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?
