Vladamir Putin

Barack Obama: Elements Of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, And John F. Kennedy In Him!

Ronald 21 Comments

Barack Obama has, after some false starts and hesitation, accomplished something no one would ever have imagined: convincing Russian President Vladamir Putin that he had better do something with his ally, Syria, on the subject of chemical warfare, or face an American military strike against Damascus! There is a long road to travel, but the outlook for a peaceful resolution of the matter seems very promising and likely.

And in so doing, Barack Obama has demonstrated elements of two former Republican Presidents, and two former Democratic Presidents, all of whom are ranked in the top ten of all of our 43 Presidents of the United States!

Chronologically, Obama has demonstrated:

That he is like Theodore Roosevelt in his promotion of “speak softly, but carry a big stick”, promoting diplomacy but willing, if need be, to use force.

That he is like Woodrow Wilson in his ethics and moral cause to enforce the international ban against chemical weapons, as Wilson wished to secure the ideal of a world without war and promotion of international diplomacy.

That he is like Dwight D. Eisenhower in wishing to have Congressional backing and approval on important issues of foreign policy, a master stroke by Obama, putting the onus on Congress to do what needs to be done, but reserving the right to take action as Commander in Chief if need be, even if Congress refuses support.

That he is like John F. Kennedy, staring down the Soviet Union in the Cuban Missile Crisis, as Obama is staring down Russia in the Syrian chemical warfare crisis.

So Obama has some of the characteristics and principles of four outstanding Presidents!

American Foreign Policy Challenge: The Top Ten Nations

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We live in an uncertain and dangerous world, two decades after the end of the Cold War, and the downfall of the Soviet Union.

Not only is there the threat of international terrorism, whether state sponsored, or outside the state system, but the challenges that various nations present to us are also imposing.

By areas of the world, without ranking, these would be considered the top ten nations that present a challenge to us for the long term.

Europe
The Russian Federation, with its authoritarian leader, Vladamir Putin.

Middle East

Egypt, with its revolution faltering, and the largest nation in population in the Arab world.
Iran, with its sponsorship of international terrorism in the Palestinian territories, and its development of nuclear power.
Israel, with its problems dealing with the Palestinians and terrorism, and alarmed by Iranian influence growing in the Middle East.

Asia

China, with its growing impact on the world economy, and one out of every four people in the world within its borders.
North Korea, with its maniacal leader Kim Jong Il, and his move to develop nuclear weapons that endanger the security of South Korea and Japan.
Pakistan, with its radical Islamic groups, and a deteriorating relationship with the United States, and dangerous because of its possession of nuclear weapons.
India, with the second largest population in the world, and concerned about the threat of its nuclear rival, Pakistan.

Latin America

Mexico, with its growing drug gangs, presenting an imminent threat to the United States border states, and its government unable to cope with promoting law and order within its national boundaries.
Venezuela, with its maniacal leader, Hugo Chavez, and his anti American foreign policy, and friendship with Fidel Castro

In these difficult times, we need a person who understands the world, and again, ONLY Jon Huntsman can truly challenge President Barack Obama and his strong diplomacy under the leadership and advice of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton!

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, And Missile Defense In Eastern Europe

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A controversial decision has been made by President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, but also Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a carryover from the Bush Administration,  to abandon the Bush Administration idea of setting up a missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic to protect against any Iranian missile program and nuclear weapons development, in favor of cooperation with Russia on the Iranian issue.

This, of course, pleases Vladamir Putin, the Prime Minister and past President of Russia, who was antagonistic toward such a missile defense, as presenting a threat to his nation. It has, at the same time, alarmed Republicans and conservatives who feel that the administration is undermining the defense of these Eastern European nations and caving in to Russian demands, particularly after the intervention in Georgia in 2008.

On this subject, I admit to some confusion as to what is best. My gut instinct is to worry about this decision, but it is also true that a better relationship between Russia and the United States is essential if there is to be any linking of policy toward Iran and North Korea, as they pursue nuclear weapons.

In many ways, Iran is the greater issue right now, although certainly one cannot be naive about Russia, based on its past and the fact that Vladamir Putin seems not a leader to trust, based on his behavior as Russian leader in the past, and his continued dominance in Russian affairs although he is no longer the President, but rather the Prime Minister of his nation.

Certainly, Obama’s decision to reverse the Bush policy is a bold gamble, for which he may some day be seen as a visionary, or as a total failure. Hopefully, the former, rather than the latter, will be the result when we look back on the Obama Presidency when he leaves office.