Across the globe the United States is being tested, and is unfortunately failing.
The very recent missile tests by North Korea, the seeming failure of the Syrian agreement, the threat posed by the potential total withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the continued Russian incursion and threats in Ukraine are the most visible and current instances of foreign policy failures by the present administration.
Acts of terrorism appear to be escalating rather than receding. Solid facts and answers regarding Benghazi are yet to be forthcoming. Terrorists groups are probing all over the world. This fact has been ever present since 9/11. The probes continue and increase.
And now the Obama administration wants to terminate the primary role of the United States in managing and controlling the domain allocations of the internet. The United States has been managing this program since the initiation of the internet. Not only does this have serious international business and trade implications. It presents additional national security threats.
As Ukraine smoldered, Russia dominated the referendum in the Crimea and occupied more territory. In the United States, the Senate did not take up a Ukraine emergency aid package before taking a week of vacation. It is doubtful that this urgent issue will find agreement in Congress in the near future. Let’s hope Congress acts quickly upon the return to Washington. This situation should be a bipartisan matter with bipartisan action.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger may have been correct when he said, “The American temptation is to believe that foreign policy is a division of psychiatry.” That is the way current foreign policy seems to be practiced in Washington. Make no mistake, Putin knows what he is doing, calculating every move and dominating the world stage. He once said, “In accordance with the Russian Federation, the issues of foreign policy and defense are fully in the hands of the president.” Putin understands that nature, especially political nature abhors a vacuum. He has acted decisively to arrange an illegal and rigged election in Crimea which significantly strengthens his hand in obtaining his original reasons for entering Ukraine.
There is no doubt that several vital interests are at play in Ukraine and the Crimea. As in the Middle East, energy is a significant vital interest for Russia and the nations in Western Europe. For the United States, vital interests include the containment of Russian expansionism, becoming more energy sufficient at home, water access to strategic points and the support of people seeking freedom and democracy.
The U.S. business community should not be concerned over the limited and weak sanctions imposed against Russia by the Obama administration. These sanctions apply only to the deposed Ukraine President Victor Yankukovych, seven other government officials and four other Russians. What about the myriad of Russian oligarchs and major U.S. corporations? However, as President Obama has said, “It is not personal, Vladimir.”
Yes, America is being tested. Failing grade can no longer be tolerated. In order to improve our standing in the world, the United States must improve its grades in foreign policy and leadership.
Fletcher R. Hall
Morris Ellison says
Editor,
Neo-cons like Mr. Hall need therapy. Why such an obsession with military force?
Instead of working so hard to make the U.S. number one militarily, why doesn’t he work to bring our education system and standard of living (health care, public transportation, etc.) up to the standards of the rest of the industrialized world?
Get corporations out of politics and make THIS country a democracy.
Then we will truly be leaders of the world.