Posted on 06/21/2014 12:51:43 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Already swamped by domestic and foreign crises, Obama finds that even his self-proclaimed successes are at risk. That's just about the last thing he needs now.
Of all the things to rise up and bedevil President Obama again, Iraq seemed to be low on the list. But now the White House must live with the reality that, almost three years after the war was declared over, American blood could be spilled anew in a conflict that could readily escalate.
Obama's announcement that up to 300 military advisers would be sent to Iraq marks a brutal moment in a brutal stretch for this presidency, one that threatens to indelibly stain not only his foreign policy record but his legacy as well.
This was a man who, as a candidate and as a chief executive, made pulling the United States out of two intractable wars in the Middle East central to his theory of governance. He ended wars, he liked to say. He didn't start them.
Sending a relative handful of forces back to the region doesn't mean he's doing so, of course. "American forces will not be returning to combat," Obama was sure to pledge to the public Thursday, and White House aides insist that this is a limited mission, that the Iraqi government, ultimately, will have to be the ones to repel the forces of the Sunni insurgency and mend the broken country. Still, the move is a tacit acknowledgment that many of the assumptions that Obama and his foreign policy team made about the world have proven to be incorrect:
◾That without the leverage of U.S. military power in the country, Iraqi leaders would pursue political change that wouldn't leave Sunnis alienated and antagonized and that its security forces could counter internal threats;
◾That Afghanistan would be stable enough for the U.S. to end that war and depart with confidence the government can keep the nation on a stable path;
◾That the U.S. could pursue a "reset" with Vladimir Putin's Russia—but then watched his troops take Crimea and threaten the rest of Ukraine;
◾That the civil war in Syria could somehow be contained within its borders—and could reach a resolution without American intervention.
More than anything, these events and others have served as a rebuke to Team Obama's worldview that a new generation of leadership could move on from both the Clinton-era and Bush-era policies. Both of those administrations were more hawkish and aggressive about the exercise of American power, whether it was to intercede in regional conflicts in the Balkans or take down Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
Disdainful of much of Washington's foreign policy establishment, Obama and his close-knit circle of advisers, on the other hand, talked about engaging Iran diplomatically, using sanctions to punish bad actors, "pivoting" to Asia, and neutralizing the threat of terrorism more bloodlessly through the use of drones. They viewed American power in terms of limits. This was a president, after all, who opposed the U.S. "surge" that arguably stabilized Iraq to the point where Obama could pull the troops out.
Yet here was Obama on Thursday using the language of presidents past such as John Kennedy and George W. Bush, talking of sending "advisers" into a global hot spot and warning of the need to deny "safe haven" to terrorist groups. "Right now, this is the moment when the fate of Iraq hangs in the balance," he said—something that sounded So 10 Years Ago.
That's why Obama's remarks had to have left such a bitter taste. Iraq was a box that his administration had checked. And already, the unrest there is casting fresh doubt on his decision to leave Afghanistan just a few years removed from calling for his own "surge" there. Americans are giving his handling of foreign policy the lowest marks of his presidency. With Syria on fire, Egypt and Libya in turmoil, and Russia meddling in Ukraine, the world has reached up and pulled the once-soaring avatar of change crashing earthward
The White House's best hope is that a political solution can indeed be reached in Iraq and that the crisis falls off the radar screen. Other than targeted airstrikes, there aren't great options for Obama beyond this point: The public is dead set against a further involvement and Congress—especially Obama's fellow Democrats—is skittish. If the president wants to do more on this battlefield, he'll end up owning this in a way he never wanted and, a few years ago, probably couldn't have contemplated.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
It’s Obama’s playground, and America’s nightmare.
The “Nightmare” entered the White House on January 20, 2010.
As James Taranto of the WSJ often asks: Why do bad things always happen to him?
At the end of the day....Obama “vision” of how the world should work will get more people killed then any other POTUS in modern times....
World Marxism is a really crappy foreign policy....
His "legacy" is shattered if the United States, by some miracle, survives his administration.
How do you know US Forces "won't be returning to combat" - you got a crystal ball or something? They will surely be attacked if at all possible. I wonder if Barry's ROE includes no ammo provided to his "advisers" ??
Thanks.
Obama either knew or his advisers where int eh dark...but we built up ISI Forces in Syria all the while their ultimate goal was to take back Iraq from the Shia...no other primary purpose was sought - and they will NOT stop until they kill Maliki and rest on the borders of Iran...all the while Saudi, Qutar, and Bahrain entities pay this Salafist to stay up there and fight and not come down the coast to cut their heads off and seize control of Mecca and the rest of the oil for their prized Calaphate!
Watch it happen - just like German and Japanese aggression in the 30’s....until we we were attacked by “surprise” did we commit to war....geez...it’s so plain to see what the Sunni community wants - and it’s not a nation run by Shia!
“o” could slap the Pope on the town square and the MSM would spin it HIS way!
His supporters need to drink big gulps. This is what you signed up for. Just own it. Stop whining.
Kind of reminds you of how Nam got started. With lbj calling the bombing runs from the WH. Not letting the Brass on the ground make the decisions. Got a lot of men KIA. That first Platoon that was sent in was slaughtered as they were under prepared and our manned. The enemy had 20 yrs of fighting an the French, all the tunnel infrastructure was already in place for them to hide and strike from, they knew their truf and we didn’t. Plus they were guerrilla fighters, while we had regimented trained soldiers.
Brass still fight the last war, not the current.
Our Troops don’t need to be in 25 hot muslim spots either.
soetoro is an islamist involved in islamist shiite designed to weaken and destroy the United States.
With the help of the Democratic Party
Our poor, young President is so picked upon. This is so unfair.
OK , I’ll admit it right here ,, didn’t read the article or any replies ..
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This is what Obama wants ,, “I can be much more flexible after the election.” ,, his negotiated pullout from Iraq and Afghanistan lead to this.. it was planned.
This gives Putin control of the Iraqi oil which makes Lukoils Iranian contracts much more valuable ...
Obama gets the US weakened at the “right point” in his presidency ,, just in time for his exit.
Obama will not retire to Hawaii ,, he’ll be partying in Cuba ...
we should pull all troops out and let them kill each others. That hell hole is not worth one more American life.
please point out for me something that Obama has done that can truly be considered to be a success?
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You are confusing stated goals and real goals ... this is his greatest success. We will have $12/gallon gas, poverty that makes the great depression look like a picnic and multi-front wars .. The USA will be neutered and communist thugs will expand their influence globally.
“Obama has a foreign policy record, but it is one of failure. Can some liberal please point out for me something that Obama has done that can truly be considered to be a success?”
Sorry but you are totally wrong about this, Obama has been very successful as President, why you are wrong is you are using a conservative measuring stick not the liberal one. By liberal standards and goals he has been the most successful POTUS since FDR.
What else should one expect from a black narcissistic man-child illegal alien Marxist from Kenya?
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You want a real answer? The rule of law is dead here ... He is angling for a two tiered thugocracy with the lower class (which includes the former middle) as wage slaves with food stamp cards supporting his $100,000,000.00 vacations.. You can also expect the USA to be mightily humbled by impossibly expensive energy while the USSR under Putin and his worldwide allies expand their influence.
I’m coming to join you Alex ,, I’ll be in CDO and am expanding the fish farm in Agusan del Sur...
At the end of the day....Obama “vision” of how the world should work will get more people killed then any other POTUS in modern times....
World Marxism is a really crappy foreign policy....
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Since there’s no “thumbs up” button I’ll just repost you and give you an attaboy..
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