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Washington Prowler
Obama’s Disengager
Tom Donilon, as the last two weeks have confirmed, lacks foreign policy vision.
After two weeks’ watching as public uprisings appear to be re-drawing the ideological and political maps of the Middle East, and with virtually no role for the United States, career State Department employees and longtime National Security Council observers point their finger at the decisions made by President Barack Obama to surround himself with yes-men and inexperienced foreign policy hands.
“He has someone with a strong national security background in [Gen.] Jim Jones, and he tosses him over the side for Tom Donilon, who was a former lobbyist for Fannie Mae. What does that say about the President’s interest in foreign policy?” says a long-time State Department staffer who had worked both the European and Middle East portfolios over the past ten years.
General James Jones was Obama’s first national security adviser before abruptly leaving the administration last fall. Donilon was his deputy, but was viewed as someone with closer ties to both Vice President Joe Biden and the Obama team. In fact, Donilon is said to have been the lead voice in prepping Obama on foreign policy matters before presidential debates in 2008.
According to White House sources, Donilon was also a lead voice during foreign policy reviews early in the Obama Administration calling for a “disengagement” from the Middle East and to engage more fully in China and other emerging powers. Donilon reportedly also voiced support for diminishing America’s influence in Pakistan.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (43) | Leave a comment
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Chalkdust| 2.23.11 @ 6:29AM
Tom Donilon huh? I thought it was Bo, the first dog who had Obama's ear.
Melvin| 2.23.11 @ 7:44AM
Tommy Boy's lack of foreign policy vision, well let us just say many, many people are going to die or be put to death for his lack of a better word, diplomatic skills.
!But wait! the grand-dame of foreign policy, the smartest woman in the world, and diplomatic extraordinary Hillary Clinton will come to the rescue. "She can't." "Why" "She's handing out washing machines in Africa."
Oh, I'm so terribly sorry about this harangue against Hillary, because Tommy Boy told her that everything around the world was copasetic.
Oops, I guess Tommy Boy was wrong wasn't he?
coal carrier| 2.23.11 @ 8:00AM
It was stated all through the campaign that this Jr. Senator did not have the experience to be president. His inexperience shows directly in his administration, his policies and they way he deals with an issue. Oh he sounds good and looks good after diddley-bopping up to the teleprompter. But let me say, this dog don’t hunt!
Nancy in NC| 2.23.11 @ 9:02AM
It not only doesn't hunt, it can't even find the trail.
uber_infidel| 2.23.11 @ 11:42AM
oh no .... how dare you call barry the marxist/muslim black liberation theology indoctrinated mongrel community organizing misleader a dog !
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:00PM
My dogs resent that remark.
Heck, my dogs alert me to things that are not right or out of place ( read: danger ), the are very concerned with (our) home (land) security & they really love this country ( and Americans).
BackToBasics| 2.23.11 @ 5:26PM
And he does not even sound that great when reading from a teleprompter. I've said it before here that his voice rises and lowers only about 2 notes worth. No lilt in his voice at all.
This would be okay under noraml circumstances but the media and left have touedt his abilities so much that they long ago rose to absurd levels and even above absurdity in this adulation.
And when he's trying a "funny" telprompter line; his voice sounds like the staccato firings of a gatling gun. Better at this point to just be himself. But he's afraid to do this since he thinks it will cost him the election in 2012. But it may cost him anyway, so it's better to come clean about it.
I've sat under many, many everday people such as teachers, professors and ministers who were much better public speakers than Obam is.
Grzmlyk| 2.23.11 @ 8:20AM
It's too bad Ashton Kutcher turned the job down.
Coal Carrier, it's not inexperience, according to the mainstream media. It's vision. See, we reality-bound conservatives are just too damned stupid to see so many moves ahead on the great chessboard of international politics. But the brilliant Obama has it all figured out.
Now if only the REST of the planet would acknowledge that, he could get back to the serious work of bleeding the taxpayers dry.
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:02PM
Unfortunately, mark my words, I foresee B.O. tip'n the king in 2012.
Understatement -> He plays a poor game of checkers in the worlds game of chess. >:(
Stormzeye| 2.23.11 @ 8:48AM
Will this nightmare never end!!
Melvin| 2.23.11 @ 9:01AM
This may sound a bit odd, but there needs to be a separation between the diplomatic corps and the political corps.
Politicians are look bull chips, all over the place and good for nothing.
But the Diplomat is the soothsayer/poker player all rolled into one. These diplomatic skills and analysis are based on years and years of developing personal relationships with foreign diplomats and dignitaries.
But unfortunately for us, diplomats are regulated to janitorial duties because the politicians hand out political favors to cronies who no more know anything about diplomacy than the difference between Charmin and government toilet paper.
This is why the United States is going to eventually have it's own Egyptian moment. There is no other way people. There is so much bull squeeze in the system nobody knows what is up or what is down anymore.
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:06PM
The only reason that sounds odd is it is dream(y/ing).
A fine idea, but the day the political powers give up a portion of their power, well...you know.
A true leader - be it business and/or world leader would surround himself with the people strong in the areas of his weakness.
No, I do not speak of the well rounded community organizer B.O. - he is superior in all regards.
How does that song go... "Hell to the Chief"?
PaulyD| 2.23.11 @ 9:30AM
Gen. Jones was not well respected as a foreign policy guru either. Obama only really just went from bad to worse when he chose Donilon.
Occam's Tool| 2.23.11 @ 6:51PM
Jones was a touch of a pro- Islamist, wasn't he?
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:08PM
A touch just was not cutting it for the pretender in chief.
He seeks, as himself, a pro(fessional) Islamist.
I wonder where O'Bummer keeps his crecent moon poster...
Deborah D | 2.23.11 @ 9:30AM
So, Obama (aka Jimmy Carter II) has surrounded himself with Jimmy Carters. No wonder they all sound like bumbling idiots. Whew...this is not going to end well. Where's WWIII going to break out first -- our own backyard?
How about our southern border? Or, perhaps with our naval fleet in Bahrain, a little Iranian warship might accidentally let loose a missile. Hasn't anyone in the White House ever heard that weakness is provocative? Or do they think they're showing strength by tearing down our country, shying away from and cowering in front of crazy tough guys, "resetting" our relationship with Russia while disarming ourselves, and stabbing allies in the back? How many of our former allies will be cheering when a big attack occurs on our soil? Oh, but Bush made everybody hate us...well, at least maybe they feared us!
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:09PM
Carter, a dope, sure, but he was never out to (intentionally) destroy America.
I bet his wife was always a proud American too - not just after her husband took the drivers seat.
BackToBasics| 2.24.11 @ 1:25AM
If an Iranian ship hit one of ours with a missile, Obam wouldn't do a thing about it.
He'd probably talk about internationional civility.
The only time he knows how to get tough is with Repubs and tea party folks. What does that say about him, and us?
BackToBasics| 2.24.11 @ 1:31AM
And the destruction is so purposeful as has been said many times onthis site. But leftists don't see it as a bad thing. Somehow they expect all of this to usher in some sort of communist or leftist or even a caliphate utopia.
Definition of utopia for a leftist: Any government or nation that does not allow smart people to get ahead of the idiots in job positions or in earnings and also one that has not a shred of Christianity in it. This is utopia for them.
George S| 2.23.11 @ 9:31AM
Favoring Donilon over General Jones doesn't speak to the president's interest in foreign policy; it speaks to his inner narcissist. He simply cannot coexist with someone who actually knows more about foreign policy -- or anything else.
Radioman777| 2.23.11 @ 9:50AM
After surrounding himself with yes-men, his next big project will be installing mirrors on every flat surface available in the White House.
Rackie| 2.23.11 @ 1:15PM
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the smartest man of all?"
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:11PM
He fooled 58% (?) of America... still fooling a large number to this day. He is not stupid at all, jsut wants to eliminate America.
Dan| 2.23.11 @ 10:27AM
And why are we now pretending that Jim Jones was anything worth the while?
Just because you manage to curry favour and kiss ass enough to garner stars on your shoulders doesn't mean you have a strategic clue. Haven't we Americans seen enough of the supposed "tough" and "savvy" generals and admirals who haven't a clue.
Fallon come to mind...., what of Sestak.
Of all the services out there, the one I find the most worrying is the Navy.
Sestak
Melvin| 2.23.11 @ 11:01AM
Absolutely, this has been my gripe for years and years. The military also has two classes. The Warrior Class, who join for patriotism and want to defend this Country and it's interests and nothing more. The other class is the self promoting opportunists who envision themselves as the next great political figure to walk the face of the earth.
There are but kissers in the US military that make Angelina Joli's lips look small.
There are flag rank officers and senior enlisted who pride themselves on the size of their lips.
DEIN| 2.23.11 @ 11:18AM
HELP WANTED;TITLE ;NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER:QUALIFICATIONS:COMMUNIST,MUSLIM,LEFTWING,ANTI-AMERICAN SYMPATHIZER,preferably an ex lobbyist that I promised not to hire,w/no knowledge of foreign affairs.Must have worked in a crony position for a failing government entity that returns at least 10% -50% salary to democrats in White House or DNC,which ever amount is greater.Contact B.H.Obama,WashingtonD.C.Not an Equal opportunity employer.
Ben | 2.23.11 @ 12:16PM
Jeez. So much for Foreign Policy. Hiring an ex-lobbyist would be like hiring hulk hogan for vice president. Goes to show that "I'll scratch your back if your scratch mine" is alive and well in Washington.
Red Phillips | 2.23.11 @ 1:04PM
I'll take Hulk Hogan over Biden any day of the week.
BackToBasics| 2.24.11 @ 1:33AM
My thoughts as well.
RacerJim| 2.23.11 @ 12:22PM
Wherefor art thou George S. Patton!
SpiralArchitect | 2.23.11 @ 7:12PM
Rolling over...
irish19| 2.24.11 @ 1:28AM
at a very high number of rpms.
RacerJim| 2.24.11 @ 11:27AM
M-1 Abrams tanks operate quite well at a very high number of rpms.
Red Phillips | 2.23.11 @ 1:03PM
I wish Obama would disengage the US. Instead he has acted just like the liberal internationalist we all knew he was. The belligerent internationalist interventionist pseudocons don't like Obama's foreign policy because it isn't belligerent enough, not because it is too internationalist. Obama style liberal internationalism and the hawkish inerventionist internationalism of the fake cons are two sides of the same internationalist coin. You both fear the authentic conservative policy of non-interventionism.
Occam's Tool| 2.23.11 @ 6:54PM
No, that's the authentic Ron Paulian philosophy of isolationism. It gets you attacked on grounds of their choosing, Red. Much better to destroy them on grounds of your choosing, where the collateral damage consists of their civilians, not yours. I have kids. I want them safe.
Leo| 2.23.11 @ 1:24PM
No worries. Everyone knew Obama had no foreign policy experience. That's why he picked Joe Biden in there as our expert. Oh. Never mind.
ABNCP| 2.23.11 @ 4:06PM
General James Jones is a long serving, 40 years, decorated Marine Officer. He has to be respected for that. Having said that, he has long been know as a political mavin. His reputation among the warror class is not the highest. He is more of a Wesley Clark kind of guy. It was not suprising that Obama picked him, but to replace him with a former lobbyist for Fanny Mae my God, that should convince anyone who still has any doubts how unqualified Obama is to be the President of The United States of American and the Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces.
Dan| 2.23.11 @ 7:19PM
Strange how Obama can quickly come to the aid of a Harvard professor against a police officer, unions in Wisconsin and illegals in Arizona, but has lost his tongue when it comes to speaking up for those protesting for freedom from oppression in Iran and Libya.
RacerJim| 2.24.11 @ 11:23AM
Not strange at all for someone who proclaimed "Five days from now we begin fundamentally transforming the United States."
mikec463| 2.25.11 @ 6:40PM
any way the u.s. can disengage from the middle east can't come soon enough. let our enemies kill each other, and we'll be stronger for it!
Reebok | 8.11.11 @ 2:55AM
is good
العاب | 4.11.12 @ 5:26PM
thank you... good