Not to put too fine a point on it, but here we go again.
A liberal American president helps push a Middle East leader —
a dictator but a friendly dictator — out the door. The
Administration is so convinced the country’s would be leader will
lead to peace and freedom that the American UN Ambassador refers to
the leader-in-waiting as “some kind of saint.”
The “saint” arrives to take charge… and the next thing that
happens is the US Embassy is invaded, the entire Embassy staff is
taken hostage — and world crisis begins.
This was, of course, what happened when then-President Jimmy
Carter helped push the Shah of Iran out the door. And his
Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young, referred to the US
government’s view of the Ayatollah Khomeini as “some kind of
saint.”
Well, no.
What happened in fact was that Jimmy Carter telegraphed weakness
to Khomeini — not to mention the Soviets. Khomeini was barely
settled on the Shah’s throne when the U.S. Embassy hostages were
taken in November of 1979. Barely a month later, the Soviets
invaded Afghanistan. Carter, who had signed a nuclear treaty with
then Soviet leader Brezhnev and memorably kissed the Communist
leader on the cheek, pronounced himself shocked.
Make no mistake here.
The Obama administration insistence on the now-infamous “apology
tour” approach to the world has backfired.
Beginning with the Obama video sent to Iran in 2009, (found
here) in which the new liberal president of the United States
politely asked the Iranian Mullahs for a “new beginning” — on
through the Cairo speech in which the new president said a longer
version of the same thing while apologizing for U.S. policy in the
past — the Obama message sent throughout the world has been one of
weakness.
Last night there was a wretchedly apologetic statement on the
attack on the Cairo Embassy issued from the Embassy itself:
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the
continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious
feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of
all religions.
The statement was so pathetically weak and apologetic — and
stirred such intense criticism — the administration quickly
backtracked, as seen
here. Distancing itself — from itself.
All of this comes on top of the news that the White House has
told Israel it was “too busy” to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
This morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took to the
cameras to read a statement saying she keeps asking herself “how
could this happen.”
This is classic Carter.
How could this happen? It happens because the American president
has consistently and repeatedly sent messages of weakness to a
world that respects only strength.
Yes, he pulled the trigger on Osama Bin Laden. Any American
president in that situation would have done the same. Even Jimmy
Carter belatedly tried to rescue the hostages — which, based on
Carter defense cuts, was an abysmal failure.
But the overall message to America’s enemies has been one of
weakness. In Egypt, where a member of the Muslim Brotherhood now
runs the country. In Libya — where Obama was busy “leading from
behind.” And Syria, where a vicious dictator is still mass
murdering his people.
Weakness tempts.
It has now resulted in the killing of the U.S. Ambassador to
Libya and three other diplomats. Not to mention the attack on the
U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
One more time, weakness in American leadership has sent the
wrong signal to America’s enemies. And America’s enemies have
responded.
What else would you expect?
