These are trying times for America and its future.
Tuesday night’s scheduled speech by the president to a national audience may be the single most important moment of Obama’s presidency and possibly a history-altering situation created by a handful of politicians that could change this country’s standing in the world for decades to come.
The fact that President Barack Obama feels he must ask Congress for authorization to attack Syria may be the straw that broke the camel’s back in his presidency. If anything else, it has already seriously weakened his worldwide credibility as a leader.
The mishandling of the Syrian situation has not only weakened Obama’s presidency, but will resonate through the years to future presidents. It is not a stretch to see world leaders viewing Obama as abdicating his own responsibilities and his ultimate war powers role in the government.
During Obama’s presidency, the world has seen resurgence in Islamic extremism. If the White House does not change its approach to the region, America’s enemies will conclude there is unique opportunity to take advantage of a weakened America, or at least what they perceive the U.S. to be.
That perception is already reality with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government, President Vladimir Putin’s Russian government and the leaders in Beijing.
Arab leaders and allies such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt can be included in that group creating what is a worldwide vacuum of leadership directly caused by the Obama administration. Long gone are Obama’s perceptions that an olive branch and apology will turn the region into our friends.
It’s literally on the job training for the inexperienced junior Senator from Illinois. Many warned about this weakness in Obama as a candidate back in 2008 during his initial run for the White House. He was a candidate with virtually no true political allies in Washington or a network of seasoned advisors to help him in his learning curve.
Because of Obama’s actions concerning Congress, future presidents who make the decision to launch a cruise-missile barrage or bombing campaign without congressional approval may be called upon to explain why they ignored the Obama precedent.
Ever since the 1947 Truman Doctrine began the containment policy towards Soviet imperialism; world order has been maintained from turning to anarchy. It has prevented the rise of Third World martinets, dictatorial megalomaniacs and tin-pot dictators.
Have Obama’s actions ended that era of stability in the world?
Let’s not forget the recently enacted sequester and the major damage it has brought to the military’s readiness. The cuts mean the Pentagon must cut back on the high-tech gadgets like drones that give U.S. warriors a force-multiplier on the battlefield.
The sequester will be responsible for a reduction in the Army from 535,000 soldiers to around 380,000, the Marine Corps from 182,000 to 150,000 and the Navy from 11 carrier task forces to just eight.
These serious cuts are happening as politicians demand wars in duplicate form such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The decline of America’s military under Obama is creating a void of credibility of the decades of grudging respect for the United States military throughout the world.
Tuesday night’s speech by the president to the American people will be closely watched by America’s enemies and allies. There are many in this country who think it is a speech simply requesting authorization for action against Syria.
It is so much more.
