However, that difference is apparent mostly in
social programs.
Foreign policy issues are often equalizers because
principles in politics, in particular when your own home appears
safe, is anathema.
The appearance of one’s own safety is often the
result of shortsightedness. Long-term strategic interests are
subjects left for academic discourse. In politics, principles are
compromised for the sake of political expediency, electability and
the like.
The
most recent annals of American presidential history is a mixed bag of
pronouncements and then retraction rationalized as compromise.
Even Ronald Reagan, the much revered American president by the right, wasn’t immune from the
greatest tax increase in U.S. history to that point, despite being
staunchly opposed to big government.
George H. W. Bush was a CIA
operative with little or no convictions. In fact he became the object
of ridicule by the ideological followers of Reagan for his lack of
principles, and often substantiated those attacks with performances
like his “Chicken Kyiv” speech on suicidal nationalism and
separatism.
William Jefferson Clinton had his own personal failings,
but was fortunate enough not to be in a foreign policy crisis
throughout his term.
George W. Bush looked Putin in the eye and
decided he could do business with Putin because he had seen his soul.
He then watched the object of his affection invade Georgian territory
and Bush responded with merely a few U. S. naval exercises.
President
Barack Obama is not immune from political frailties, particularly in
foreign policy. In fact he is more susceptible because of his extreme
inexperience in global politics. His main advisers have been lacking
as well.
Hillary Clinton had a modicum of foreign policy experience.
Being the wife of a president and a short-term senator from New York
does not provide the necessary exposure. Additionally Clinton has
been burdened by her own ambitions for electability. Pretty much Clinton appears ready to say anything to get support.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, despite a lengthy resume in the Senate, does not
have foreign policy experience either.
Being a Vietnam War hero and
then an anti-war activist does not prepare one to tackle complex
global issues. Despite his Senate longevity, he had little or no
record on the Soviet Union or the Cold War.
Current National Security Adviser
Susan Rice was a United Nations permanent representative failure, could not
make secretary of state, so Obama appointed her to head the National Security Council.
There isn’t anyone close to a Henry Kissinger among them. As a
result Obama is left to his own devices.
Two
issues in foreign policy have overwhelmed Obama – Russian
aggression and the volatility of the Middle East.
In both instances
the president has been reluctant to act resolutely. Unfortunately,
inaction spells disaster. Additionally, Obama has
manifested a weakness by attempting to befriend those who are, in
fact, America’s enemies.
As a result Iran is developing its nuclear
capability at Israel’s peril, and perhaps, ultimately at America’s
peril, Islamic extremists have sprouted all over the Middle East and
Russia’s current scourge sitting as head of state Vladimir Putin is
emboldened to test Western resolve in rebuffing his attempts to
reconstitute Russian greatness.
Obama has assisted Iran in its nuclear development by giving Iran
time and the benefit of a doubt as if Iran was acting in good faith,
paying little heed to Israel, who is America’s only ally and the only
democracy in the Middle East.
In Eastern Europe, Obama has
enabled Putin to annex Crimea, conduct a full scale war and terrorist
activities in Eastern Ukraine.
The president’s initial belief was
that Putin would stop at Crimea. Then that belief expanded to
enclaves and a hybrid war in parts of eastern Ukraine together with
the removal of Ukraine’s accession to membership from NATO’s agenda.
The
imposition of sanctions have done more for President Obama’s public
image than curbing Putin’s appetite. Unstopped militarily and
emboldened, Putin took Crimea, now his sights are set on Donbas and
carving an avenue through Mariupol over Ukrainian lands into Crimea,
tomorrow he may desire all of Ukraine, then Estonia, Latvia, etc.
Like
Israel in the Middle East, Ukraine is clearly America’s friend in
Eastern Europe.
Ukraine is prepared to do the heavy lifting, the
fighting and the dying. But Ukraine needs lethal defense supplies
against Russia’s sophisticated weaponry. Congress passed a bill
authorizing those arms. The president himself signed it into law. One
can only assume that he read it and was aware of its significance.
Sure the law merely authorizes the president. But why sign the bill
if you have no intention of acting. The lethal weapons are not
forthcoming. No assuaging of Ukraine by Kerry or Vice
President Joe Biden will do. No talk of diplomatic negotiations will
solve this problem.
The only way to stop Putin is to stop him on the
battlefield.
Askold S. Lozynskyj is a past president of the Ukrainian World Congress.
