Spring Break
Obama's loose lips may literally sink ships
Megan Lynch
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Commentary
It seems every time I read the news, President Barack Obama is doing something else to jeopardize our national security. Between North Korea's missiles, the pirates and the terrorists, I don't know where else Obama can afford to go wrong.
Obama has shown that he can remain calm in a crisis and that he is always thinking about diplomacy. He does well seeing one country's actions in relation to other countries', and how these actions effect each other. However, Obama is just barely effective. There are so many ways that his foreign policies can, and probably will, backfire. But by the time they do backfire, the U.S. will be left unarmed and helpless after being manipulated by so many countries.
Obama's response to the Somali pirates was seen as "just forceful enough" in an article from the New York Times. There were fears that the use of excessive force would make the pirates join Al-Qaida and become more of a threat. But if I was the captain held hostage, I would have felt that more action would have been quite helpful while floating around off the coast of Africa. Obama's decision to put diplomacy before safety has only left the nation open to more pirate demands and attacks. While Obama should not have gone and dropped a nuclear missile on the pirate ship, there was much more he could have done to help the hostages without overtly angering the pirates. If Obama had more experience with foreign policy before he was elected President, I'm sure he wouldn't be such a pushover.
And then of course, there was North Korea and their practice missiles. These missiles have the potential to affect much more than a boat full of sailors. Obama should have supported the UN's policies more than he did. By not fully backing up their claims of a policy breach, he just showed North Korea that he is, in fact, first and foremost a peace-loving pushover. After all the talk from the UN, Obama goes and tells everyone that he is working on limiting our use of nuclear weapons, and encourages other nations to do the same. The reduction of nuclear weapons and the lack of production seriously weaken America's capability to defend ourselves from attacks. It also takes away a lot of the strength that makes the U.S. the superpower that it is. While Obama is trying to reduce the fear other nations have of America, he could very well go wrong and just leave us vulnerable to attack.
Obama has shown that he can remain calm in a crisis and that he is always thinking about diplomacy. He does well seeing one country's actions in relation to other countries', and how these actions effect each other. However, Obama is just barely effective. There are so many ways that his foreign policies can, and probably will, backfire. But by the time they do backfire, the U.S. will be left unarmed and helpless after being manipulated by so many countries.
Obama's response to the Somali pirates was seen as "just forceful enough" in an article from the New York Times. There were fears that the use of excessive force would make the pirates join Al-Qaida and become more of a threat. But if I was the captain held hostage, I would have felt that more action would have been quite helpful while floating around off the coast of Africa. Obama's decision to put diplomacy before safety has only left the nation open to more pirate demands and attacks. While Obama should not have gone and dropped a nuclear missile on the pirate ship, there was much more he could have done to help the hostages without overtly angering the pirates. If Obama had more experience with foreign policy before he was elected President, I'm sure he wouldn't be such a pushover.
And then of course, there was North Korea and their practice missiles. These missiles have the potential to affect much more than a boat full of sailors. Obama should have supported the UN's policies more than he did. By not fully backing up their claims of a policy breach, he just showed North Korea that he is, in fact, first and foremost a peace-loving pushover. After all the talk from the UN, Obama goes and tells everyone that he is working on limiting our use of nuclear weapons, and encourages other nations to do the same. The reduction of nuclear weapons and the lack of production seriously weaken America's capability to defend ourselves from attacks. It also takes away a lot of the strength that makes the U.S. the superpower that it is. While Obama is trying to reduce the fear other nations have of America, he could very well go wrong and just leave us vulnerable to attack.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 11
KKM
posted 4/22/09 @ 10:22 AM EST
Wow! I'm wondering where you were able to pick up the spin that you have regurgitated here. I think that we should be proud that we have guys in our military with the incredible skill that those 3 Navy Seals have. (Continued…)
BillW
posted 4/22/09 @ 10:38 AM EST
Megan, someday I really hope that you stop repeating everything you hear from Sean Hannity and get at least one original thought in your head. The fact that an opinion writer can get away with having an IQ in the low 40s like you clearly do is mind-boggling to me. (Continued…)
Probama
posted 4/22/09 @ 10:58 AM EST
Yet another black & white, shot from the hip analysis by our esteemed Megan Lynch. With the amount of pro-right propaganda delivered here would make you think her older sister's name was Jessica. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 4/22/09 @ 12:34 PM EST
More nuclear weapons makes the world safer? oh you're right, good point. It really is a shame Obama is diverging from the bomb now ask questions later mentality that worked so well the past 8 years. (Continued…)
Uconn Alum
posted 4/22/09 @ 12:41 PM EST
Great piece Megan. I gruaduated a few years ago and it's certainly good to see that not all college students are so caught up in being liked by other countries that they are willing to sacrifice this country's national security. (Continued…)
Ignoramus
posted 4/22/09 @ 4:47 PM EST
Diplomacy is much like a dance; sometimes you get to lead, sometimes you have to follow. Obama, unlike "W", has not deigned to presume that he is currently dictating the moves on the diplomacy dance floor. (Continued…)
James Raider
posted 4/22/09 @ 11:47 PM EST
A nuclear-free world is not a prospect in any conscious mind.
This is simply very indicative of an administration not being in step with all realities currently evident in our world. (Continued…)
BJones
posted 4/23/09 @ 1:10 PM EST
Excellent column! Some of the comments on here (and personal attacks) are laughable. Here is a piece in which Mitt Romney shares some of your sentiments:
http://article. (Continued…)
Pehthor
posted 7/15/09 @ 9:04 AM EST
Megan Lynch shows lack of knowledge and fundamental understanding and it terrifies me that she has been given this forum to despence her false insight. (Continued…)
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