No We Can’t
By Mitch Berg
Obama promised to improve the US’ image around the world.
Little did we know that he meant to do it by making the US appear weak and inconsequential:
A weakened United States could start retreating from the world stage without help from its allies abroad, an international strategic affairs think tank said Tuesday.
The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said President Barack Obama would increasingly turn to others for help dealing with the world’s problems — in part because he has no alternative.
“Domestically Obama may have campaigned on the theme ‘yes we can’; internationally he may increasingly have to argue ‘no we can’t’,” the institute said in its annual review of world affairs.
The report said the U.S. struggles against insurgent groups in Iraq and Afghanistan had exposed the limits of the country’s military muscle, while the near-collapse of the world financial markets had sapped the economic base on which that muscle relied.
The report also claimed that the U.S. had lost traction in its efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear program and bring peace to the Middle East.
“Clearly the U.S. share of ‘global power,’ however measured, is in decline,” the report said.
Of course, it’s not the first time “think tanks” have claimed the US’ significance was fading under Democrat rule; they said all the same things during the Carter years.
And while there’s a good traditional conservative case to be made for staying uninvolved overseas, Franklin Roosevelt let that genie out of the bottle three generations ago; anyway, it should be a matter of national consensus, not because administration-induced decay makes it impossible.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:11 am
“Of course, it’s not the first time “think tanks” have claimed the US’ significance was fading under Democrat rule; they said all the same things during the Carter years.”
Damn that Jimmy Carter, pissing away the image of strength projected by Gerald Ford.
Whip Inflation Now!
September 15th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Compared to Carter, Ford looked more like the Lou Ferrigno. WIN was an attempt to get folks doing something, while malaise was more Carter’s thing — he just wanted to curl up and die over in the corner.
If it were up to me we’d be rolling back all the bases in Europe faster than a New Yorker chases a subway token and we’d be drawing down in Japan and Korea, too. Okinawa always says they want us to leave, we should satisfy them.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Typical anti-American isolationist wingnut. Why do you hate America, nerdbert?
September 15th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Typical intrusive, domineering, obnoxious liberal, clownie, why do you stay where you’re not wanted?
All those places have loudly and consistently tried to get us to leave. Of course, when there’s even a hint that we might seriously consider that they all back down.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Too bad the South Viet Namese wanted us to return & hold up our end of the cease fire deal when the Viet Cong invaded the south, but the Dems in congress wouldn’t allow it. That was the point when the war was lost, & that was the point that we started to appear weak. Shortly after, Carter became president & proved it.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
“Think tanks.” Isn’t that what the Chinese government does when facing organized internal opposition?
September 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Angryclown believes U.S. military and foreign policy should serve U.S. interests, nerdbert. You, by contrast, wring your hands because a handful of whiny European cheese-eaters want us to remove ourselves entirely from territory we liberated from the Nazis and defended from the Soviets. Again, nerdbert, Angryclown wonders why do you hate America so?
September 15th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Again, clownie, why do you stay where you’re not wanted?
What vital purpose does our sitting there watching those whiny cheese-eaters do? (Now, watching the scenery in Sweden would be a different matter…)
Are the Soviets (good riddance!) driving through the Fulda Gap tomorrow?
Are the Germans going to overrun the Low Countries on Friday?
Again, clownie, why do you love to waste money and antagonize others so?
September 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Angryclown may not be wanted on SitD, nerdbert, but He’s definitely needed.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Nerdbert,
If you throw him troll chow, he’ll eat it. Don’t feed trolls.
But AC does have a point… everybody needs one:
http://www.diversiev.com/blog_md/2007/0731/0731_07_big.jpg
September 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Come on, Shirt, don’t you like trolling the trolls?
Sure, the clown is needed — dung beetles need someone to look down upon.