The New Yorker Reports On Obama’s Foreign Policy: ‘Leading From Behind’

by Mark Joyella | 9:09 am, April 25th, 2011

» 12 comments

In an analysis of the evolution of President Obama‘s foreign policy, specifically in Libya, The New Yorker‘s Ryan Lizza suggests the uprisings and revolution that have swept the Middle East in 2011 may ultimately lead to a new “Obama Doctrine,” though one that may not look great on a bumper sticker. “One of his advisers described the President’s actions in Libya as ‘leading from behind.’ That’s not a slogan designed for signs at the 2012 Democratic Convention, but it does accurately describe the balance that Obama now seems to be finding.”

In Lizza’s story, How the Arab Spring Remade Obama’s Foreign Policy, Lizza reviews the president’s thinking from Illinois state senator to the U.S. Senate, through the presidential campaign and into the White House. “The one consistent thread running through most of Obama’s decisions has been that America must act humbly in the world.”

And yet, as Lizza points out, the president has been reluctant to incorporate a doctrine that would apply to all of his foreign policy decisions, which has led some supporters to become frustrated–including Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Carter’s national-security adviser:

“I greatly admire his insights and understanding. I don’t think he really has a policy that’s implementing those insights and understandings. The rhetoric is always terribly imperative and categorical: ‘You must do this,’ ‘He must do that,’ ‘This is unacceptable.’ ” Brzezinski added, “He doesn’t strategize. He sermonizes.”

New Yorker, President Obama, Ryan Lizza

cjd ohio 1

lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way
Liberal Tormentor

Instead of sucking up, his advisor need to tell him that that strategy ain’t workin: We have become a joke around the world. All he does is go around the world apologizing for America, bowing to other leaders, and waiting for others to act and then ride their coattails. It’s disgraceful.
More Liberty5

The USA needs to stop being the world police. The US taxpayer can not afford to help everyone and push “democracy” via a Hell-Fire missile. We have enough problems of our own. The Chinese are going to surpass our economy in about 5 years. Let them be the world police – or not – either way we need to stop meddling in world affairs. We don’t need anymore Chicken-hawks like Bush or Obama.
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

That’s like saying you’re not gay if you’re the one “giving”…
cvnfregd

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david r

“The one consistent thread running through most of Obama’s decisions has been that America must act humbly in the world.”

Oh yeah, we’re going to be humble all right. Like we were in 1937.
screwauger

Obowmao Administration = Epic Failure. The Nation is slowly coming to the conclusion they made a mistake with this rookie and may god have mercy on the citizens when he looses in 2012.
GoneFishing

I really would like to see Obama’s college transcripts…I gotta call’ Bullshit’ on his supposed intellect; The man is an idiot.
screwauger

GoneFishing said:
I really would like to see Obama’s college transcripts…I gotta call’ Bullshit’ on his supposed intellect; The man is an idiot.

He’s dumb like a fox! He plays a Columbo type ignorance very well while he astutely crumbles our economy in hopes of creating the ultimate crisis too good to waste.
black and WHITE

Obama’s foreign policy? What Obama’s foreign policy? The women of his administration made him _____ or get off the pot at all. He’d still be cowaring under his desk reading polls and thimking about the money he could be using to further his regime’s subversive domestic agenda if he just didn’t get involved.

Only he’s the one ( with the big mouth ) talking _____ about Quaddafi’s gotta go.

Now he’s back to hiding, shirking his responsibilities just like the Barack Obama us “: real ” Americans have come to know and loath for what seems like a lifetime already.

Obama’s recalcitrant nature and refusal to ever do what’s best ( passing off his job as commander in chief and leader of what’s left of the free world ) for America and us ” real ” Americans is directly responsible for the deaths of the those two American photographer / reporters plus countless innocent civilians in Libya since he started this war…….yet not one of his un – American MSM propaganda dissemination has let outone peep concerning this matter. WHY?
MrTPar_taY

Are they saying he’s leading from behind because his head’s up his?
X-3

I am CERTAIN that we would have peace throughout the Middle East if only -0bama had bowed to more of their leaders.