Obama’s foreign policy team has been working overtime in an attempt to help stabilize the various crisis currently on their plate.
Secretary Clinton was in the Hague where she signaled a willingness to work with Iran on shared interests in the Afghanistan region and while there was no formal meeting with the representative of Iran, special envoy Richard Holbrooke did greet Iran’s delegation and they exchanged some pleasantries. Hey, it’s a start.
In addition, Clinton voiced support for Afghanistan’s attempts to reign in more moderate elements within the Taliban, if that is indeed possible.
During her travels yesterday, Secretary Clinton responded to a question from a reporter and she remarked that the poorly-defined and legally vague term “war on terror” seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird. Good riddance.
Stumble It!
4 responses so far ↓
1 tehehehe // Apr 8, 2009 at 10:28 am
Yep. It looks like Obama has “solved” the domestic problems, so now he can move on to the foregn policy aspects of the Presidency!
While in Europe, Obama “rebuked” the N. Koreans for firing a missle. And Obama went to the UN to ask for sanctions. Of course, the UN simply brushed it aside, as always, Not Obama’s fault, because they ALWAYS do that.
Then he went to NATO and asked for support for the war in Afghanistan, and the allies pledged to listen, but not much else. Not Obama’s fault. The Europeans have let us carry water for them in terms of defense for decades.
Regarding GITMO, no one, none of the allies, have volunteered to tke any of the “detainees” (note the exception for France, we agreed to accept ONE). The Europeans may condemn the US, they may want the US to close GITMO, but they are less than willing to help. Again, no surprise here! About what any leader of the US should expect.
Then he went on a tour of Europe and the Mid-East where he “humbled” himself (I am not saying this in a derogatory way) and America (we are arrogant, we tortured people, we used nukes, we engaged in unnecesary wars, we failed to listen). Heck, he even bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia! Obama “struck a new tone”. And possibly it is what was needed.
I don’t suggest or imply that Obama “failed” because of the lack of success in actually managing to make some “accomplishment”. He went over to deliver a “concilliatory message”, with no real objectives except some showpieces.
So, now we have a “new tone”. And now even the Congress wants in on the act (they were down “apologizing” for American behavior towards Cuba over the weekend). So, will it “get” us anything in return?
We’re waiting. Let’s hope we get some real breakthroughs! Let’s hope that this doesn’t simply demonstrate how naive Obama was to believe that merely trying to be “meek” would somehow magnify our “moral superiority” to the extent that the rest of the world would willingly follow our lead or offer us support.
Oh, Cuba agreed with Congress that the US was “wrong” in its past policies, but that Cuba “did not need the US”. And Iran issued a similar message. And Russia and China are expanding defense spending. And Korea is selling missile technology to Iran. And a new investigation have provided evidence that Iran is obtaining equipment that is for nuclear weapons development. And Hamas, Hezzbollah, and Islamic Jihad, as well as Islamic leaders around the world, including those in England and other European countries, are paising Al Qaeda and justify their terrorist activities.
A “change” is imminent, I am sure!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090407/pl_afp/cubauspolitics_20090407184154
http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/04/07/fidel-castro-praises-congressional-delegation-cuba/
2 tehehehe // Apr 8, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hillary (fresh off her “self-blame” tour in Mexico), Obama (back from bowing to foreign Muslim Kings), and Congress (back after apologizing to Castro) can use the “new tone” and “improved image overseas” to exercise their “enhanced moral authority” to bring these pirates down:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/08/obamas-pirate-problem/
This new foreign policy image will help us with se-piracy just like it did with N. Korean missile launches:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-07-voa44.cfm
and with Iranian nuclear weapons production:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/04/07/2009-04-07_iranian_nuke_plot_vaporized_in_the_city_-2.html
Apparently Obama plans to release a statement that promises “swift response” just like he did regarding the N. Korean missile launch that embarrassed him during the G-20 tour.
Biden, however, says we are NOT “less safe”.
‘Course, dealing with “pirates” is “left over” from the last administration. Bush failed to invade Somalia to attack the pirate strongholds, and didn’t capture or detain any of them at GITMO! Shameful!
3 tehehehe // Apr 8, 2009 at 11:29 am
Here is an interesting little article:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/26/document-drop-whitewashing-the-global-war-on-terror-out-of-existence/
4 tehehehe // Apr 8, 2009 at 2:26 pm
The final answer on Bush’s “racism”.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/07/bush-aids-fight-saved-11-million-study-says/
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