Obama & Foreign Policy

[Vin Lombardi]

There seems to be this reputation that Obama has as a great foreign policy President. Is it deserved? I think the jury is still out on Libya and Egypt, but they certainly weren't the wave of western democracy that we had hoped for. Iran is still being Iran. There is another thread about the live mic mishap with Russia, and now Poland is asking "“Were they trading Poland? Puzzling Obama talk with Medvedev about the missile shield." http://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeedpoli...rattles-poland

And then there was this interesting video from the Danes dissecting how Obama gives similar false praise to many nations:



Thoughts on his foreign policy record?

[RayClay]

Yes, those countries are still full of Muslims. Yes, diplomats generally say nice things about different countries.

[lechrus2]

Obama strikes me as rather naive but foreign policy is difficult business for any president.

[LGM]

So ending the biggest boondogle of war our country has known, finding and killing Osama, increased pressure/sanctions on Iran, and a possible (but who knows) talks with North Korea don't count?

[kenneth2k1]

Well, since he hasn't gone all imperial on any Middle East nations, let NATO as a whole take the lead on Libya, and hasn't invaded Iran yet... I think his foreign policy has been alright.

I would still like to see more activism in Syria though

[RayClay]

He needs a new metaphor. Of course all these damn small countries are lightweights and equally insignificant and need to fight it out, obviously.

I think a lot of countries can be strong allies. the more the better.

[Art Vandelay]

So ending the biggest boondogle of war our country has known?

Ever hear of Vietnam or Korea?

[JackBauer]

Do people make Facebook accounts for the express purpose of trolling Buzzfeed comment threads?

[LGM]

Ever hear of Vietnam or Korea?

Cost?

[Mongo Freebase]

He'll be able to handle foreign policy better once re-elected and more 'flexible'........

[kenneth2k1]

Cost?

Yeah. Somewhere around 50,000 Americans killed.

[toine]

He'll be able to handle foreign policy better once re-elected and more 'flexible'........

in other words, better than anything the repubs have to offer....

[Mongo Freebase]

in other words, better than anything the repubs have to offer....

In your words....maybe....

[LGM]

Yeah. Somewhere around 50,000 Americans killed.

So boondoggle = loss of life? Okay.

[Art Vandelay]

Cost?

Korea 1950-1953 1952
Current Year $ 30 billion
Constant FY2011$ 341 billion

Vietnam 1965-1975 1968
Current Year $ 111 billion 2.3% 9.5%
Constant FY2011$ 738 billion

Iraq 2003-2010 2008
Current Year $ 715 billion
Constant FY2011$ 784 billion

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22926.pdf

Add to the fact that more than 58,000 Americans lost their lives in Vietnam and almost 37,000 Americans lost their lives in Korea, both of which accomplished virtually nothing, and I think you can argue that the total cost for those two wars was higher.

At least in Iraq, the evil dictator and his kids are no longer taking oxygen, and there is a democratically elected government in place.

Worthwhile? No.

Worthless? Also no.