on foreign policy.

George W. Bush certainly made his mistakes as President, primarily in Iraq, but you did at least get the sense that his administration was full of capable, serious adults sincerely grappling with a new strategic problem for the country. On the other hand, when it comes to foreign policy, Obama comes across like a bored kid playing war because his mother won't let him come inside and play with his Xbox.

He doesn't care very much, he's not prepared, and he doesn't spend a lot of time thinking things through. It's like Obama just ponders the issues in-between shots on the golf course, formulates his policy by shooting from the hip, then gives a speech about it and thinks his work is done.

We may have laughed at the incompetence of the Obama Administration when it gave a "reset" button to the Russians that actually said "overcharge" or when the POTUS bowed to a foreign leader like he was his butler instead of the President of the United States, but there are real consequences to Obama's buffoonery on the world stage.

5) Benghazi: Congress is still investigating Benghazi, but best case scenario, the Obama Administration got Americans killed in Libya by ignoring their repeated requests for more security in a dangerous part of the world. Worst case scenario, the Obama Administration got them killed, deliberately misled the public about what happened for political purposes, and did nothing when it could have conceivably acted and saved their lives. When all the investigations are completed, we'll have a clearer picture of what happened, but at a minimum, good people are dead because the Obama Administration didn't take basic precautions to save their lives.

4) Libya: Gaddafi was an evil dictator with American blood on his hands, but he had also been scared straight by Bush’s invasion of Iraq and was cooperating with the United States. So naturally, Obama signaled the world that it was dumb to work with us by helping radical Islamists defeat Gaddafi. Today, Libya has implemented Sharia law, is a hotbed of terrorism and is descending into civil war. Meanwhile, many of Obama’s supporters still consider that country to be a “success story.” Maybe it is compared to say, Obamacare -- but like most of Obama’s presidency, we’d have all been better off if he’d just done nothing and let Gaddafi crush the radical Islamists.

3) Obama's Iranian Nuclear Deal: After a lot of grumbling that Obama wasn't doing anything to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons, Obama swung into action and made the situation even worse. He signed a deal with Iran that will allow it to rake in somewhere between 7 and 20 billion dollars in sanctions relief and frozen assets even as it CONTINUES to work on enriching uranium. In other words, the Iranians get billions of dollars, give up nothing of consequence and when anyone complains, Obama claims the problem is solved because we have a "deal" in place stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Given how bad a negotiator Obama is, I guess we should feel lucky that he didn't just give Iran a nuclear bomb in return for promises that it will never use it.

2) The Bowe Bergdahl swap: There's a reason that it is our nation's policy not to negotiate with terrorists. If you reward terrorists for their terrorism, it encourages more of the same. So, when Barack Obama broke the law to release five Taliban generals in return for deserter Bowe Bergdahl, he served notice to every terrorist on the planet that kidnapping Americans could pay big dividends. So it’s not exactly shocking that ISIS is promising to murder a captured relief worker if the U.S. doesn’t pay it millions and release Aafia Siddiqui AKA “Lady al-Qaeda.” After the Bergdahl deal, why wouldn’t ISIS expect that to work? Why wouldn’t Al-Qaeda start trying to capture our troops to trade for terrorists in Gitmo? How many of our soldiers will end up being kidnapped and held because of this swap? How many Americans will die when those Taliban generals inevitably go back to the fight? The Bergdahl swap was illegal, short-sighted, and stupid. In other words, it was VERY OBAMA.

1) Iraq/Isis: Despite being told over and over again that it was a terrible idea to set up a timeline in Iraq and pull out of the country for political reasons without getting a Status of Forces Agreement, Obama did it anyway. Then he bragged that "We’re leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq."

Not so much.

That’s because ISIS sprang up in Syria as one of the groups fighting anti-American dictator Bashar al-Assad. After Assad rather famously crossed Obama’s imaginary “red line” by using chemical weapons against the rebels trying to overthrow him, Obama wanted to aid them, even though there was every indication that radicals were taking over the movement. Had the public outcry not stopped him, it’s entirely possible Obama would have accidentally ended up helping ISIS take over Syria.

After ISIS gathered strength, it moved into Iraq where it outfought an Iraqi army that outnumbered it 15-to-1. If only those troops had more American training and a minimal amount of American air support, they would have crushed ISIS like a steamroller running over a watermelon with no U.S. casualties. Instead, there’s now an Islamic State stretching from Syria to Iraq run by maniacs who are committing genocide against Christians, taking sex slaves, and promising terrorist attacks against the United States.

What’s Obama’s plan to handle this disaster his policies created? Earlier this week, he said,

“We don’t have a strategy yet. We need to make sure that we’ve got clear plans. As our strategy develops, we will consult with Congress.”

Wow. Just wow.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barack0bama; foreignpolicy; iraq; isis; libya; obama; syria
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1 posted on 08/30/2014 1:25:41 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

WRONG...... the worse one was/is becoming a Marxist...
AND accepting Socialism as a rational pursuit..

AND failing to see capitalism strips socialism of any proper logic..
His whole world view is train wreck because of that..


2 posted on 08/30/2014 1:34:19 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: Kaslin

Only 5??


3 posted on 08/30/2014 1:46:55 AM PDT by Justice
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To: Justice

My first question as well.


4 posted on 08/30/2014 1:53:33 AM PDT by edpc (Wilby 2016)
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To: Kaslin
If only those troops had more American training and a minimal amount of American air support, they would have crushed ISIS like a steamroller running over a watermelon with no U.S. casualties.

The assumption here is training and support trumps the willingness to fight and defend. The Iraqi army lacks greatly in that area.

That said, Obama has a knack for taking a bad situation and making it infinitely worse.

5 posted on 08/30/2014 2:00:45 AM PDT by edpc (Wilby 2016)
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To: Kaslin

Where are all of the ZEROs behind the 5?

We do not call him pResident Zero for nothing.....


6 posted on 08/30/2014 3:11:37 AM PDT by eartick (Been to the line in the sand and liked it)
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To: hosepipe

——WRONG...... the worse one was/is becoming a Marxist...-——

I didn’t know becoming a Marxist was a bad foreign policy decision ...; )


7 posted on 08/30/2014 3:56:45 AM PDT by Popman (Jesus Christ Alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: Kaslin

This must have been the easiest article John Hawkins ever wrote. All he had to do was pick five random Obama foreign policy actions, and they were certain to be convincing as “worst decisions ever”.


8 posted on 08/30/2014 3:58:44 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: Kaslin

I figured he just thought about things on the golf course, but never really made decisions. That task was left to various fall guys.


9 posted on 08/30/2014 4:02:20 AM PDT by jughandle (Big words anger me, keep talking.)
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To: Kaslin

Remember the famous words of Sen. McCain: We have nothing to fear from an Obama Presidency...


10 posted on 08/30/2014 4:02:59 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: Pollster1

Bump


11 posted on 08/30/2014 4:04:30 AM PDT by GirlShortstop (Every person has a duty to seek and serve the truth. Abp Charles J. Chaput, OFMCap)
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To: Kaslin; Liz; SatinDoll; laplata; Lady Jag; blam; Diogenes; Jim Robinson; kristinn; trooprally; ...

Obama’s brain was fried by drugs, long ago.

In his Dreams book, he admitted to his youthful “enthusiastic use of drugs.”

Simple words such as “to” and “people” are pronounced “tuh” and “folks” respectively.

Obama has spoken no ideas that will be retained in the history of great speeches.

Obama’s public speaking is restricted to a carefully controlled audience where the act of BOOing is forcefully prohibited.

Obama’s brain is useless without a teleprompter to keep him on a topic.

Without a teleprompter, Obama play-acts out a “Devil made me do that,” shuffle and jive Role in a fake Southern accent.

Without an advisor to tell him what to do, Obama is terrified to “go it alone.”

Obama’s lack of a strong Foreign Policy advisor accounts for Obama’s obvious mental confusion in Foreign Policy and Military matters.

Obama follows orders from his advisors domestically, and thus has no problem “going it alone” domestically because his top aides tell him what to do, and then defend Obama flawlessly.

Obama chose, at the request of his advisors to negotiate with terrorists with the deal he made to release the GITMO FIVE in order to beef up ISIS at an opportune time for them.

Without Valerie Jarrett to write Obama’s speeches, and tell Obama what to do, the drugged stupor that Obama was in during his 2012 TV Denver Debate with Romney would be a monthly drug stupor spectacle.

As Obama’s fragile administration continues to fail, Obama is sent out of the Oval Office more frequently to perform simple tasks, such as Shuffle and Jive Role speeches at controlled rallies or controlled Democrat Donation functions. or Golf games with a tightly controlled guest list.

Obama’s recent admission that after 5.5 years of on-the-job-training to be the Commander in Chief, he still does not have a strategy for America’s number one enemy since 9-11-2001: Militant Muslims.

This was exactly what Obama’s advisors have tried so hard to avoid: showing the American Public that Obama does not have the mental capacity to be the Commander in Chief of the United States Military.

Obama will resign ONLY if Harry Reid tells Valerie Jarrett that Obama must resign for the good of the Democrat Party.

What is good for the Country is of NO concern to Reid or Jarrett.


12 posted on 08/30/2014 4:15:10 AM PDT by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: Kaslin

Sorry #1 was getting elected.


13 posted on 08/30/2014 4:38:02 AM PDT by DeaconRed (ZERO must go while we still have a country. Joint Chiefs . . . . . . Do Your JOB NOW ! ! ! ! ! ! !)
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To: Kaslin
Despite being told over and over again that it was a terrible idea to set up a timeline in Iraq and pull out of the country for political reasons without getting a Status of Forces Agreement, Obama did it anyway.

If Bush couldn't get a Status of Forces agreement what makes you think Obama could have?

14 posted on 08/30/2014 4:44:30 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Kaslin

Don’t forget Egypt


15 posted on 08/30/2014 4:47:49 AM PDT by 4rcane
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To: Kaslin
“We don’t have a strategy yet. We need to make sure that we’ve got clear plans. As our strategy develops, we will consult with Congress.”

This one statement will prove to be his worst foreign policy decision he has ever made. What leader in their right mind makes a statement like this to the media? He might as well have raised "Allah's/ISIS" flag himself over the WH. I do not think even Biden could have made such a stupid public statement. Wow. Just wow...doesn't even cut it.

I hope and pray every American understands the danger 0bama has put this country in with that one statement. At least the NDAA is already issued for the detainment of Americans deemed enemy combatants on US soil...right?

16 posted on 08/30/2014 4:53:30 AM PDT by EBH (And the angel poured out his cup...)
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To: 4rcane; Grampa Dave; Graewoulf; stephenjohnbanker; justiceseeker93; Jane Long; GOPJ; sickoflibs
Don’t forget Egypt....in any list of Obama's botched foreign policy decisions.

These Foreign U.S. Allies Just Did Something Major Behind Obama’s Back, And He Will NOT Be Happy
westernjournalism.com ^ | august 26, 2014 | norvell rose / FR Posted by lowbridge

“The Obama administration did not know ahead of time about the highly unusual military intervention….” That’s how the Washington Post describes a recent series of airstrikes in the Libyan capital of Tripoli by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The secret attacks, according to the New York Times, were aimed at Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli; and they represent “a major escalation of a regional power struggle set off by Arab Spring revolts.” In what could be a sign of increasingly strained international relations, the Times also reports:

The United States, the officials said, was caught by surprise: Egypt and the Emirates, both close allies and military partners, acted without informing Washington, leaving the Obama administration on the sidelines. Some observers note that both the UAE and Egypt appear to be doing more to combat the rise of Islamist extremism than the United States. (Excerpt) Read more at westernjournalism.com ...

===============================================

ANALYSIS Egypt? Giving Obama the finger? That's no surprise. They've done it before. In the post-Morsi era, Gen al Sisi (now Egyptian president) refused to take Obama's phone call---b/c Obama wanted al Sisi to leave the M/B alone.

Brilliant strategist, al Sisi, proceeded to smash the M/B and throw them out of Egyptian politics....he vowed to rebuild the 65 Christian churches the M/B had torched.

==============================================

POINTS TO PONDER:

<><> The Sharia government of Brunei – whose Sultan has been on the receiving end of Hollywood protesters for his ownership stake in the Beverly Hills Hotel – has made significant contributions to the Clinton Foundation. ...

<><> Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah isn’t the only Muslim fundamentalist with connections to Hillary Clinton or the Clinton Foundation.

<><> As Shoebat.com reported last year, Muslim Brotherhood member Gehad El-Haddad was arrested in Egypt and not only was the Chief of Staff to Khairat al-Shater, who is Deputy Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood there...AT THE SAME TIME El-Haddad was an employee of the tax-exempt Clinton Foundation.

<><> In addition to El-Haddad, Hillary’s very close and longtime aide Huma Abedin is strongly connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. Abedin’s mother is a leader with the Muslim Sisterhood and one of her co-leaders is the wife of imprisoned former President of Egypt, Mohammed Mursi, who is also a member of Muslim the Brotherhood.

=================================================

It should be remembered that while the Muslim Brotherhood was in charge in Egypt, Obama and Hillary showered them with praise and provided billions of dollars in aid, arms, tanks and planes. Egypt has unceremoniously thrown the Muslim Brotherhood out of Egyptian politics.... and hasn’t forgotten the support offered to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt has now charged Obama and Hillary Clinton for conspiring and collaborating with the M/B and advancing their terrorist activities. Hillary's pal, al Haddad, is also sitting in an Egyptian jail (reported by H/T Western Journalism).

17 posted on 08/30/2014 5:00:51 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Cowboy Bob
I bet he wished he had never said that, but then everyone makes mistakes. The biggest mistakes made are from those who voted for that arrogant pos, and especially those who voted twice for him.

If there is such a thing I hope they rot in the Stupidity Hell

18 posted on 08/30/2014 5:28:31 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

Rice
Brennan
Power
Clinton
Jarrett

You pick the order.


19 posted on 08/30/2014 5:32:18 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Socialism consumes EVERYTHING)
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To: Kaslin

The FIVE worst? How about the ten worst?
Gee, it’s hard to choose...they’re all bad.


20 posted on 08/30/2014 5:33:52 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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