Apr 20, 2009 8:04am
The Obama Doctrine
EmailPresident Obama in Trinidad outlined the Obama doctrine. In his view, the doctrine necessitates recognition by the US that while it’s the wealthiest and most powerful country, it needs other countries; that such cooperation is in the US’s best interests; and that it makes the nation stronger to acknowledge when the US strays from its ideals.
We took a look at Mr. Obama’s trip to Latin America — and what he calls his new "re-engagement" with the region — on World News last night:
And on Good Morning America this a.m.:
- jpt
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Rule 1 of the POD (Prez 0bama Doctrine):
If they don’t like us, just say it happened before I was born, when I was 3 years old, or the faults of the prezs before me.
Even on domestic issues, it’s to bring back the tax rate of President Clinton’s.
Posted by: two cats | April 20, 2009, 8:22 am 8:22 am
Hugo’s little book “gift” was a cheap stunt designed to put Obama on the spot so that Chavez can crow when he gets home about having confronted los Yanquis with evidence of their imperialist crimes. Obama can’t call him out, though, lest our precious nascent “dialogue” with Venezuela be jeopardized, so he’s forced to swallow hard and play the stooge. Good work, Slick Barry. Note too the vague, politic rhetoric to describe Chavez’s long history of evil clownishness. If you’re not sure what he means by “interference” that’s a “source of concern,” let me spell it out: He’s talking about funding MARXIST TERRORISTS WHO’VE HELD AMERICANS HOSTAGE FOR YEARS ON END. Mentioning that might spoil the dialogue, too.
As for his point that talking to Venezuela doesn’t hurt American strategic interests, that might be true or it might not — John Ensign, for one, seems to disagree, and we’ll have to see how the detente plays in South America — but Bush holding hands with the Wahhabi king wasn’t exactly a clear and present danger to the U.S. either and that fact didn’t seem to console the left (or the right). It’s not a question of jeopardizing national security, it’s a question of CONFERRING LEGITIMACY upon a cretin who, in a just world, would be radioactively illegitimate. If Obama’s going to do that, the least he can do is not play dumb about it.
Posted by: Obama: Ich Bin Ein Beginner | April 20, 2009, 8:31 am 8:31 am
Rule 2 of the POD:
Befriend evil socialist dictators who enslave their people and keep them in poverty.
Posted by: still the one | April 20, 2009, 8:54 am 8:54 am
the obama doctrine is fine if he’s only representing himself.
If he wants people to make a fool of him that’s okay.
It’s not okay for him to allowed himself to be punked by bowing to “king”, by being handed a book,by being outclassed by an 86 year old queen.
Posted by: Trend | April 20, 2009, 8:57 am 8:57 am
This is hardly a new doctrine. The last administration’s “bring it on” cowboy swagger was the outlier. Most Presidents have understood the value of talking softly and carrying a big stick (do recall that our military force is still growing – sorry flyboys, I’ll take an extra 10,000 marines over another super fighter jet anyday).
Posted by: jhw539 | April 20, 2009, 9:16 am 9:16 am
We’ve clearly owned this region for many years and largely ignored it significant contribution to our own wealth and success. Obama recognizes the importance of maintaining the Western hemisphere.. it is also a great burgeoning market for our MNC’s.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 20, 2009, 9:26 am 9:26 am
President Bush was the first U.S. leader in decades to launch NO military action on a Latin country. Not very “heavy handed.” In fact, his immigration plan showed he was a softie.
Posted by: carl | April 20, 2009, 9:55 am 9:55 am
jhw, you’ve obviously never been a grunt in need of close air support.
This doctrine works only when the all the other players and your adversaries see strength and weakness in the same way. These do not.
Posted by: a free man | April 20, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
a free man:”jhw, you’ve obviously never been a grunt in need of close air support.”
The F-22 is primarily a stealth dogfighter, although like everything you can sling some ground support ordnance on it. How big a hammer do you need to swat flies?
“This doctrine works only when the all the other players and your adversaries see strength and weakness in the same way. These do not.”
I disagree. I see NO indication that Chavez does not understand military strength very very well. He is a career military man who once tried a coup to get into power. A classic South American strongman – the epitome of the politician who sees strength precisely in terms of military power.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 20, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Starting a dialogue to open the doors to Cuba is absolutely the right thing to do. President Obama is right to take the positions that he has taken with regard to Latin America.
Posted by: EdDoc80 | April 20, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
We are still the wealthiest and most powerful country?
Not for long if Obama has his way.
Posted by: tyler | April 20, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am
Obama’s alternative to drilling for oil?
Bow to the Saudi king.
Posted by: nick | April 20, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am
When are we going to hear the details of what happened with Captain Phillips and the pirates?
If Bush had been president when three African teenagers were killed there would have been a full investigation.
I’m pretty sure a certain civil rights activist would have been outraged.
Double standard big time.
Posted by: tad | April 20, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
How about the American ideal of liberty and the right to enjoy the fruits of your own labor!
Seems like Obama is straying from that ideal.
Posted by: Michelle | April 20, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am
This hole right wing we will secure the world alone is what got us in the big pickle that we are in right now and if the current president wants to include instead of excluding what could it hurt , The bush era is finished and done with and his flawed doctrine only caused seperation between us and the world .
Posted by: KWOLF443 | April 20, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
The Obama Doctrine:
Blah, Blah, Blah!
Endless talk and photo ops
and no solutions.
I’m waiting for the president to
begin talking about “Peace in our time”
ala his role model Neville Chamberlain.
Posted by: reaganfan | April 20, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
and what the hell is he doing smiling and shaking hands with people? He should be shaking his fist in their faces!
Posted by: Carl Spackler | April 20, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
“President Bush was the first U.S. leader in decades to launch NO military action on a Latin country. Not very “heavy handed.”
Look up Plan Columbia and Bush’s expansion of that program.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 20, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
The Obama Doctrine:
Blame America.
Blame Bush.
Apologize for America.
Don’t believe your lying eyes.
Posted by: ned | April 20, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
Obama didn’t mind starting his career in the living room of a domestic terrorist.
He didn’t mind listening to sermons that cursed America and denigrated various groups of people.
Why would he mind bowing to a tyrant that oppresses women?
Or shaking hands with a dictator that supports Iran, supports FARC, and blames 9/11 on America?
I don’t see tolerance I see a man that either shares their views or doesn’t have the courage to take a stand.
Kind of like voting present.
Posted by: ross | April 20, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Posted by: ned | Apr 20, 2009 1:07:50 PM
There are a couple more parts:
“It’s not my fault”
“I inherited this mess”
I cannot remember a lower class person in the White House. I cannot remember someone wanting that job so bad and then doing everything except take responsibility.
Posted by: drjohn | April 20, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Actually, he set the doctrine in his speech-
“I think it’s important to recognize, given historic suspicions, that the United States’ policy should not be interference in other countries, but that also means that we can’t blame the United States for every problem that arises in the hemisphere”
He should explain what he means when he says the “United States’ policy should not be interference in other countries”.
Aren’t we currently trying to ‘interfere’ with the internal affairs of DPRK, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc…?
It then seems clear Obama is saying that Communist or any other revolution in Latin America is their own business, in any circumstance. That certainly is 180 degrees from White House policy for the past 100 yrs.
Does it apply to other regions of the world, or only Latin America?
Does that mean the President is saying the U.S. should not be interferring in Kosovo,Sudan (Darfur),Somalia, Rwanda or, we’ll make an exception for genocide?
Posted by: J House | April 20, 2009, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
“I cannot remember someone wanting that job so bad and then doing everything except take responsibility.”
Bush 2001:
The Recession is Clinton’s fault.
The Chinese Downing a US Spy Plane is Clinton’s fault.
9/11 is Clinton’s fault.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 20, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
ryanc: there is also the “teflon president,” Ronald Reagan. Did not know anything about Iran-Contra. Did not know anything about James Watt and government loans for big contributors. Did not know anything about the deregulation which ultimately led to the S & L crisis. A grade-B movie actor, he only knew whatever script they put in front of him.
Posted by: EdDoc80 | April 20, 2009, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
Ryan C:
9/11 was and is Clintons fault.
He ignored the problem(Bin Laden)
for 8 years.
Bush was only in office 8 months!
You do the math!
Posted by: reaganfan | April 20, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
“ryanc: there is also the “teflon president,” Ronald Reagan. Did not know anything about Iran-Contra. Did not know anything about James Watt and government loans for big contributors. Did not know anything about the deregulation which ultimately led to the S & L crisis. A grade-B movie actor, he only knew whatever script they put in front of him.”
Hey now, Reagan was Sainted a few years ago.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 20, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
“Bush was only in office 8 months!
You do the math!”
Yeah, so they were training IN THE U.S. for this attack during W’s presidency, yet he chose not to pay attention to the memo advising that an attack was likely forthcoming. Forget the math…look at the record.
Posted by: Silky | April 20, 2009, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
“Bush was only in office 8 months!
You do the math!”
This from the same guy who blamed Obama for the economic crisis before he even took office.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 20, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
It’s the exclamation point at the end of the “you do the math” that really takes it into that special place.
Posted by: Silky | April 20, 2009, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
careful, obamaman might put a bug on you and call you really mean names. he might yell bubbles for a sustain period of time as well.
Posted by: sashaO | April 20, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
teleprompter totus has lots of solutions. check ‘em out. he has a web site. other wise, it’s a good list. all those things are barry’s problems.
Posted by: sashaO | April 20, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Yes, of course, we should be bombing the hell out of everyone, instead of showing courtesy.
Posted by: Mike C | April 20, 2009, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
For the first time in my adult life I am ashamed of and embarassed by The President of the United States..
Posted by: Rasputin3.14 | April 20, 2009, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Rasputin3, I it seems you are proud of a president who goes around bullying others and inviting hatred towards America. Bush must have been your greatest hero. Hey, it isn’t very hard to show respect to others if you expect the same from them.
Posted by: AmericanPatroit | April 20, 2009, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
Our United States President has done more positive good for our country than Bush has done in eight years. Unless you are Reaganfan: 8 months? Or did you mean he worked for eight days!
Posted by: brady | April 20, 2009, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
It’s not the first time I’ve been embarrassed by a US president — Carter, Bush 1 and Bush 2 also made me ill.
Posted by: paul | April 20, 2009, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Don’t fool your selves, America is not the wealthiest country, the U.S government relies on borrowed money everyday. China & Japan earn more money than America per year.Americais dead with virtually unrepayable debt. if Those countries stop borrowing and demand their money the U.S will collapse in one week. The current military ranking is from world war 2. The world has changed a lot since then. China & Russia can defeat the U.S espeacially Today in this current Afghanistan, Iraq everywhere war set up.
Posted by: truth | April 21, 2009, 12:04 am 12:04 am
Americahas 78.8 trillion Total debt with bonds treasuries and budget deficit combined.the world GDP per year is 78.4 trillion. it takes the world a year to earn enough to pay off America’s debt. Be informed research. If an arms race start how will the U.S compete with countries that hold its existance today.
Posted by: LOL | April 21, 2009, 12:08 am 12:08 am
Will someone tell me how a dirty, diseased rat sneaked into the White House, please?
Posted by: tanarg | April 21, 2009, 1:18 am 1:18 am
Be watchful and again I say be watchful.The only thing that really matters is that we are ready when Jesus Christ returns. God settles all accounts and only God has the final say. All this must come to pass.It’s in the word of God.Read it instead of fretting over what man is doing.We may be out of this mess very soon!
Posted by: R. Pfau | April 21, 2009, 4:01 am 4:01 am
What is the greatest traits we, in the United States, could have as a President?
Honest, Hard Working, A Thinker;
Give Obama a chance, please.
Posted by: brady | April 21, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm