Ukraine, Gaza, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Egypt, in all these countries political events have caused turmoil, unstable governments, hegemony, refugees, massive human rights violations, even genocide, yet the Republican Party lays all these on President Obama’s doorstep; that because we aren’t respected like we were under President George W. Bush these tragic events have been allowed or even provided the opportunity for them to happen.
When Al-Qaeda flew the airlines into the World Trade Center was it because they didn’t respect President Bush? When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait was it because they didn’t respect President George HW Bush? Was Grenada invaded because they didn’t respect President Reagan? Did Vietnam happen because of disrespect for President Eisenhower?
The truth of the matter is there are always hotspots in the world and because of more comprehensive reporting and communication we are more aware.
There may be more now than usual but they have little to do with respect for President Obama.
If anything we are guilty of over meddling, yearning to help our fellow countries by transforming strongman governments into democracies with a deep abiding respect for human rights.
But after being lifted by the hope of Arab Spring, you hear the debate about whether Iraq is really better without Hussein, Syria without Assad, Libya without Quaddafi, or Egypt without Mubarak. If we had a chance for a redo would we act the same as we did?
Well without sounding too trite, we are Americans, seduced by the thought of tranquility throughout the land. We tried, but as with Vietnam we should be constantly reminded that exporting democracy and human rights through the barrel of a gun or at least the threat of it is not always wise. Perhaps guided by the use of hindsight, we should get out of the business of transforming society for a while.
So what do we do? Sit by idly and watch human tragedy on a massive scale? The first thing to do is stop pointing fingers at each other.
The only path to salvation for these troubled areas is for the world to engage using a combination of military, diplomatic and economic leverage.
Deals can be done. Egypt can help with Gaza, Iran with Syria and Iraq, Russia with Iran, The European Union with Russia; if there was ever a time for world wide diplomacy to step up it is now.
Just don’t blame Obama.
First they criticized him for the deficits. With no help from the other side Obama set the budget on a course to lower deficits. Then he was criticized for the slow pace of the economic recovery. With no help from the GOP he righted the economic ship, cleaning up the mess they handed him. Then navigating through the most onerous legal and political maze ever constructed that still holds the most formidable object yet, the President passed a health care plan that starting with Theodore Roosevelt, every president, both Democrat and Republican failed to pass; delivering better health care to millions. Now Obama is the worst president ever because of his foreign policy.
The road to Rushmore is paved with many obstacles, just ask Theodore Roosevelt.