Obama’s Foreign Policy – Successful?

Do you remember one of the President’s favorite – and oft repeated - mantra’s during last year’s campaign?

 

“Al Qaeda is on the run and Bin Laden is dead,” as if all was going well during Obama’s watch on the world stage.

When the September killing of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans in Libya threatened the narrative, the Administration blamed an inflammatory internet video instead of active terrorists.  Not surprisingly, the media, with the exception of Fox news and a few others, did not challenge the suspect account.

 

We were all reminded a few weeks ago by the global terrorism alert that things aren’t exactly working out as Barack Obama promised.

 

The new Administration took office in January ’09, pledging a “new and improved” foreign policy which would correct the errors of his unpopular predecessor.

 

* Guantanamo Bay detention center was to be closed

* A tour of Middle Eastern countries was conducted during which the president offered a more understanding U.S. attitude (termed by some as an “apology tour”)

* Russian relations were to be reset

The paramount purpose of these efforts, the Administration proclaimed, was to improve America’s standing in the world.

 

We know now, of course, that the items noted above were not exactly successful or achieved.  But how about the broader objective?

 

The Pew Research Center has been surveying global attitudes towards America since 2002.  The question asked is “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of the U.S.?”

Interestingly, Middle East opinion on American is now more negative than it was in 2008, during the last year of George Bush’s Administration.

 

Here are some examples.  (percentages are favorable ratings)

          * Egypt 22% in ’08 – 16% in 2013

          * Jordan 19% vs. 14%

          * Pakistan 19% vs. 11%

So much for long term positive results from the apology tour.

 

European views today, however, are decidedly more positive than they were when President Bush was in the White House. 

Another sampling:

* France 42% in ’08 – 64% in 2013

* Britain 53% vs. 58%

* Germany 31% vs. 53%

Even Russians are more favorable 46% vs. 51%.

Without question Europe prefers Obama to Bush, but even there disillusionment has set in.

While nearly 2/3 of the French view the U.S. favorably now, in 2009 the positive rating was over 75% and the plus rating has dropped 11% for both the British and the Germans in the same time period.

In fairness, one must say that based upon public opinion, President Obama has improved relations with our European allies – the love affair with our first black leader largely continues.  Middle East relations under his watch have, however, worsened significantly.

 

A verdict on the Obama foreign policy perceived by the outside world is one of mixed success.

But as one looks today at conditions in Russia, North Korea, Syria, Iran and Egypt, it’s vital to note that the proper question is whether America’s foreign policy is serving our national interest – not whether it’s making us more popular in the world.  Judge success by the former.  The latter is a fickle concern.