What Ticked you off Today - The political offshoot

[dsheinem]

Mr. Bush was firm in his stances and while he was at times cocky, he was consistent, which is respectable.

President Obama has been overmatched since day one - unsure on whether to condemn his attorney general or even his...minister. He has wanted to emulate some of Mrs. Clinton's more hawkish takes on the Iran and North Korea issues, while wanting to make sure that everyone still likes him. It is sad when our president thinks he's running for international prom king when in truth his only concern should be US short and long-term security, both physical and financial. His failure to understand this has led to him accurately portrayed as overmatched and uninformed on facts on the ground foreign policy.

Is that you, Bill O'Reilly?

Not everything in this world is black and white, no matter how much either side tries to suggest it might be. Not everything about Holder or Wright is condemnable, nor is every foreign policy decision strictly about security. Sorry, but your post reads like partisan hackery of the most uninformed and amateur kind.

[mjmjr25]

Sorry, but your post reads like partisan hackery of the most uninformed and amateur kind.

Mega-dittos.

For the record...a lot of stuff is black and white.

[Flake]

Not to elongate this derailment but for what it's worth, I have been in the defense field for over 10 years now. President Obama has his faults and flaws but from a security stand point, he's pretty damn solid. Better than his predecessor, to be certain.

[prfsnl_gmr]

For the record...a lot of stuff is black and white.

Oreo cookies
Old photographs
Piano keys
Old movies
Zebras
Old TV shows
Tuxedos
Piano key neckties

Seriously, the list goes on and on...

[Hobie-wan]

For the record...a lot of stuff is black and white.

Oreo cookies
Old photographs
Piano keys
Old movies
Zebras
Old TV shows
Tuxedos
Piano key neckties

Seriously, the list goes on and on...

How could you leave out the most relevant item to this forum? Pong!

[dsheinem]

Not to elongate this derailment but for what it's worth, I have been in the defense field for over 10 years now. President Obama has his faults and flaws but from a security stand point, he's pretty damn solid. Better than his predecessor, to be certain.

Was wondering when you'd chime in!

Any guesses on Romney foreign policy?

[MrPopo]

Not to elongate this derailment but for what it's worth, I have been in the defense field for over 10 years now. President Obama has his faults and flaws but from a security stand point, he's pretty damn solid. Better than his predecessor, to be certain.

Was wondering when you'd chime in!

Any guesses on Romney foreign policy?

Kill em all and let God sort em out?

[Flake]

Mitt Romney does not have a foreign policy. And that's not a slam; he shouldn't. He's a private citizen. As a potential president, he only just began receiving classified briefings last month.

A foreign policy is built on three pillars: Security, finance, and prestige. A successful foreign policy is one where the net gain in these categories outweighs the loss.

[mjmjr25]

Not to elongate this derailment but for what it's worth, I have been in the defense field for over 10 years now. President Obama has his faults and flaws but from a security stand point, he's pretty damn solid. Better than his predecessor, to be certain.

Wow. Sorta...shocked to hear you say that, tbh. We (USA) had some great opportunities for diplomacy, friendship, outreach, in all the Middle East uprisings / revolutions and the wishi-washiness on each front, and varying degrees of support (and non-support) - I would'n't have thought that was your take. I don't dispute he's a bit more let's say "diplomatic" at "diplomacy", but I really don't think we've improved:

Iran>World
North Korea>World
China>Taiwan
China>Vietnam
China>Japan
Russia>Ukraine
Russia>Georgia
Russia>USA
Turkey>USA
Israel>USA
Syria>World>USA
Mexico>USA

Next to no involvement with someone we should strategically (and of course for general humane reasons) be courting: India

Essentially disengaged with sub-saharan Africa / Central America.

I mean, I think the only countries we've modestly improved relations with in the past 4 years are Canada and Venezuela. I won't rule out backdoor diplomacy that may not have gotten coverage with (very) modest improvements in Myanmar.

[Flake]

Well Mike, here's the thing: The US is not really in a position to involve itself in everyone's affairs. We're still recovering from the Cowboy Diplomacy of the Bush years. We literally lack the money AND the prestige to influence the world as much as we would like, or at least enough to be effective.

In most of those countries (Turkey being the nominal exception), Russia and China are the geopolitical leaders and undoing their influence would be more difficult / dangerous that necessary.

To use an old phrase: We're not the world's police.