This is a very sobering article/ London Daily Telegraph Editorial

[Sandra]

Monday, November 8, 2010

London Daily Telegraph Editorial

From the “LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH" editor.

This is a very sobering article. Our handling of relationships with the Britons over the oil spill won't help either.

From The London Daily Telegraph Editor on Foreign Relations.

Quote:

"Let
me be clear: I'm not normally in favor of boycotts, and I love the
American people. I holiday in their country regularly, and hate the
tedious snobby sneers against the United States. But the American people
chose to elect an idiot who seems hell bent on insulting their allies,
and something must be done to stop Obama's reckless foreign policy,
before he does the dirty on his allies on every issue."

One
of the most poorly kept secrets in Washington is President Obama's
animosity toward Great Britain, presumably because of what he regards as
its sins while ruling Kenya (1895-1963).

One
of Barack Hussein Obama's first acts as president was to return
to Britain a bust of Winston Churchill that had graced the Oval Office
since 9/11. He followed this up by denying Prime Minister Gordon Brown,
on his first state visit, the usual joint press conference with flags.

The president was "too tired" to grant the leader of America’s closest
ally a proper welcome, his aides told British journalists.

Mr. Obama followed this up with cheesy gifts for Mr. Brown and the
Queen. Columnist Ian Martin described his behavior as "rudeness
personified.” There was more rudeness in store for Mr. Brown at the
opening session of the United Nations in September. "The prime minister
was forced to dash through the kitchens of the UN in New York to secure
five minutes of face time with President Obama after five requests for a
sit down meeting were rejected by the White House," said London
Telegraph columnist David Hughes. Mr. Obama's "churlishness is unforgivable," Mr. Hughes said.

The administration went beyond snubs and slights last week when
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed the demand of Argentine
President Cristina Kirchner, a Hugo Chavez ally, for mediation
of Argentina’s specious claim to the Falkland Islands, a British
dependency since 1833. The people who live in the Falklands, who speak English, want nothing to do with Argentina. When,
in 1982, an earlier Argentine dictatorship tried to seize the Falklands
by force, the British -- with strong support from President Ronald
Reagan -- expelled them.

"It is truly shocking that Barack Obama has decided to disregard our
shared history," wrote Telegraph columnist Toby Young. "Does Britain’s
friendship really mean so little to him?” One could ask, does the friendship of anyone in the entire world mean anything to him?

"I recently asked several senior administration officials,
separately, to name a foreign leader with whom Barack Obama has forged a
strong personal relationship during his first year in office," wrote
Jackson Diehl, deputy editorial page editor of the Washington Post, on
Monday. "A lot of hemming and hawing ensued.” One official named French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, but his contempt for Mr. Obama is an open
secret. Another named German Chancellor Angela Merkel. But, said Mr.
Diehl, "Merkel too has been conspicuously cool toward Obama”.

Mr. Obama certainly doesn't care about the Poles and Czechs, whom he has betrayed on missile defense. Honduras and Israel also
can attest that he's been an unreliable ally and an unfaithful friend.
Ironically, our relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority
have never been worse. Russia has offered nothing in exchange for Mr. Obama's abandonment of missile defense.
Russia and China won't support serious sanctions on Iran. Syria’s
support for terrorism has not diminished despite efforts to normalize
diplomatic relations. The reclusive military dictatorship that runs
Burma has responded to our efforts at "engagement" by deepening its ties
to North Korea.

And the Chinese make little effort to disguise their contempt for him.

For the first time in a long time, the President of the United States
is actually distrusted by its allies and not in the least feared by its
adversaries. Nor is Mr. Obama now respected by the majority of
Americans. Understandably focused on the dismal economy and Mr. Obama's
relentless efforts to nationalize and socialize health care, Americans
apparently have yet to notice his dismal performance and lack of respect
in the world community.
They soon will.

--London Daily Telegraph editor -- Alex Singleton