They see feckless, cowardly American leaders, but they also see these same qualities in the American people as a whole.
No matter how wise and determined our leaders may be, they will soon see their courage ground to powder by liberal, left-wing factions (many wearing ridiculous costumes), entertainment, and a clueless news media.
How can enemies look at US media and feel nothing but contempt for this nation.
Gotta go now - Miley Cyrus is about to perform a hot new routine on TV. The Tunnel Dweller.
Charles Krauthammer "What was the Islamic State thinking? We know it is sophisticated in its use of modern media. But what was the logic of propagating to the world
videos of its beheadings of two Americans (
and subsequently a Briton) — sure to inflame public opinion?
"There are two possible explanations. One is that these terrorists are more depraved and less savvy than we think. They so glory in blood that they could not resist making an international spectacle of their savagery — after all, they proudly broadcast their massacre of Shiite prisoners — and did not quite fathom how such a brazen, contemptuous slaughter of Americans would
radically alter public opinion and risk bringing down upon them the furies of the U.S. Air Force.
...
"They count on Barack Obama quitting the Iraq/Syria campaign just as
he quit Iraq and Libya in 2011 and is
in the process of leaving Afghanistan now. And this goes beyond Obama. They see a post-9/11 pattern: America experiences shock and outrage and demands action. Then, seeing no quick resolution, it tires and seeks out leaders who will order the retreat. In Obama, they found the quintessential such leader."
...
"...jihadi cadres from Mali to Mosul have only swelled during Obama’s outstretched-hand presidency,"
...
"... Kerry declared that the Islamic State “must be defeated. Period. End of story.” Not the most wisely crafted of declarations: The punctuational emphasis carries unfortunate echoes of
Obama’s promise about health care plans and the word “must” carries similar echoes of
Obama’s assertions that Bashar al-Assad had to go."