THE CONSEQUENCES OF WEAKNESS IN FOREIGN POLICY
The tragic events in Libya and the violence in Egypt bring to the forefront the importance of making foreign policy part of the discussion in the presidential campaign.
Joe Biden in his speech made a point that Obama is a very strong and steady commander in chief. Of course as usual the media sang their amen’s and the naïve public came to judge that this president has a solid foreign policy, as opposed to an inexperienced Romney. I hope that we can promote an intelligent, honest and truthful discussion about foreign policy and history.
There has been a historical consistency in the approach to foreign policy practiced by the Democrat and Republican parties. We can be sure that whoever wins the elections and however the Foreign Policy and National Security team looks like afterwards, we can be assured that this historical difference will continue to exist.
Democrats will continue to emphasize being liked versus being respected. They will negotiate from an assumption of moral equivalence, even when dealing with thugs and uncivilized savages. Republicans will place more emphasis on negotiating from strength and understanding American Exceptionalism and its history as a beacon of peace and freedom.
In the last few decades we saw the result of the Regan doctrine. His most memorable achievements of course the fall of Communism and the unification of Germany, as well as,the resulting freedom in Eastern Europe. As often and as much as he was criticized for his support of the Contras and other Democratic movements in Central America, the future of Democracy in the area is now more optimistic as a result of Regan’s support and understanding.
In contrast we look back at the ultimate result of Jimmy Carters abandonment of the Shah of Iran. The Country is now controlled by Ayatollahs and is today the number one threat to world peace, it’s also the center of power of our enemies on the war on terror. Carter also created the Arafat myth and gave legitimacy to corrupt terrorist in peace negotiations, weakening Israel's position forever. In Central America Carter abandoned a 50 year staunch US ally in favor of a Communist Dictator, causing instability and death for decades.
The media beloved Bill Clinton allowed the rise of a powerful enemy in Afghanistan that resulted in the rise of Al-Qaida the training of thousands of dangerous jihadist whose major feat resulted in 9/11.
So, is there a difference in the foreign policy philosophy that Obama and Romney will implement? You can bet your life and that of millions of others that there is. Should we be discussing this issue honestly and openly? You bet. But, will the Obama protecting liberal media engage. Not so sure that’s a winning bet.
I think in the name of truth and common sense that this outrage needs to be pointed out. We live in the greatest Nation in the world but sadly the media has become as corrupt and partisan as in a third world country. Let’s hope that this will change someday and the sooner the best.