Early on in the presidential campaign, Obama was justifiably challenged on his ability to handle an international crisis. The media and the republicans used his lack of experience as a major attacking point during the election. Even his vice president, Joe Biden, guaranteed that Obama would be challenged: “Mark my words. It will not be more than six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking on.”
As recent events in Iran and North Korea suggest, Biden was absolutely correct. Obama’s ability to handle an international crisis is being tested. Now we’ll find out if his campaign platform of ‘diplomacy over military intimidation’ can succeed.
Before Obama’s election, he argued that the lack of bi-lateral negotiations between the U.S. and places such as Iran and North Korea gave the U.S. no leverage over an explosive situation. Now we shall see if Obama can interact in bi-lateral talks with Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il in order to end their advancing efforts of nuclear proliferation.
Thus far, it seems unlikely that Obama can follow through with his campaign promises. Despite his partiality to bi-lateral diplomacy, he has already made the impotent steps of asking for the UN, rather than the U.S., to respond to these growing threats. North Korea and Iran are unlikely to alter their course of action if the Obama administration continues with their policies of appeasement.
If it took Obama and his administration almost a week to decide to take out a ragtag group of Somali pirates in order to save American lives, what kind of response can we expect for this far more potent and grave threat? Now we find out if he can take a stand to protect America or if he is only concerned with pleasing the international community. For better or worse, Biden was right and we shall soon discover Obama’s stance American safety.
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