Posted by
Defend America on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 1:14:33 PM
Barack Obama’s Top Ten Foreign Policy Follies
By Nile Gardiner
World
Last updated: December 23rd, 2009
This has hardly been a stellar year for the projection of American
global power. Weakness, rather than strength, has been the hallmark of
US foreign policy under Barack Obama, from the Iranian nuclear crisis
to dithering over the war in Afghanistan. Instead of strong American
leadership, the White House has all too often offered humiliating
apologies for America’s past and embarrassing gaffes.
Here is a list of the ten biggest foreign policy follies of Barack
Obama’s first year in office. I’ve tried to make the list inclusive of
all corners of the world, ranging from Tehran to Tokyo to Khartoum, and
frankly could easily have expanded it to a top 20 or even top 30 list.
There are plenty to choose from, including some of the most cringe
worthy moments in modern American history.
1. Surrendering to Russia over Missile Defence
The White House’s betrayal of US allies in eastern and central Europe by
reneging on the deal to establish Third Site missile defences sent a
clear signal that Washington was more concerned about appeasing Moscow
than defending its friends. It symbolized all that is wrong with
Obama’s foreign policy – including the willingness to curry favour with
brutal enemies while giving the boot to some of America’s closest
partners.
2. Appeasing the Mullahs of Iran
If Barack Obama makes a New Year’s resolution, I hope it will be
that he stops appeasing Tehran. The White House’s strategy of
engagement with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been nothing
short of a spectacular failure. While Obama has been busy emulating the
European Union’s dismal Common Foreign and Security Policy and sending
polite video messages, the Mullahs and their puppets have been busy
advancing their nuclear weapons programme, enriching uranium, supplying
arms to the Taliban, capturing British sailors, test-firing long-range
missiles, threatening the annihilation of Israel, and killing
pro-democracy protestors.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100020607/barack-obama%E2%80%99s-top-ten-foreign-policy-follies/