tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post2157639886276856928..comments2024-03-28T10:49:14.510-05:00Comments on Horizons: Embracing a "messy" foreign policyNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-49437616677767451322013-09-18T16:23:10.126-05:002013-09-18T16:23:10.126-05:00IMO, a major problem that many Americans have wher...IMO, a major problem that many Americans have where foreign policy is concerned is a desire that everything be made clean, worry-free and easy. They often equate belligerence and arrogance with strength. When Putin was loud and highly visible, many Americans viewed his actions as a sign of strength. They weren't, they were a sign of posturing meant to convey the idea that Putin was more influential and powerful that he actually is. They ignore the things he did that showed that he didn't have a plan for a way forward in Syria until President Obama and Sec. of State Kerry offered him a way out by suggesting a diplomatic, rather than a military, solution. Millions of Americans didn't notice how quickly Putin and Assad "jumped" at this offer. For them, Assad and Putin's mere acceptance of the offer placed them in a position they perceived as being "superior" to that of the U.S. and President Obama, hence their quick adoption and use of the term "weak" in an effort to deny President Obama any credit in avoiding another U.S. military intervention in the Middle East. Conducting foreign policy behind a computer keyboard in one's abode is clean, easy, straight-forward and worry-free, but for those like President Obama who is actually engaged in conducting foreign policy, it's oftentimes very messy and filled with all kinds of worries and concerns. It will take many Americans some time to grasp the fact that American foreign policy doesn't have to involve belligerence, arrogance, and sabre-rattling to yield a result that is beneficial to all parties involved. majiinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-64983492878658628352013-09-17T19:49:40.409-05:002013-09-17T19:49:40.409-05:00Thank you for your analysis, which far exceeds any...Thank you for your analysis, which far exceeds anything "reported" in the MainSlime Media. I've always thought that PBO's choices for key positions immediately after taking office were designed to "keep his enemies close". You are absolutely correct. He had to have seasoned people to help him navigate the economic/political mine fields. As satisfying as Wall Street "perp walks" would have been emotionally, practically they would have accomplished nothing except probably create more turmoil and chaos. PBO is working to deal with "root causes", which takes time and effort. I appreciate both your wisdom and knowledge as well as your commentors'. It's fun being a "fly on the wall" and listen and learn from all of you. One additional note - PBO has LAO some very smart people working with him.<br />Kathleennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-61617129580172076752013-09-17T13:24:30.236-05:002013-09-17T13:24:30.236-05:00OK - we could not have engaged in "Cold War&q...OK - we could not have engaged in "Cold War" imperialism under McKinley. Sorry - writing too fast...Churchladynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-19499344355795907652013-09-17T11:31:43.529-05:002013-09-17T11:31:43.529-05:00This is one of the most cogent and accurate assess...This is one of the most cogent and accurate assessments of how President Obama is ending not only the Imperial Presidency but also the Cold War quest for absolute hegemony. Thank you so much!<br /><br />By chance I read "The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism" by Andrew Bacevich just as the president was NOT intervening in Honduras. It struck me very powerfully that this may have been the first time in my life that we did NOT rush to prop up a rightwing dictator. I have since observed that President Obama has carefully walked away from the 'mandates' on intervention set by National Security Memo #68 that was written in 1947 directing the U.S. policy to be totally interventionist. <br /><br />I am enlightened by your comments and those of Chris Andersen that Obama's observations of his own father's work were instrumental in teaching him major patience and care. I did not make that link, but it is powerful. Having experiences overseas in those nations we have trampled and that in turn have done so much harm to their own citizens cannot help but have been instrumental in the president's education. Thank you for those insights. <br /><br />I trust this president to keep not just us safe but the world safer, and I hope upon hope that whoever follows him is as wise and careful in dismantling the Cold War imperialism we started so ruthlessly under McKinley. We are long past due for that to happen. It now has a noble and powerful beginning.Churchladynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-91512687628614950372013-09-17T11:29:54.892-05:002013-09-17T11:29:54.892-05:00This is some great stuff, Smartypants. Thank you....This is some great stuff, Smartypants. Thank you. Yes, I loved what Booman wrote on the topic of Syria.Tien Lenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-21736934109579529642013-09-17T11:20:11.721-05:002013-09-17T11:20:11.721-05:00I think your comment about what Obama learned from...I think your comment about what Obama learned from his father is apt. His father was a reformer in Kenya who ultimately failed and was personally devastated by that failure. His son looked at that failure not as a sign that reformers shouldn't try but that they should be smarter about how they do it.Chris Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139817527808942227noreply@blogger.com