It started with an act of piracy, and not the musical variety. That was when Obama showed he had the guts to give a kill order. Until then, the worst punishment he had ordered against an enemy was awarding Hillary Clinton the Secretary of State job, not exactly a move that struck fear into people who want Americans dead.
But Obama took out the pirates without hesitation and sent a clear message around the world that the American President still carries a big stick (or team of sharp-shooters), and just because Obama is a Democrat, doesn’t mean he isn’t afraid to use it (them).
Obama hasn’t been afraid to put pressure on Pakistan, and he has basically ignored the crazy pigmies who are in charge of North Korea. Good moves all.
Obama’s real test has been—and still is—Iran. Even with American troops surrounding the country, Obama has lain off any ‘Axis of Evil’ comments during the recent protests, understanding that family fights will stay that way until an outsider intervenes. It has by far been Obama’s sharpest move as President.
If the Iranian revolution is successful, Israeli pressure for an attack will fall on deaf ears and the focus can then be shifted to reconciling with the Palestinians. By staying out of the Iranian revolution, showing a desire to leave a stable Iraq, and a willingness to pressure Pakistan, Obama will have positioned himself as an honest broker when it comes to Israel.
I’m not saying all the problems will be resolved, but the potential for some sort of progress will be higher than it has been in over a decade. And I wish President Obama the best of luck.
Comments
Is this the Onion?
Plinking a couple teenagers off of a boat in the middle of the ocean is evidence he carries, uh, a big stick? I'm sure the Russians are scared. Harry Truman nuking Hiroshima was a big stick. Dubya going after terrorists was a big stick. Heck, Clinton bombing Sudanese aspirin factories was a bigger stick. Popping a couple kids off the coast of Somalia is only evidence he's willing to spend $2 for a couple bullets.
What would he have done if they were N. Korean or Iranian pirates? Likely, exactly what you give him so much credit for...absolutely nothing. Unless you call a "strongly worded" UN Resolution substantive.
"Nothing" is exactly what his foreign policy is. Bury your head in the sand, ignore threats and hope all the people who hate you will magically start loving you. As long as the Europeans love us again.
Ironically, I wish his domestic policy matched his foreign policy.
"$2 for a couple bullets," by the way, is approximately 50% of what our military budget will be in 2012.
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