Obama’s foreign policy: incoherent, feckless or on tack?

obamaIt was March 2012. Russia’s Putin was adamant that America not place its missile interceptors in Poland.  The American missiles were intended as protection against Iran’s nuclear intentions. Putin saw the American missiles as encroachment on his sphere of influence, which he considers to be all the nations that were part of the old Soviet Union.

President Obama and President Dmitri Medvedev were caught in conversation near a hot microphone.

It’s important for him [incoming President Vladimir Putin] to give me space,” Obama pleaded. “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”

“I understand,” answered Medeved. “I will transmit this information to Vladimir.”

In March 2013, after the election, Obama stunned Poland and other American allies by canceling the missile interceptor program for Poland and parts of Eastern Europe. Instead, missile interceptors would be deployed on the American west coast and Alaska.

In exchange for absolutely nothing, Obama canceled the most crucial portions of his Eastern European missile-defense plan.  Putin tested Obama and Putin won.

It was August 2012.  Obama made his “red-line” threat regarding Syria’s Assad, declaring that Assad has to go.  Syria’s closest allies are Russia and China.  Assad is not going anywhere. Russia could lose up to $5 billion in arms sales and another $20 billion in investments from Russian companies in Syrian infrastructure and tourism. Additionally, Syria is home to the Russian naval base in Tartus; plus the two countries have agreed to return the former Soviet naval base in Latakiye to Russia.

It was August 2013, despite the visual evidence of a Syrian gas attack on civilians, Obama backs down from his “red-line” threat. Assad and Putin tested Obama and Obama capitulated.

It was February 2014. The Russian backed Ukrainian government has fallen. Russia invaded the Crimea.  Obama issued a statement that the United States government is “deeply concerned” by reports of Russian “military movements” and warned that any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty would be “deeply destabilizing:” a Chamberlain-esque sharp note of protest, clearing the path for Putin to annex the Crimean peninsula.

In response to the invasion, Obama stamped his foot and threatened to boycott the G8 summit of industrial nations if Russia did not withdraw its troops.  After all, in 1991, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain and Russia signed an agreement, in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons, to guarantee Ukraine’s international borders. Obama seemed to not to notice the agreement.

Putin annexed Crimea.  The last time a nation was invaded and land forcibly taken was World War II. Obama did nothing. Putin tested Obama and Putin won.

It was March 2014. In response to Russia annexing Crimea, Obama placed sanctions on Russian “individuals with substantial resources and influence who provide material support to the Russian leadership,” to include a Russian bank.  “Wow! Take that Vladimir.  I’ve got a lot more sanctions just like these,” sniffed Obama.

It was July 2014. The Barack Obama, eschewing any effective strategy against Russia, doubled down by issuing additional sanctions on lucrative Russian energy, defense entities and banks. The additional sanctions expand on earlier ineffective sanctions that Vladimir Putin has dismissed.

It is September 2014. Obama has been so distracted by Putin in the Ukraine and ISIS in Syria/Iraq, that Iran has had a free hand in developing its nuclear capabilities. The so-called “red-line” on Iran went the way of the “red-line” on Syria. China has been purchasing Iranian oil on the sly. In July 2014, Reuters reported Iranian oil exports were over 29% higher than in 2013.  Meanwhile, the Obama administration is furiously naming companies violating sanctions . . . to what end?

Iran tested Obama and Iran won. Iran will have a nuclear weapon while Obama is still in office.

In 2007, President Bush warned of the horrible costs of pulling troops out of Iraq against the advice of Commander’s on the ground.:

“I know some in Washington would like us to start leaving Iraq now. To begin withdrawing before our commanders tell us we’re ready would be dangerous for Iraq, for the region and for the United States. It would mean surrendering the future of Iraq to al-Qaeda. It would mean that we’d be risking mass killings on a horrific scale. It would mean we’d allow the terrorists to establish a safe haven in Iraq to replace the one they lost in Afghanistan. It would mean we’d be increasing the probability that American troops would have to return at some later date to confront an enemy that is even more dangerous.”

In 2010, Obama withdrew American military from Iraq, against the advice of his military commanders, who advised Obama to keep a residual force of 24,000 troops in Iraq.  Bush’s prescient observations have proven true.  We are seeing mass killings on a horrific scale.  ISIS has established a safe haven in Iraq and Syria.  And despite Obama’s naivete, he will have to send American forces back into Iraq, all because of his dogmatic ideology and refusal to listen to his military advisors

This is Obama’s war.  He has no plan to win the war. He has no end date for the war. Our efforts to eradicate ISIS will take years, according to Obama: a war without end.

Obama is very good at telling our enemies what America will not do. Shameful withdrawal from Iraq (“It’s all yours Taliban”).  Instead of a 40,000 troop surge in Afghanistan, Obama opted for a public timetable for withdrawal (”Wait us out Taliban”).

It is nearing October 2014. Obama has under-estimated Al Qaeda, ISIS (an off-shoot of Al Qaeda), Valdimir Putin, Syria’s Basharal-Assad, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and China’s President Xi Jinping. Our allies have lost confidence in Obama’s “leadership from behind.”  Our enemies freely test Obama and win.

Obama has been outsmarted, out-maneuvered and out-classed at every turn. He is seen as confused, passive and ineffective.

American needs a leader and a problem solver. Obama is neither.