The President’s Words Cost Him Nothing – But the Price for the Nation May Be Dear Indeed

“Reset”, “Unacceptable”, “Red line”, “Grave Concern”, are all words bandied about by President Obama.  Judging by the lack of consequence, one might conclude that he must think that words alone are enough. 

Is it simple arrogance?  Is it an expectation that stating his desire about what should be – as it has so often been in his star-struck career – is enough to bring it about?

Probably that was at least part of the answer during the early stages of his presidency.  But can it still be after so many failures to achieve stated objectives?  He would be a fool indeed if that were the case. 

The President is deserving of many pejoratives; fool is not one of them.

Obama has never concealed his lack of interest in foreign affairs.  His focus has been on directing America sharply to the left, whether in “health reform” or in income redistribution.

But he can hardly escape his Constitutional duty to serve as Commander–in-Chief.  So the President says what he does not in any expectation that foreigners will follow his directives but, rather, because he thinks it is his obligation to voice them. 

He doesn’t really believe in his words and certainly has no intention of following through.  The President is mainly – if not entirely – playing to his domestic audience. 

Unfortunately, there are serious consequences for America stemming from Barack Obama’s insincerity.

The outside world has no use for the President’s domestic policy concerns.  But calculations on what the U.S. will do on the world’s stage are critical indeed.  Words from the leader of the earth’s most powerful nation cannot be ignored unless experience proves they are empty.  In fact, this Commander-in-Chief has provided ample proof that such is exactly the case.

The consequences of this conclusion can be disastrous indeed for America’s national interest and safety.

Bin Laden was reportedly much encouraged by Clinton’s largely symbolic response to his attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen.  (A few cruise missiles were fired into his Afghan training base.) 

Al Qaeda was persuaded that the 9/11 attacks would trigger a similarly timid reaction.

  

[To note that George Bush was not Bill Clinton misses the point.  For most foreigners the President is America in the sense that he speaks for all of us and represents our attitudes.  Of course, that’s naïve.  But the perception is the reality that affects behavior.]

Failures to fulfill promises – or back up threats – have the potential for tragic consequences.

 

It would be better by far if Barack Obama would simply keep his mouth shut.  His personal desire to do nothing wouldn’t have to change – he’d merely need to stop posturing.  At least that would leave the outside world to wonder about what the U.S. would do in confronting a particular threat.  Alas, the vain, self-righteous occupant of the White House appears incapable of doing so.

Last week’s commentary focused on America’s popularity in the world.  Such matters little if divorced from respect.  Is there a more obvious historical fact than that nations base their actions on self-interest, not on affection?

It is appalling – nay, alarming – that members of the President’s own party have not lambasted his irresponsible disregard of our national self-interest.  They are Americans, too.  Is party loyalty so demanding that no prominent Democrats (forget about Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi) feel obligated to publicly state the obvious?

And what about the media?  How can it be that, with the usual conservative exceptions, there has been no general condemnation of the President’s vapid rhetoric?  Will nothing shake their allegiance to Barack Obama – not even the dangers his conduct invites?