YOU CAN TELL OUR STANDING HAS IMPROVED...:

A messiah can't do it. To reshape the world, the US must first reform itself: Obama's foreign policy so far has had disappointing results. But if he made a shaky start, more blame lies with others (Timothy Garton Ash, 3/17/10, guardian.co.uk)

When was the last time you heard anyone enthusing about Barack Obama's foreign policy? When was the last time you did so yourself? Over the last year, his outstretched hand of friendship has been bitten or brushed aside by China, Russia and Iran. His administration has just been snubbed by Israel. It is not at all clear that his surge in Afghanistan is working, while Pakistan still teeters on the brink. European governments' passion for the new US president has proved fickle. His eloquent opening to the Islamic world seems to have run into the sand. The Copenhagen summit on climate change fizzled out in mutual recrimination between the US and China. Once upon a time, the world thrilled to the Obama chant of "Yes we can!" Now it seems to be shouting back: "No you can't!"

Beyond improving the US's popular standing in the world – no mean achievement, to be sure – Obama's foreign policy has so far produced no clear, significant success.

...because he's accomplished nothing and we have deteriorating relationships with everyone from our worst enemies to our closest allies. Got it?

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 18, 2010 6:13 AM