A few weeks ago at the Republican National Convention, Dr. Condoleezza Rice warned us that it was important that the rest of the world know where America stands on foreign policy. Dr. Rice promptly asked the question: Where does America stand? Consequently, Israel and many of the Muslim countries are asking the same question.
This past 9/11 memorial protests in Libya and Egypt prove Dr. Rice’s words to be prophetic. In this dangerous world that we live in it is imperative that our stance be in Dr. Rice’s words “unambiguous.” Unfortunately, the Obama administration has been everything but
unambiguous. They can’t even get the story right about the apparent video that was said to have started the unrest. The White House says it’s the video’s fault. Libya’s interim president says that the protests were prearranged to coincide with 9/11.
In my humble opinion the White House proved to be slow to take a resolute stance against the murderers who took American lives on American soil, especially that of one of our diplomats. To say you will work with the Libyan government to track down the perpetrators of these atrocities is what you say when some one has committed a misdemeanor or felony crime, not a blatant act of war. The lack of resolve in Obama’s response, and what basically amounts to an apology, just emboldened other radicals in other nations to do the same. The fact that no one knows where America stands on the storming and burning of our embassies and the killing of embassy staff is incredulous and invites future barbaric acts.
There is no longer a fear of what America will do. Everyone knows that President Obama speaks out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand, he wants to befriend the Muslim community. On the other hand, he is executing the war in Afghanistan just like the Bush administration, using drones to kill high valued targets. If Bush II were still president the Muslim radicals would have thought twice before pulling off such an attack. They’d of known that Bush would have come after them without hesitation [You know, he is a Texas cowboy].
In the case of Israel, President Obama continues to give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the cold shoulder. Meanwhile, Iran continues (unchallenged) on the path to building nuclear weapons. If this is more “leading from behind” the president needs a new strategy because the current one is not working. Every nation has agreed, including Muslim nations, that they do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons. Yet, the diplomats continue to talk and press sanctions while Iran continues down the road less traveled and the road to perdition.
The world is less safe with a President who tries to be everyone’s friend or equal. The world needs leadership. The World needs America to take a principled stand on foreign policy that is good for the U.S. and her allies; and at the same time stands resolved and resolute against our enemies, with a clear distinction between the two. This does not mean that enemies cannot become friends, but it does mean that we expect them to act like friends and not shoot us in the back. On the contrary, it also means that long standing friends can be put on the enemies list should they decide to betray us and think they can do it with impunity.
So where does America Stand? Dr. Rice was correct when she said, “When friends or foes alike don’t know the answer to this question unambiguously and clearly the world is likely to be a more dangerous and chaotic place.” The current turmoil in the world proves the veracity of her statement. This is a dangerous world, too dangerous for ambiguity to be emanating from the leader of the free world. A real leader leads from the front, not the rear. A real leader takes calculated risks, not to get reelected; but to do what is right for our country and the rest of the free world. Unfortunately, authentic leadership cannot be done from behind. It must be demonstrated out-front, boldly confronting our enemies, with a clear message of “carrots and sticks” attesting to the fact that we are not afraid to use our sticks.
So where does America stand? Our allies are waiting to see and our enemies are daring us to take one.
