Actions have consequences

I have six children and it continues to amaze me that there are times when they cannot see the train coming down the tracks directly at them. Talking and counseling them is of no use. They are clearly, smarter, superior and much worldlier than I am. So, the train arrives, demolishes their plans and they are stunned. That should not happen to world leaders.

Let’s take a short trip down memory lane.

Our newly minted President Obama apologizes to presidents, prime ministers, royalty all over the world for some mystical insults that the USA has inflicted on them. At the same time he promises a gentler and kinder America.

The President proclaims that the cold war has been over for 20years and proposes to reset the US – Russian relationship. Obama is eventually overheard telling Vladimir Putin he will have more flexibility after he is elected to a second term. Inferring what? No body is quite sure.

Israel is looking down the barrel of the Iranian nuclear program and is given the cold shoulder by Mr. Obama. Our staunchest ally in the middle east is left taking a stance that we only half heartedly support. The existence of Israel is clearly in our interest and always has been but without a unified front the vultures begin to circle attracted by the festering wound our President has inflicted.

Our ambassador and three others are killed in Benghazi and the story becomes a scandalous cover up. It appears that the political price for this tragedy trumps any consideration of action against the perpetrators. Not one word has been uttered in all this time about what our reply might be to the country and individuals involved in the deaths of four of our citizens.

Mr. Obama lets Iran off the hook by relaxing sanctions that were actually working. No real quid pro quo is extracted. The justification is ostensibly to make some progress on inhibiting their nuclear capabilities and preventing the development of a nuclear bomb. And the result, not one centrifuge is taken off line and we lighten the sanctions by $8 billion.

For months and months Syria boils, crosses Obama’s “red line” by using chemical weapons against its own countrymen. The US takes little or no action, besides rhetoric.

Enter Vlad Putin on a white horse. He brokers a deal with no teeth and everyone gets excited that action is being taken. Never mind that Mr. Putin is now named the most powerful man in the world by Time magazine. Never mind that Syria has yet to turn over more than 4% of its’ chemical stockpile.

Hamid Karzai the Afghanistan president blatantly thumbs his nose at the US for interfering in its domestic policy after he releases fifty plus terrorist prisoners. Many of these very same prisoners had been captured by American troops and handed over to Afghan authorities. Karzai, who is cozying up to the Taliban for fear of his own well being appears ready to divorce himself from the US in all aspects with the exception of the money that still flows freely into his coffers. The level of hubris on the world stage is very troubling. Yet, it barely creates a response from the White House.

Surface Mr. Putin again as Russian troops enter Ukraine. Could this be the flexibility Obama was promising Putin back a couple of years ago. With his usual rhetoric our President has himself in a no win situation. What actions can he take? None of any consequence. Could this be the deal made in hell when he promised to be more flexible.

Or could it just be the cumulative effect of the general weakness of our President. He has failed to maintain the levels of respect that we heretofore enjoyed among world leaders, both friend and foe. Respect must be earned. Our size, wealth and resources do not entitle us to stature. We must command the world stage with firmness, clear eyed vision and resolve. Weak kneed sisters have no place in the world theatre. Actions have consequences, both up and down.

#Obama #POTUS #Russia #Isreal #Palenstine #Syria #Afghanistan #Putin