President Obama’s foreign policy is based on fantasy (Washington Post Editorial...)

washingtonpost.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

President Obama’s foreign policy is based on fantasy By Editorial Board, Published: March 2

FOR FIVE YEARS, President Obama has led a foreign policy based more on how he thinks the world should operate than on reality. It was a world in which “the tide of war is receding” and the United States could, without much risk, radically reduce the size of its armed forces. Other leaders, in this vision, would behave rationally and in the interest of their people and the world. Invasions, brute force, great-power games and shifting alliances — these were things of the past. Secretary of State John F. Kerry displayed this mindset on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday when he said, of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, “It’s a 19th century act in the 21st century.”

That’s a nice thought, and we all know what he means. A country’s standing is no longer measured in throw-weight or battalions. The world is too interconnected to break into blocs. A small country that plugs into cyberspace can deliver more prosperity to its people (think Singapore or Estonia) than a giant with natural resources and standing armies.

Unfortunately, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not received the memo on 21st-century behavior. Neither has China’s president, Xi Jinping, who is engaging in gunboat diplomacy against Japan and the weaker nations of Southeast Asia. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is waging a very 20th-century war against his own people, sending helicopters to drop exploding barrels full of screws, nails and other shrapnel onto apartment buildings where families cower in basements. These men will not be deterred by the disapproval of their peers, the weight of world opinion or even disinvestment by Silicon Valley companies. They are concerned primarily with maintaining their holds on power.

[Starboard]

Exactly. You nailed it in one sentence. Nice post.

[SoFloFreeper]

Did Washington Post endorse the Clown?

[oldbrowser]

But I am having a hard time accepting this at face value.

I understand that the commie CEO of the Post recently retired. Might this be a sign of new leadership?

[pburgh01]

Shame on you for your wicked, ignorant, hateful lies!

What lies was that? The Ukranian SS divisions? The Jews that died? The fact they were enthusiastic and active members in the USSR's politburo. Don't be such a contrarian and lemming, that because Obama can do nothing all of a sudden Ukrainians are by proxy your friends.

[yldstrk]

Yes, I agree

[Cementjungle]

I understand that the commie CEO of the Post recently retired. Might this be a sign of new leadership?

They'll find someone even further to the left, if that's even possible.

[yldstrk]

Ukrainian guards were some of the worst. I still feel sorry for the Russians, my grandmother was a Russian from Ukraine, and the fact that they are still in the grip of Communist evil

[SoFloFreeper]

A possible motivation for this editorial is to lament the absence of Hitlery....how our dear Obama became unmoored without her at the helm of State.

[Buckeye McFrog]

thinking he can do it all by himself with a word or two

Could not have said it better. In any sort of crisis he goes out and delivers a speech, and then goes and pats himself on the back as if he's actually done his job.

[Vaduz]

Reality has been a void his entire life.

[bill1952]

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” ― Thucydides,

[Morpheus2009]

If people can make Obama a hero, they can do the same for Hillary, although at the same time, people like Obama can outdo Hillary, if a similar figure comes into the primaries.

Perhaps the biggest thing I have against Hillary is the fact that it means putting Billary back in the White House. I have to say it, but I doubt even Billy Jeff could do much to help the current situation.

[livius]

Yes...after all, His Godhood has spoken. What more is needed?

I was particularly impressed by the way he didn’t even bother to go to the national security meeting and even pretend that he might learn something.

[Izzy Dunne]

I have no doubt that the conspirators in the White Hut are looking for illicit ways to extend his “presidency”.

Well, that idea has a few adherents:

I'm going to bet that's not Michelle Malkin they're rooting for...

[SandRat]

O's entire Presidency has been and is based on FANTASY

[lentulusgracchus]

And the Washington Post turns.............maybe.

The fellow-travelers at WaPo haven't figured out yet that they're not watching a fairy prince at work summoning skittles and unicorns. This is a full-bull, grown-up Quisling act that the world knows quite well from the 1930's and 1940's. Obama is playing the Quisling role, and Putin is the man who owns him.

Only a few voices on the Right have openly called Obama on his treason so far.

[lentulusgracchus]

You have to admit, as much as we do not like her, she is twice the man that Obama is. Also, I would not want to be on her bad side. Talk about hell on wheels. I think that a lot of guys felt sorry for Billy Bob because he had to go home to that.

Of course she is .... any acculturated "turned out" diesel would be. Hell, my kid sister would be, and she's an actual girl.

Never feel sorry for Beast or Slick. They made themselves what they are. They summoned Mephistophilis, not the other way around.

[lentulusgracchus]

....I was particularly impressed by the way he didn’t even bother to go to the national security meeting

Was that recently? It was a beef a couple of years ago, but I haven't heard it repeated since.

Inquiring minds, etc.

[Batman11]

“wouldn’t bet on it. These are likeminded people - America bashers; Christian haters. Even propagandists have to ‘try’ to make it look good lest they be criticized for biased reporting.”

Bingo! Don’t trust these people, they are our enemies!