The piece was a bit of a rant, so I'm not surprised it's open to misunderstanding.  However my argument is not that I'd like a European style left of centre President.  

My argument is that Obama isn't serving the US's real interests and is thus contributing to, and perhaps hastening the US's decline in influence in world affairs.  Most of that decline is being driven by the US's relative economic decline (vis a vis Asia, Iran, Latin America etc.).  But some of it is also caused by a foreign policy which is only a little less delusionary that Bush's in effect, if not in intention.  

My case is that so far, little has changed in US foreign policy.  Better speeches, sure; a declared intent to be more multi-lateral in his approach, sure; lip service to the UN or EU, sure.

He has signed a new nuclear Treaty but hasn't yet persuaded the Senate to ratify it, I grant you. He hasn't yet started a new war although he is trying hard in Israel if he miscalculates how other states could respond.

Do I care if the US loses influence?  Only if the slack is taken up by even less enlightened powers. As always in International relations, progress is relative.

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