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Rudderless U.S. foreign policy - Obama stands by as tyranny spreads
washingtontimes.com ^ | July 29, 2014 | Ben S. Carson

Posted on 07/29/2014 7:29:45 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

From the Middle East to Eurasia, it often seems that President Obama is reacting to events instead of trying to shape them. Americans have begun to see his collective failures as an indictment on his presidency, and they long for clarity and purpose from their president.

The clear foreign policy that is grounded in American ideas of promoting liberty abroad and preserving our security at home is what is needed now. That is how we became a superpower. Reversing these ideas allows our adversaries to become stronger and impairs our ability to respond to present-day threats.

While Mr. Obama’s foreign-policy adventures have waxed and waned in the eyes of the American public, his indecisiveness in places such as Iraq and Syria has presented an image of weakness on the global stage. We have failed to adequately deal with Russian aggression in Georgia and Ukraine. Recognizing that the United States would soon be changing administrations, Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. ....Russia’s Vladimir Putin sensed our weakness and saw opportunity. Six years later, he annexed Crimea and now pro-Russian forces are trying to take over more land in Ukraine.

What has the Obama administration done in response to this aggression by Russia? Not really much, other than impose toothless sanctions on Russian businessmen close to Mr. Putin (but not the Russian president himself) that have done little to make Russia change course. Is this what Ronald Reagan would have done? Or would he have helped pro-democracy Ukrainians and pressed Europe to look for alternatives to Russian natural gas to preclude being held hostage by Russian energy? Additionally, we need to reinforce our commitments to NATO and get the former components of the Soviet Union involved. Otherwise, Mr. Putin will do this again.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: nationalsecurityfail
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21 posted on 07/29/2014 8:07:02 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Southack

Putin took Crimea, but it’s not too late to stop him from taking the rest of Eastern Ukraine. If we fail to act now, it will be too late.

What you are saying is like saying in the 1950’s it’s too late to save West Berlin, we should just let the Soviets have it. It’s like saying in the 1940’s, it’s too late to save France, just let Hitler keep it.


22 posted on 07/29/2014 8:14:50 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe; MeshugeMikey; All

Not so!

Nobel Laurette B. Hussein Obama, aka Barry Soetoro, has achieved what only Harry Truman had achieved: ANOTHER COLD WAR.

THE OBAMA COLD WAR will be a lot safer, as no boots will be issued to Soldiers, Jet Fuel will be rationed to all but Air Force One, and there will be safe usage of Obamadrones, painted Putting-Green, (TM), of course.


23 posted on 07/29/2014 8:16:27 PM PDT by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: Graewoulf

Barry’s directors and writers have done one bang up job to this point...

when it all crumbles around him.....we shall see who gets the last laugh.


24 posted on 07/29/2014 8:22:55 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ( "Never, never, never give up". Winston Churchill ...)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I think stunned like the Norwegian parrot.


25 posted on 07/29/2014 8:26:38 PM PDT by SkyDancer (If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Obama is an STD to Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty..

...Obamaeria...


26 posted on 07/29/2014 8:28:03 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: hosepipe

Ø is but a symptom of the disease that killed this republic.

WE can not survive an illiterate electorate that has the power to vote. Until that changes, we swirl down the drain.


27 posted on 07/29/2014 8:49:30 PM PDT by bicyclerepair (The zombies here elected alcee hastings. TERM LIMITS ... TERM LIMITS)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

This is Dr Ben Carson. maybe a presidential candidate weighing in on world affairs. he seems to have national issues well in hand.


28 posted on 07/29/2014 9:10:26 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2 (civil law: commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong Blackstone Commentaries I p44)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Very good PBS Frontline program this week on the history of the Iraqi war - Bush and the crew take their lumps, but Obama looks totally incompetent - for instance Bush worked closely with Al Maliki, even holding regular TV “tutorials” with him to help guide his policies while heading Iraq - although Maliki showed tendencies to want to purge sunnis during that period, they were held in check - from the time Obama took over he never met with Maliki, even insisting that the Iraq ruling council formalize an informal understanding that no Americans remaining in country would be held criminally responsible for actions attributable to war, something Obama knew was unlikely - this gave Obama the rationalization to pull all our troops out of the country at the end of 2011 as per agreement reached by Bush and thus treating Iraq as a “normal” and “sovereign” nation, something commentators on the program all agreed was far from actuality. The day after our troops left, Maliki had the sunni vice-premier arrested and began a major purge of sunni influence in the country, including even the “Sons of Iraq”, the sunni militia which Petraeus had bought off to help pacify the country during the “Surge” - so out of touch was our government with the Iraq government that we had no idea that the Iraq army would collapse when ISIS invaded in the spring - Obama threw away what had been gained in the country because of what the program makes evident was his dislike for the war and Bush’s policy and his desire to simply walk away and be done with it....


29 posted on 07/29/2014 9:12:06 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Southack
I fully understand your reasoning. Here is mine.

1. The Netherlands, Britain and Germany are NATO members.
2. The downing of a commercial plane by Russia i.e. Ukrainian Rebels/Terrorists is not a trivial matter especially if it sets a precedence.
3. It is America who stands for human decency, human dignity and we did nothing. Period. Very sad. (See and hear speech at 1:40-1:50; 2:30-4:43; and finally 5:45-6:43 minutes into Mr. Timmerman's speech)
4. Below is the Dutch Foreign Minister Timmerman's address to the UN Security Council. It is Churchillian and only 6:43 minutes long. It is worth a listen just to hear a Statesman in action. You will appreciate his ability to persuade. It is quite moving.

http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/dutch-foreign-minister-gives-emotional-address-un-security-council/678266/

30 posted on 07/29/2014 10:06:30 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Southack

We lost Poland when Obama rescinded missile defense. Hopefully we will elect a POTUS who understand the world as it is not as interpreted by a rabid left wing ideologue.


31 posted on 07/29/2014 10:10:48 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Tailgunner Joe; Southack
Touche, Tailgunner Joe. Talk about supply lines, Southhack. ; )
32 posted on 07/29/2014 10:14:05 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Intolerant in NJ
What is the name of the show? I may be able to catch it “On Demand”. TY in advance.
33 posted on 07/29/2014 10:16:58 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Intolerant in NJ
Obama is a rabid ideologue. There is nothing we can do about it for 2 years and five months and 28 days.
34 posted on 07/29/2014 10:19:39 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Chgogal

When someone mentions Hitler, they’ve already lost the debate.


35 posted on 07/29/2014 10:23:37 PM PDT by Southack (The one thing preppers need from the 1st World? http://tinyurl.com/ktfwljc .)
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To: Southack
Who mentioned Hitler?
36 posted on 07/29/2014 10:27:27 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Chgogal

Post 22.


37 posted on 07/29/2014 10:29:07 PM PDT by Southack (The one thing preppers need from the 1st World? http://tinyurl.com/ktfwljc .)
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To: Southack
Oh please!!!

I was talking about the West Berlin Airlift for heaven's sake. Forget it. No need to listen to Timmerman or respond to me. You are not worthy of such a statesman. You are too puny to appreciate his speech.

Eff you and good bye A$$hole. I am pissed so stay far away from me.

38 posted on 07/29/2014 10:31:34 PM PDT by Chgogal (Obama "hung the SEALs out to dry, basically exposed them like a set of dog balls..." CMH)
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To: Chgogal

Weak.


39 posted on 07/29/2014 10:33:35 PM PDT by Southack (The one thing preppers need from the 1st World? http://tinyurl.com/ktfwljc .)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

he wants it to spread, crises to exploit. it’s deliberate.


40 posted on 07/29/2014 11:25:23 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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