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At Large
Photoplay Diplomacy
The foreign policy of a narcissist.
They say a photo is worth a thousand words. Perhaps presidents Obama and Putin never heard of that expression. It is rare to the point of being unknown when the last time was that two world leaders showed such obvious mutual dislike of each other. Even the post-White House meeting facial expressions of Netanyahu and Obama did not reach that level. It’s hard to imagine a discussion over why Russia should allow heavy sanctions to be placed on the Assad regime in Syria or similar Russian cooperation over Iranian nuclear weapon development becoming so vitriolic as to create the intensity of distaste and disregard that showed in the faces of Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin after their meeting at the G-20 in Mexico.
Even more odd is why none of the media outlets tried to explore what was behind the childish display of pique. Aren’t clever major country potentates supposed to be able to hide their personal feelings and mask their political animosities? Where was that usually well-placed bit of information explaining Obama’s ultimate rectitude that so often leaks its way out of the White House? What happened also to the typically indiscreet, but clearly purposeful, tidbit of disclosure that makes covering the Kremlin such a challenge and mystery at the same time?
Instead the only thing left is to wonder if the two men just really don’t like each other; that they in fact can’t even stand being seated next to each other. To allow a personal reaction to dominate intergovernmental relations is not merely inexcusable, it is irresponsibly dangerous. Of course, equally inexplicable is the American president’s obsequious bowing to the Saudi King Abdullah.
Vladimir Putin is not unsophisticated and certainly not inexperienced. He is a very calculating intelligence professional and since the 1990s an equally calculating politician. The problem that President Obama has with his counterpart is that Putin just does not respect him. From Putin’s standpoint Obama is quite deficient in his knowledge and experience in world politics and thus inept as a prospective partner in evolving issues such as Iran and Syria.
Apparently this lack of understanding by President Obama has arisen before in the private conversations between the U.S. and Russian leaders. Putin was treated to the Obama pedantry much the same way the American president has insultingly lectured other world figures as he did P.M. Netanyahu of Israel. The New York Times reported Pres. Obama’s remark about a “Polish death camp…” so infuriated Poland’s P.M. Donald Tusk that he referred to Obama as guilty of “ignorance, lack of knowledge, bad intentions.” President Obama’s behavior on numerous occasions gives a lie to his vaunted intellectual competence in the field of diplomacy. Apparently Putin — hardly known as a mild-mannered person — chose to react at their meeting in Los Cabos.
The practical, though tangential impact of this highly personalized conflict between the American and Russian presidents is to deny foreign policy accolades to Hillary Clinton in her role as chief foreign affairs negotiator. Secretary Clinton has been dealing constructively with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. A mutual respect is reportedly to have developed between these two in spite of — or perhaps because of - Clinton’s comparative lack of a professional foreign affairs background quite exploitable by the vastly more experienced Lavrov.
It would appear that President Obama lost sight of the fact that the United States is desirous of Russia’s cooperation rather than the other way around. It has been apparent for some time that Moscow intends to keep its foot in the doorway of Middle Eastern politics and stalwartly supporting Iran and Syria is how it intends to accomplish this. Putin already has shown he doesn’t alter positions on anything unless his interests are enhanced. This fact should have been understood by Barack Obama. If he was as clever and expert in all aspects of negotiation as he obviously thinks he is, the meeting in Mexico with Putin would have gone quite differently. Obama’s autocratic instincts are as deep as Putin’s, even if his rhetoric pretends differently.
Unlike Obama, Putin is a graduate of the Cold War and the days of Russian ascendancy. A renowned historian of that period, Charles Gati, wrote revealingly regarding Russian foreign policy that it was ” a mixture of assertiveness and accommodation.” That accommodation comes, however, only when the alternative is feared. It was true during the days of the Soviet Union and it remains true today. The current Russian president has made quite clear his desire to return his country to the preeminence it once held when it was recognized as one of the world’s two superpowers. Putin will never deal with Obama on an equal basis and certainly has no intention of granting him acceptance personally.
What President Obama does not appear to grasp is that his Russian adversary — and Putin is that — intends to treat him as strictly a “short timer” no matter the November election results. If President Obama is to get anywhere with Russia, it will have to be with the assistance of “Dimi” Medvedev with whom he is far more congenial. This, too, is part of the Russian ploy. Putin recognizes that the U.S. is the greatest military power in the world, but he also knows Obama will never use that power to get what he wants in the Middle East — or anywhere else. Putin is a well-practiced tough guy who is careful in his assessment of his opponent. Russia’s #2 is deemed adequate to deal with America’s #1, as long as it remains Obama.
The world in which Barack Obama lives is dominated by himself; everything else is simply a backdrop. Putin has been well briefed on this by his intelligence profilers. It hasn’t taken extraordinary talent to analyze the American president’s narcissism, but the Russians surely know how to exploit it. Too bad that Barack Obama is incapable of doing the same thing the other way around.
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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MainelyDoc| 7.6.12 @ 6:14AM
Where's the photo that shows mutual contempt and dislike?
Brookschwarzenegro | 7.6.12 @ 12:49PM
Obama did inherit the worst foreign policy since Carter. The Rove-Cheney administration turned out to have no strategic coherency in foreign matters. Our forces are stretched out all over, and the percentage of debt is roughly as high as in WWII-- difference is, WWII only continued for a few years; this war goes on interminably.
As the Derb put it right after the '08 election:
"our troops guard the Fulda Gap..."
Brookschwarzenegro | 7.6.12 @ 1:14PM
btw, imo this war is WWIV,
WWIII was the Cold War.
MainelyDoc| 7.6.12 @ 6:14AM
Where's the photo that shows mutual contempt and dislike?
TLP| 7.6.12 @ 9:07AM
The Foreign Policy of a White Hating, Jew Hating, Eurpoe Hating, Israel Hating, Freedom Hating, Minority Loving follower of a God of Murder and Blood, Slavery and Death, Subjugation and Butchery, I'd say.
"The Muslim Call to Prayer, is the most Beautiful Sound in the World."
What does he have to do?
Draw you a Map?
Alej| 7.6.12 @ 6:39AM
If you watched anything on TV about the recent Cabos meeting, you saw Putin literally sneering when the illegal alien opened his mouth.
MainelyDoc| 7.6.12 @ 6:55AM
I wouldn't "watch TV" to see the President. He always looks shifty to me. I don't believe anything that he says. Either he's lying or he's misinformed or both. I think he's an ignoramus just like Hugo Chavez said.
Pecos Pete| 7.6.12 @ 7:04AM
King O was a community organizer and that experience does not involve negotiation, only demands.
Mimi | 7.6.12 @ 7:07AM
The only thing that matters now is, the American People have a job.....They have a great duty, to put this great nation in the hands of a competent and responsible person...It's time to elevate the office of the Presidency by electing a person of integrity that we can trust, respect and is a strong LEADER . One that other nations can respect too ! The United States of America, DESERVES only the BEST, and looks like a person of GREAT humility and in awe of the exceptional nation they serve. Every single American should choose with great care it is their profound DUTY !
Oldefarte| 7.6.12 @ 1:32PM
'....Newsmax.....With unemployment mired at 8.2 percent, President Barack Obama’s re-election bid seems much more distant.Payroll added an anemic 80,000 jobs for June, and the unemployment rate remaining unchanged. Economists predicted a 100,000 jobs gain, according to a Bloomberg report. Not counting government employment, the private picture looks grim — 84, 000 jobs were added — the lowest amount in 10 months. The president needs to track a steady upward trend economic improvement; a picture of stagnation and erratic down trends worsen his chances dramatically......'
William L. Gensert| 7.6.12 @ 8:07AM
Excellent, Putin has taken the measure of Barack Obama and concluded that the only people who have anything to fear from our President are Americans.
Obama probably tried to lecture the Russian and Putin told him to...well, we all know what he told him.
It was written all over Barack's face.
Drunken Sailor| 7.6.12 @ 2:07PM
Exactly. Putin doesn't hate Obama. Why would he hate the man that his killing his greatest opponent? Putin thinks Obama is a joke and should sit at the kids table. That isn't a look of hatred/dislike. It is a look of disdain/dismissal.
Gary B| 7.6.12 @ 3:53PM
"...sit at the kids table." LOL
Von Mises Jr| 7.7.12 @ 8:48AM
Putin has been dismissive of Obama and Hillary since they brought the "Staples" restart button that instead of saying "restart" in Russian; it said "overcharge."
Putin sees both of them as chumps and is angling constantly how to exploit Barry and Hillary. Remember Lenin and Stalin regarded people such as Obamao and Hillary who looked at Russia with awe as "Useful Idiots."
jaytrain| 7.6.12 @ 8:19AM
As they say " Never send a boy to do a man's job " MB we should just hire Putin to run our foreign policy and close up the State Dept . Sure would save on all that wine and cheese those bolivars consume .
nathan| 7.6.12 @ 9:02AM
Like Romney is going to be all that much better.
Tell us why he is going to Israel pray tell. That's going to be a great photo op isn't it? The future president of republic kissing Bibi's behind and assuring him that he will put ISRAEL'S not AMERICA'S interests first. I'm sorry but just to be clear here folks, Romney is going to take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution right, not uphold and defend the state of Israel? Just checking.
Oldefarte| 7.6.12 @ 1:28PM
I'd rather a POTUS kissing Bibi's behind [which if you knew anything you'd know thats about as far from the truth as possible] than that of Ayers, Wright and Pilosi!!!!!!!!!!
Drunken Sailor| 7.6.12 @ 2:08PM
More drivel from the Paulbot's.
Skippy| 7.6.12 @ 4:50PM
Arbeit macht frei.
Louis Jenkins| 7.6.12 @ 9:08AM
Romney going to Israel is just show. The US Jews will vote as they've always voted-Democrat. Isn't it amazing that the Jews spit in the face of Republicans? And Obama spits in Israel's face. Kind of confusing isn't it?
Oldefarte| 7.6.12 @ 1:30PM
Oh really? Amazing that a recent poll indicating now Jews supporting Romney over Obama by 70% to 30%....shazam!!!!!!!!
Louis Jenkins| 7.6.12 @ 1:55PM
Thanks Oldefarte! I'm glad to see the Jews finally coming to their senses. For too long they've voted with the Democrats-including Obama.
For Purp-I'll take up the call- Yap Yap Yap.
Oldefarte| 7.6.12 @ 3:15PM
We'll see what the November results show as confirmation, but I think that Obama's rude/crude treatment of Netanyahu at the WH plus his obviously anti-Israeli foreign policy maybe be turning the Jews around. That combined with a hopefully inflated large voter turnout by evangelicals may do the trick. Again, we'll see!!!!!!!!!
RCV| 7.6.12 @ 6:40PM
No, the latest poll shows Obama 68% Romney 32% among Jewish voters. You got it backwards, Oldfarte. Check out Rasmussen to confirm.
John786| 7.6.12 @ 10:32AM
From the comments here its obvious why American influence is declining. The US has the turned the ME into toast and is gearing up for another major war to protect Zionist ideology in the ME. Unless the US can discover self- intrest it will continue to unnecessarily lose blood & treasure. Intresting the cost of the war on terror would pay for Health care many times over & substatially reduce the budget defecit to zero. Choices, choices: beware zionists/ rapturers bearing gifts.
Drunken Sailor| 7.6.12 @ 2:49PM
First the paulbots now this. Amazing how the stories are similar.
Skippy| 7.6.12 @ 4:51PM
Hating the Jews: a liberal pastime.
Alej| 7.8.12 @ 9:47AM
American Jews ARE liberals.
Most of them wouldn't make a pimple on a real Israeli's a$$.
RCV| 7.6.12 @ 6:41PM
John786 is an Islamicist anti-American, Anti-Jewish fanatic.
TLP| 7.7.12 @ 9:46AM
You mean Obama, right?
John786| 7.7.12 @ 10:58AM
Supporting the rights of Palestinians does not make you anti-Jewish: jackass. If the US took a more nuanced & balanced approach to the ME we wouldn't be in this mess. US foreign policy has been stuck on an irrational autopilot mode.
Kingofthenet| 7.7.12 @ 2:03PM
John if you don't want to bathe in the Blood of every Palestinian, your a hater of Israel.
TLP| 7.7.12 @ 4:13PM
No.
If you side with people who TARGET Schools, Hospitals, Night Clubs, Weddings, Pizza Parlours, Women and Children, and you Fire Thousands of Missiles, indiscriminately, in to The Civilian Population, because you're all out of YOUR OWN KIDS to Blow Up Jewish Children with the Bomb Belts, that YOU strapped on them, you're a Hater of Israel.
Like you.
TLP| 7.7.12 @ 4:15PM
The Israelis are our ALLY.
The Palestinians, are GARBAGE.
There's a difference.
John786| 7.7.12 @ 4:38PM
You must live in a parallel universe. The Palestinians are living in their own land. They are being persecuted by people fleeing the west; where they have faced unspeakable crimes in the 40s.But why should Palestinians in 2012 continue to be persecuted for unspeakable crimes committed by the Europeans. Israel must come to terms with it's crimes against the Palestinians.
Cincinnatius| 7.6.12 @ 11:35AM
What I would give to know what it is that Putin knows about Obozo's past! I bet he could give America a lesson that would shake us to our very foundations and I also think that Obozo knows this. Heck, Putin may have already told him what he knows and may have threatened to make it public, based on Obozo's deference to the "Russian Bear". Gosh I hope we end this nightmare this November.
Louis Jenkins| 7.6.12 @ 1:58PM
Too bad Putin doesn't go ahead and wreck Obama's re-election bid. But then he might end up facing a president who knows what he's doing. But then why should he?
Gary B| 7.6.12 @ 3:56PM
It would be very good to have everyone face John Bolton.
ABNCP| 7.6.12 @ 11:45AM
Obama's term of office:
A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing of value to the United States of America. Sorry Shakespere for associating your work with this incompetant boob. But hey, it works for me.
Mars the Avenger| 7.6.12 @ 12:38PM
As a retired intelligence officer myself, I would bet the farm on Putin knowing a hell of a lot more about this empty suit that we could ever learn..... it shows. That's what we get as a society for electing this cipher to the Presidency...
TW in SC| 7.6.12 @ 5:46PM
Putin and Obama are introduced. They sit down and begin to discuss world matters.
Putin: First, I would like to maybe talk to you about American baskeetball...it is werry entertaining...but Russians play better.
Obama: Have you seen my hook shot? It's awesome...
Putin: Yes, yes...awwsum. Dot is werry nice. Then, there is this gowlf...dot you Americanz playing in the grass. Who could ee-magine...such a game...a stick...a ball...a hole.
Obama: I have a killer game...I'll let my caddy teach it to ya.
Putin: And then...there are these photos of you I haff. They are uff you and your modder, I theenk. Zey vare tekkin in Kenya and the doktowr who deeleevered you gave them to me. Most generous of heem, I am thinking, yes?
Obama: What's that now?
Putin: And...there are these collech transcreepts, I theenk they are called. Dey haff your grades and your college registration paperzzz. They say you were see-ti-zen of Kenya. Maybe you cud, how you say, clear up confusion a beet for me, no? I get thees things from expert former KGB friends I haff. Dey are werry, werry thorough, yes.
Oldefarte| 7.6.12 @ 1:32PM
I agree with Putin on his assessment of Obama !!!!!
RCV| 7.6.12 @ 6:42PM
I'm not surprised. You strike me as a Putin kind of guy.
Riff Raff| 7.7.12 @ 10:58PM
You strike me as a Stalin kind of guy.
Tom Kyba| 7.6.12 @ 1:58PM
Obama obviously thinks his personal superiority will win out in any confrontation with anyone. All the other leaders can see this man is a pretentious fop, and they are laughing or smirking behind his back.
Bob Grant| 7.6.12 @ 4:02PM
King Narcissus gets slapped down by comrade Putin.
Boy, that was a hanging curve ball of a prediction in '08.
Face it, the man's a textbook failure of a president in every conceivable way.
Riff Raff| 7.7.12 @ 10:57PM
Big surprise. Obama is an incompetent fool. A bozo as it were, in way over his head. This is a surprise? The World is laughing at Obama the dilletante and Putin is taking him to the cleaners. Calling Obama a "narcissist" is giving him way too much credit.
Alej| 7.8.12 @ 9:57AM
Russians categorically loathe negroes... they now think of America as weak, directionless, uneducated, uncultured, fragmented, mongrelized.
Louis Jenkins| 7.8.12 @ 1:03PM
The bad part is it didn't take a person of color to get us there either.