At Large
Foreign Policy by Avoidance
How long will the Obama administration continue to receive a free pass on foreign policy and national security issues?
In general the Obama administration has been given a pass on
foreign policy and defense issues. Of course small gaffes have
been exploited for partisan political purposes, but serious
attacks on policy and tactics have been comparatively muted. This
politesse does not help the American political process
-- and certainly keeps the public unnecessarily ill informed.
There would appear in Washington these days a willful desire to ignore the realities of the world outside. To begin with, General McChrystal has been informed that he better not ask for too many additional troops for Afghanistan; that the strategy the White House has forced on him as an alternative to a full scale commitment to defeat the Taliban must show some positive results in a year, or else the Administration plans to pull out.
In addition to this "instant gratification" test in military strategy, there is the "rediscovery of the wheel" as personified by the shock Washington is exhibiting to the information that the Taliban is charging a "protection tax" on U.S. economic projects. This extortion -- which sometimes can reach as high as 20 percent of the projected expense -- is historically known as zagat and has been a cultural truth of Afghani tribal life long before the existence of the Taliban. Throughout the less-developed world there are similar payoffs. That this is hot news for the Obama foreign policy establishment shows its naïveté.
An art form has developed within the current administration's foreign affairs brain trust that is best described as "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" -- not necessarily in that order. It is especially true when considering Iranian matters. Nonetheless, it will be impossible to overlook the appointment of Ahmad Vahidi as President Ahmadinejad's defense minister. This is the same individual who is high on Interpol's "wanted" list for his role in the bombing in 1994 of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires.
It's obvious that the White House and Congress are more than happy to be locked in domestic conflicts such as health care so that they do not have to acknowledge the impending disaster of an Iran that intends -- no matter what -- to proceed with its nuclear weapon development. Meanwhile North Korea's admission that it now has the ability to enrich uranium has been carefully under emphasized by Washington. This process would give Pyongyang a new way to make weapons in addition to their known plutonium-based operation.
The political strategy of downplaying the dangers of aggressive forces abroad and the threat of terrorism at home may be a useful device in keeping the American electorate focused on social issues important to the WH, but it is a disservice to national security. The fact is that such an action may have short-term advantages domestically, but it certainly will be perceived as an opportunity by antagonists abroad.
While Secretary of State Clinton may have a strong personality, her status as an influential factor in foreign policy is weakened by the lack of a firm foreign policy by the White House. Unfortunately this is exactly to President Obama's liking. He certainly doesn't want to appear challenged in any respect by the only other Democratic national figure. To ensure this diminution of Clinton strength he has cleverly divided key foreign responsibilities among several "super-ambassadors."
What is obvious is that General Jim Jones, USMC, Ret., the national security advisor, shows no inclination toward a vigorous military. The situation in Afghanistan screams out for decisive leadership and the materiel and manpower to support it. Jones has assumed the role of an apologist to his old buddies in the armed forces for the weak, left-leaning government in which he has enlisted.
Jones knows full well that the strategy of close-in, continued contact between U.S./NATO troops with the populace until an effective Afghan Army can be built and trained requires force levels in excess of two hundred thousand troops to cover all Afghan sectors. In today's political environment in Washington this is simply out of the question. Why not admit it and plan for an alternative political/military commitment to the region?
In the final analysis, the Obama Administration has either a deep-seated ignorance of the real world or a deluded perception of a world riven with conflict and self-interest -- or perhaps both. In any case, such an outlook invites exploitation by America's many enemies. In a world in which strength of will and physical power are the ultimate arbiters of international standing, the Obama Administration had better start facing reality or we'll all suffer.
And, by the way, it's worthless to look backward searching for malefactors of the past to explain away the shortfalls of the present and future.
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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drudge ette obama| 9.11.09 @ 6:26AM
Don't waste any more time bemoaning the big ignore that the press has placed on all things Obama. There is no established press anymore.
But there is the New Journalism that we are all part of. Where there is a void, the able will fill. Let's fill....
R Martin| 9.11.09 @ 8:29AM
"...the Obama Administration had better start facing reality or we'll all suffer. "
We will all suffer; there is no question of that. And it's not because the Obama Administration will not face reality, it's because the Obama Administration creates its own reality. Obama's reality includes belief in leftists like Jones, Lloyd and Sunstein, a nonsense energy policy which prioritizes global warming, a foreign policy based on happy talk and apology, unlimited deficit spending and a visceral commitment to redistribution of wealth. This administration has a seriously twisted sense of reality.
Heck, I'm suffering just thinking about it.
Ark Ashamed of Bill| 9.11.09 @ 9:23AM
This otherwise fine piece is marred by Mr. Wittman’s failure to understand the nature of the American Left. Obama’s party is the party of the people who believe that America is an “empire” whose prosperity has been obtained at the expense of the “oppressed peoples” of the world, i.e., Lenin’s theory of imperialism. This is why they, including Hillary and her husband, supported the enemy in the Vietnam War; and it is why Obama apologizes for this country whenever he goes abroad. Collier and Horowitz cover this in “Destructive Generation.” Given that the Democrats see America as a force for evil in the world, it is obvious that they don’t believe that it is worth defending until it becomes a socialist state.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.11.09 @ 10:03AM
Mr. Wittman, you are too kind!
Has it even tickled the back of your mind that this administration would welcome a foreign aggression, and have let our guard down for precisely that reason?
OKOK...I know I can be accused of being a nutty conspiricist...But!
The people in the whitehouse are not dumb. They know the score internationally. Would they love another 9/11 to rally people around the flag and take peoples' eye off the ball of a roaring classic Communist power grab here at home?
I don't know, but I am frightened. This time last year I was writing here and in other venues about what I saw coming...and it has come. Even my dearest friends thought I was being "alarmist" in the extreme, but heck, I read the man's books!
How many here have done so?
Folks, those books are downright creepy!
The thing that breaks my heart is Obama throwing our troops away for no apparent goal, and that is the one thing that can destroy a military guy...being thrown away.
Al Adab| 9.11.09 @ 11:21AM
For the administration to shine in foreign policy, they would have to, ONE: agree that we are at war, they don't; TWO: stop the dictator of the day world tour pandering; THREE begin to act as though U. S. security is a high priority.
Since they recognize no threat to that security they continue as though talk solves "misunderstandings". All the ongoing discussions do is provide precious time for those who wish to do us harm, to develop the ability.
Now the President intends to chair the UN Security Council meeting on the 24th. The purpose is to engage the community about disarmament. Look at the membership of the Council and see what that might accomplish.
We are in for a long effort to maintain our national safety.
Ray| 9.11.09 @ 11:51AM
"How long will the Obama administration continue to receive a free pass on foreign policy and national security issues? "
That's an easy question to answer: As long as he's President.
The press elected this man, they won't discuss his political shortcomings as they can't be shown to make bad decisions as to who they support and who they oppose. As long as the press's credentials are dependent upon Obama's appearance of greatness, they'll continue to help hide this President's shortcomings.
You have to remember, this is the "Fourth Estate" we're dealing with. They believe themselves to be the Guardians of Government, they've said so themselves, and who are WE to question, or doubt, the self-proclaimed Guardians of Government? It's inappropriate, even Un-American, to even suggest that the Esteemed Forth Estate may be biased in their coverage of the President, just ask them and they'll tell you!
Since most of the Fourth Estate, the Guardians of Government, support Obama, they'll make sure to Guard him and his position from negative reports as to his effectiveness as a President as long as possible. Their pride alone will not allow them to act in any other way.
charanjit saini| 9.11.09 @ 11:32PM
Obama's reality includes belief in leftists like Jones Bailey Button Ugg Boots , Lloyd and Sunstein, a nonsense energy policy which prioritizes global warming, a foreign policy based on happy talk and apology, As long as the press's credentials are dependent upon Obama's appearance of greatness cheap ugg boots , they'll continue to help hide this President's shortcomings.
Dianne Henry| 9.11.09 @ 11:33PM
And it's not because the Obama Administration will not face reality, it's because the Obama Administration creates its own reality ugg boots uk . Obama's reality includes belief in leftists like Jones, Lloyd and Sunstein, a nonsense energy policy which prioritizes global warming, a foreign policy based on happy talk and apology, unlimited deficit spending and a visceral commitment to redistribution of wealth. The purpose is to engage the community about disarmament cheap ugg boots . Look at the membership of the Council and see what that might accomplish.
Skip MacLure| 9.12.09 @ 9:41PM
What is obvious to me and must be obvious to every former Marine is that General Jones must have had to sell a substantial portion of his conscience to align himself with this gaggle of goons in the Maobama administration.....The only question remaining is how to apportion the correct amount of the blood of American boys that he will have on his hands as the result of this pathetically inept policy boondoggle.
Chesty Puller (a real warrior) is rotating in his grave at 45+ rpm.
Semper Vigilans, Semper Fidelis.....
Alan Brooks| 9.12.09 @ 10:57PM
tell Todd-lard over & over how many millions were killed, and lives ruined, by Jimmuh Cawtah's mis-administration '77-'80 (leaving off the first 20 days of '81).
Natch, Todd-lard will say it might have been bad the same years without Carter-- but you can say the same about '01-'08.
Alan Brooks| 9.13.09 @ 1:34PM
Toddard's a coward, he wont admit that LBJ and Carter'S sum total foreign policies were each worse than Dubya was. There are no good politicians, just the lesser of evil politicians.
As democracy is bad, but preferable to the alternatives (dictatorship, feudalism), so too is an adequate politician preferable to a Blagojevich.
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