Obama’s Unforced Errors on Foreign Policy

 

In Syria and Libya, human nature has proven to Obama that ‘history’ does not have a mind of its own.

George Will  . . . "Obama seemed to doubt that America has much to teach the world, beyond post-Iraq modesty — herewith his Wilsonian dimension — and the power of diplomacy’s soft power to tame the world. Although neither the English nor the American nor the Russian nor the Spanish nor the Chinese civil war was ended by negotiations, Obama thought the especially vicious and complex civil war in Syrian’s sectarian and tribal society could be ended diplomatically. Russian president Vladimir Putin picked a side and helped it win." . . .

. . .
"Obama’s foreign policy presumed the existence of “the community of nations.” But that phrase is worse than hackneyed and sentimental, it is oxymoronic: Different nations affirm different notions of justice; a community consists of people made cohesive by a consensus about the nature of justice." . . .

CBS radio report created the impression Chicago torture victim was a black man assaulted by white Trump supporters

Thomas Lifson  "This may be the single most despicable act of media bias I have ever encountered.  It took a lot of effort and art for CBS Radio to put together an early report on the Chicago torture incident that was strictly factual, yet created the impression on listeners that a group of white Trump supporters had attacked a helpless mentally challenged black man.  Mediaite provides a transcript of what was reported last Thursday morning by a top-of-the hour broadcst distributed to radio stations across the country." . . .

"If America is serious about correcting the pervasive bias in mainstream media, stripping CBS of its broadcast licenses for radio and television stations would send a memorable signal to others that false reporting aimed at inflaming racial tensions is not in the public interest. It would no doubt require millions of dollars and years to proceed with a formal challenge to CBS’s broadcast licenses.  But for conservatives who are sick and tired of media lies, this might be an opportunity to bring about change." . . .

Media on a quest to downplay race in Chicago kidnapping and torture

"Ableism"? Good grief.

. . . "The media has been forced to confront the reality that racism is not simply "prejudice with power," an institutional structure whose effects flow in only one direction.  As major networks desperately attempt to minimize the racial motivations behind this terrible crime, they continue to maximize the failure of their already deficient credibility."

Four Facebook Torturers Face Judge: Bail Denied

“Where is your sense of decency?”

Should “hate” be a separate category of crime?  

. . . "The maximum sentence for a hate crime in the state of Illinois is a $25,000 fine and 3 years in prison. The maximum sentence for kidnapping is $25,000 and 7 years in prison.

     "If the perpetrators are found guilty of a hate crime and kidnapping, and if the prosecutors were to successfully have these charges served consecutively (not concurrently) then they could serve up to 10 years in prison.

     "But since the man has a mental disability, then the alleged crime in question could be considered an aggravated kidnapping, which has a maximum punishment of a $25,000 fine and 30 years of prison." . . .

Obama Calls Chicago Torture Case 'Terrible'

. . . " 'We've seen over the last several years, when it comes to tensions between police and communities, the Internet, horrific hate crimes of the sort that we appear to have seen on Facebook today," Obama said in an interview with ABC Chicago affiliate WLS." . . .

House Rebukes Obama, U.N. on Israel

Lifezette

"Largely symbolic resolution in support of key U.S. ally passes with strong bipartisan support"

"Members of Congress, enraged over the Obama administration’s failure to block an anti-Israel resolution ^[1] in the United Nations, overwhelmingly passed a resolution Thursday supporting the U.S. ally.

"The 342-80 vote calls on the United Nations to repeal the Security Council resolution declaring Israeli settlements on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem a violation of international law. The Obama administration refused to veto the resolution and allowed it to pass with an abstention from the United States.

“ 'Today we put Congress on record objecting to the recent U.N. Security Council resolution that hurt our ally, that hurt Israel, and I believe that puts an enduring peace … out of reach.' ” . . .

 " 'It is shameful that we abandoned our ally and emboldened the Palestinians, passively letting an anti-Israeli resolution pass the U.N. Security Council," he said in a statement. "We cannot continue to denigrate our Israeli friends and the only true democracy in the Middle East."

"While offering moral support to a longtime ally, the House vote has little practical effect, even if the Senate passes its own resolution as expected in the coming days. The U.N. resolution — itself nonbinding — cannot be overturned by Congress. And U.N. member states, stocked with Israel-haters, are unlikely to be swayed by the views of American politicians." . . .

Democrats Side with Trump, Slam Obama Rebuke of Israel  But some Democrats see the resolution as hurting a two-state solution.

BBC Gradually Discovers Terror Truck Had Actual Driver Behind the Wheel

From the pro-Israel Honest Reporting  "The BBC has a habit of attributing terror attacks to inanimate objects or vehicles. And so it was the case with an appalling truck ramming terror attack that took place in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Jerusalem that has, so far, claimed the lives of four Israelis and injured many more.

"The BBC broke the news with the following:"

 

. . . 

"The BBC appears to be confused as to who or what carried out the attack. Having removed scare quotes from the headline, did a lorry really attack the soldiers? That seems rather strange given that, according to the opening paragraph of the story, a “suspected terrorist” was responsible.

"So which is it BBC? A lorry or a terrorist?

"Eventually, the BBC appears to have acknowledged that there was actually a driver behind the wheel of the vehicle." . . .

Celebrities give Obama emotional farewell in video (Updated)

The Hill

"Celebrities, activists and others gave an emotional goodbye to President Obama in a new video by the White House titled “Yes We Can: Your Most Memorable Moments from the Obama Presidency.”

"The video features figures including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres, all sharing some of their favorite moments with the president.

“ 'I never cried before, from an election result,” singer John Legend says in the video.

" 'When I was at the U.N. and I heard our president say that climate change is the most important issue facing, not only this generation but also future generations, it was inspiring,” DiCaprio said.

“ 'The CVS experience with Michelle (Obama) was pretty cool and dancing with Barack at his birthday party. And he’s a good dancer. He should not get any flack for that — you’re a good dancer,” DeGeneres said." . . .

These kids and parents will miss Obama as well

Obama Ignores Ft Lauderdale, Does THIS Instead   . . . "How very ‘Presidential’. With the nation still reeling from a bloodbath in a major airport, Obama has higher priorities.

"First the Hollywood glitz. (It’s full of celebs. We can’t disappoint the ‘pretty people’, can we?)

"Then he flew to Florida.

"Was it to comfort the victims? Hell no! He didn’t rush to visit Louisiana, why visit Ft Lauderdale?

"He had a wedding to attend, just down the road." . . .