When looking at Obama’s foreign policy moves compared to what we would be seeing with a John McCain or Mitt Romney presidency, we see things could have been worse.
That’s not to say that Obama is a non-interventionist in any sense of the word. But it appears that his primary focus is on intervening domestically.
Neocons, who are at all times salivating for war, are not happy. It’s one thing to wait four years to get your agenda on the front burner, but having to wait eight gives rise to some serious neocon restlessness.
Last month, The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin complained:
“Evidence of the perils of President Obama’s Middle East policy, or lack thereof, abound. We are less influential than at anytime since the Carter administration…”
The only “influence” that a free people should exert is to set an example as to how voluntary exchange, respect for private property, and liberty can exist and work. Or as Ron Paul has repeatedly stated, “Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
Unfortunately, that’s not the “influence” that the neocons are interested in. Rubin’s definition of influence requires lots of bombs, tanks, drones, and casualties.
On the domestic front, Rubin is not impressed with Obama’s legislative record either:
“Frankly, his domestic agenda is a mess. The budget “grand bargain” he’s been talking about for years is unlikely to occur. He lost on guns. He’s not going to get anything done on climate change. If immigration reform passes, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will get the lion’s share of the credit.”
But ever the alert neocon, Rubin sees this as an opportunity to insert her own ideas as to how Obama can rectify the situation:
“So why not turn to national security and make his mark in defusing the North Korean and Iranian threats and protecting the homeland? Lots of presidents including Ronald Reagan (arms control) and Bush (the Iraq surge) have saved their second term by rising above domestic political defeats to achieve significant foreign policy wins.”
Unfortunately, it is true that Presidents who are in a pinch, often look to foreign adventures for their salvation.
Will Obama follow Jennifer’s advice and do the same?
