President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly today in a speech that was apologetic and toothless, signaling his intention that the United States should occupy the seat in the back of the world's bus. The speech was shocking both for how little respect and authority it gave to America's role on the world stage and for how well it has been received by most of the media.
Alternately prostrate and self-flagellating, Obama took aim at and distanced himself from the policies of the past. But not just those of George W. Bush, but of all presidents with the possible exception of Jimmy Carter. He identified this change of direction right at the outset, indicating that his America is “determined to act boldly and collectively on behalf of justice and prosperity at home and abroad.“ Note the word “collectively.” That means not acting on our own, independently, for the best interest of the United States. No, his new world order has our Commander in Chief addressing the world’s issues as if he were a representative of all the people on the globe and not our republic.
He then raised the issue of how the rest of the world views us, as if it had any relevance at all. I doubt he would tell his daughters that their behavior should be tied to how others will perceive them, as opposed to teaching them rules of proper and ethical conduct that they should follow regardless of how that is viewed by others.
He blamed the fact that “many around the world had come to view America with skepticism and distrust” in part on the belief that ”America had acted unilaterally without regard for the interests of others.” But for whom else should we act? It should be the primary responsibility of the President and Congress to do that which is best for America – with or without the support of other countries. He even paid lip service to this idea, stating “Now, like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interests of my nation and my people. And I will never apologize for defending those interests.” But then he goes on to do just that, apologize for our so-called unilateral actions.
The President, however, ignores the fact that, when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan for example, we did reach out to other countries, even though we had no obligation to do so, and were able to get some to join us in our fight against extremist organizations. We brought our concerns to the United Nations and sought participation in our efforts to root out Al Qaeda from all of our allies.
I will not ramp up hysteria by noting that Obama used the word “pillar,” stating that he was setting forth “four pillars” that our fundamental to our future. That wording stood out to me because the Five Pillars are the foundation for the Muslim religion. It is an interesting that he chose that specific word and possibly reflects another attempt by Obama to signal some special kinship with the Muslim world?
There is one part of the President’s speech with which I agree. At the outset he said, “I have been in office for just nine months, though some days it seems a lot longer.” Indeed.
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