The Five Points of the Obama Doctrine

Today will be a day of spin. But yesterday was a day of reality. Several significant things happened around the world that revealed all five points of the Obama Doctrine. Today the Obama administration will be in damage control mode, but yesterday is what we should look at.

The Bush Doctrine, once proudly embraced, was clear:

1. Make no distinction between terrorists and the nations that harbor them and hold both to account.

2. Take the fight to the enemy overseas before they can attack us again here at home.

3. Confront threats before they fully materialize.

4. Advance liberty and hope as an alternative to the enemy’s ideology of repression and fear.

The Obama Doctrine, which was in full display yesterday, is quite different—in fact, the opposite:

1. Do not hold nations accountable for acts of terror against the US from terrorists within their country.

2. Let foreign governments deal with radical elements within their country—even if it means risking American lives.

3. Only confront threats once they fully materialize.

4. Do nothing to offend radical governments that oppress its citizens.

5. And I will add one: Marginalize governments (Israel) that still embrace the Bush Doctrine to show our enemies that we really have changed.

On September 11, 2012 several revealing incidents occurred.

1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested that President Obama meet with him before the upcoming U.N. meetings.

2. President Obama sent word that he just didn’t have time—and today it was reported that President Obama could not meet with Netanyahu because his schedule was too full. No time for US’s primarily ally in the Middle East as Iran races to Nuke capabilities. 

Reading between the lines

Netanyahu was seeking to achieve at least two things. One, to show the Iranians and other militant nations that Israel and the US are standing together against terror. And two, to press Obama to establish Red Lines that Iran cannot cross without facing a military response.

Pres. Bush at Ground Zero

Obama did not want to have this meeting for the very same reasons. He does not want the world to think that he and Bibi are buds and he does not want clear “lines in the sand” that Iran can’t cross (see point 3 of Obama Doctrine).

The Obama Doctrine started on Day 1. Obama gave his first interview as president—not to ABC, NBC or CBS, but to Al-Arabiya, who claims to be the leading news channel of the Arab world. In the interview he said, “My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy.” I didn’t know that the US President had a “job to the Muslim world.”

Pres. Obama in Cairo

Shortly after his triumph, he gave his historic speech in Cairo, called A NEW BEGINNING, fulfilling a promise to give a major speech to Muslims in an Islamic capital during his first 100 days. President Obama and many Americans were duped into believing that Bush was the problem, not radical Islam. With his warm smile and outreached hand, the Muslims would respond in kind. Would have been nice…

Meanwhile, in an effort to make it clear that he meant business, he has not visited Israel since his election. When Prime Minister Netanyahu visited Obama in Washington the first time he was treated horribly.  He was not received in the way a head of state would normally be received.  He was brought into the White House through a side entrance, no photo opt, and Obama abruptly walked out of their meeting to eat with his family, leaving the Israeli delegation to fend for themselves and then, when serving them food, served them non-kosher food. I believe that all this was intentional to send a message to the Muslim world—that President Obama did not view Israel as US Presidents traditionally have.

3. In response to an anti-Muslim movie trailer and general hatred for Americans, hardline Muslims stormed the US embassies in Cairo and Benghazi, Libya.

In accordance with the Obama Doctrine (POINTS 1 AND 4), the Obama administration was quick to rebuke… (wait for it…) … THE MAKERS OF THE MOVIE, exercising their first amendment rights:

“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Yes, you read correctly. Obama’s response to radical Islamists attacking our embassy is to apologize because their religious feelings were hurt, which naturally leads civilized people to riot. Now to be clear, I have not seen the trailer and it may indeed be over the top, but to apologize for someone expressing an opinion is frankly un-American and belittles our constitution. The funny part is that the statement refers to the right of free speech as universal.  Ehhh… Not in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, etc, etc…

And Mr. President, as a Messianic Jew, I have had my religious feelings hurt by other Jews, by Christians, by Muslims, by Bill Maher and you have never sent me a letter—and I am an American. You never sent me a note saying that they abused their freedom of speech. And I know why. It is because you are not concerned that I am going throw a temper tantrum and start killing people. And if I did, would appeasing me be sound policy? I would just act out more in the future.

4. And the most shocking event of yesterday happened in Libya, a country that we helped liberate not long ago. Terrorists in Benghazi fired a RPG at Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three staffers who came to the embassy to evacuate it, killing all four. (Update: It appears that the initial reports of the four being killed together in a car were not accurate and it is still not clear.)

“Make no mistake. We will work with the Libyan government to bring justice to killers who attack our people…” was President Obama’s response. Instead of coming down hard on the Libyan government for allowing a massacre of an ambassador and embassy workers, President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton made it clear that we would not turn against the Libyan government.

Or… maybe it might be better to tell the Libyan government, “Get your act in order NOW, or else!”

Today, the Obama Administration is in damage control. Much of America has been outraged at the handling of yesterday’s events by President Obama. Clarifications will be made. The ridiculous apology that was posted on the Cairo embassy website will probably be modified or taken down. But make no mistake, what we saw yesterday was the Obama Doctrine of appeasement in operation full tilt and it should be troubling to all Americans.

UPDATE: It has now become clear that these attacks had less to do with a video trailer (that we apologized for) than with the killing of Al Queda’s #2, which was announced on September 10th. Al Queda’s #1 then encouraged followers to acts against the US. The #2 that was killed was Libyan.

Mr. President, do you think now it might make since to find some time to meet with your only true ally in the Middle East when he is in NY next week?