Before my time, the Democrats were accused of “losing China” to the communists, that prompted Lyndon Johnson to expand combat operations in Vietnam so he couldn’t be blamed for “losing Vietnam”. Then, the next time we elected a Democrat, Jimmy Carter fumbled and tried to prop up the Samoza regime and lost Nicaragua to the communists in our own hemisphere. The following year, he tried the same failed tactic and lost Iran. <\/p>\n
Now, according to Aluf Benn, of Haaretz<\/a>, the same historical fate awaits Obama;<\/p>\n The superficial circumstances are similar. In both cases, a United States in financial crisis and after failed wars loses global influence under a leftist president whose good intentions are interpreted abroad as expressions of weakness. The results are reflected in the fall of regimes that were dependent on their relationship with Washington for survival, or in a change in their orientation, as with Ankara.<\/p>\n America’s general weakness clearly affects its friends. But unlike Carter, who preached human rights even when it hurt allies, Obama sat on the fence and exercised caution. He neither embraced despised leaders nor evangelized for political freedom, for fear of undermining stability. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n While politically the Obama Administration sits on the sidelines cheering for both sides of the unrest in Egypt, they send the Pentagon out to reassure the Egyptian military<\/a> of our continued support;<\/p>\n U.S. armed forces leaders continued high-level talks Sunday with their Egyptian counterparts, applauding their “continued professionalism” and reaffirming the two militaries’ partnership, a spokesman said.<\/p>\n U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has talked by phone this weekend with Egyptian Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, as well as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, according to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrel.<\/p>\n Also, Egyptian Lt. Gen. Sami Enan spoke Sunday afternoon with his equivalent in the United States, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, according to Mullen’s spokesman.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Of course, the US will take the blame if the Egyptian military decides to support Mubarak while the US military publicly pats the Egyptians on the back. That’s how we got the “The Great Satan” moniker in Iran. <\/p>\n Thanks to TSO for the link.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"