Indecisive at best

When President Obama took office last year, he promised a more positive outlook for Americans on the global stage.

Obama wanted to change America’s image through targeted policies in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and even Europe.

However, Obama’s policies have appeared to be those of an appeaser rather than a change-maker.

Obama is a weak presence on the international stage. He has demonstrated this with his bow to the King of Saudi Arabia, his recent snub of Georgian president and staunch U.S. ally Mikheil Saakashvili — spurred by a desire to avoid offending Russia — and his near-total abdication of responsibility for the disaster caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Additionally, Obama has kept us locked in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but has not even taken a clear position on how best to resolve it.

One day he’s appeasing the Israelis, and the next he’s appeasing the Palestinians.

Indecisiveness is a problem for this administration, especially when it comes to foreign affairs. Unfortunately, Obama has only continued the long train of failed foreign endeavors initiated by previous presidents.

Although the president seems to have given America a great short-term outlook, globally, in the long term his indecisiveness will catch up to him and his administration.

It will be obvious that Obama has been playing a dangerous game of politics and has failed to be decisive in any international conflict.


E-mail: ayarim@indiana.edu