As we write, there is a situation in Pakistan that might effect our war against terror and the Islamic jihadists who drive the campaign of terror. Pakistan Islamists warn of protests if US prisoner freed... The growing disagreement between Pakistan and the US is being framed in the most typical of lights, namely, the big, bad United States is, once again, usurping its power and control over a smaller nation.
Does Pakistan have the right to pursue and prosecute its own laws? Of course.
Except if the peron(s) involved is a citizen of the United States diplomatic corp (pronounced "core," not "corpppp" as Obama seems to prefer). In that case, an offending diplomat is recalled and sent back to the States.
While there is Pakistani law, we must not forget that diplomatic code is something the two countries in this case have agreed to. There is not one code of conduct; rather, there are two.
The enemies of the United States will picture this circumstance as "yet, another case of the US running roughshod over a smaller nation" when, in fact, diplomat law is not a forced code but an agreement signed into existence via treatise between the two countries. In fact, the Vienna accord of years gone by (1961), is the basis for rules governing diplomatic immunity. All nations abide by the results of this convention.
"Why is America hell bent on trampling on Pakistani law and its judicial system? We will forcefully protest if he is released without a court order," Jamaat-e-Islami deputy chief Liaquat Baluch told Reuters. "He" is an assistant diplomat who shot and killed two Pakistanis he claims were attempting to rob him. Whatever the case, this situation is being driven by anti-American sentiment, not concerns for civil justice. We say this because an appeal to diplomat agreement, mutual and legal, is not an effort at "trampling on Pakistani law."
The man should come home, period. That is the law and it is the law of both countries. Understand that Obama has busied himself in the recent past telling Pakistani officials what they must do and making these pronouncements in the public arena. In fact, the "public announcement" is a key strategy of Obama rather than working quietly and effectively "behind the scenes," and actually getting something done that benefits our country. Let's not forget that during the 2008 campaign, he made it clear that, as president, he would order the attacks against terrorist in Pakistan and would do unilaterally, without Pakistani permission !! He would much rather be seen as tough and uncompromising in the eyes of his voter base than to follow accepted diplomatic procedures. That is a big big part of the problem when it comes to Obama's foreign policy strategy. In fact, outside of tough public talk, he really does not seem to have a strategy.
Has he learned his lesson in this regard? We do not know. Is he working behind the scenes to gain the release of this diplomat? Again, we do not know. We can only hope that the silence we hear on this matter is an indicator of Obama's efforts to solve this problem. One thing for certain, his rhetorical polemic is often that of a novice negotiator at best and an ineffective buffoon on the other hand. Neither is conducive to the development of international partnerships so critical to our national survival in an antagonistic world and that is why this story is a concern to many. That is why we have not seen enhanced international partnerships, world wide, since Obama took office.
Think about his foreign policy accomplishments:
North Korea: he has done nothing in terms of diplomacy with regard to this country. Maybe that is a good thing.
China: he has bowed to Hu and continues to ignore this communist/atheist anti-United States nation and its disgraceful civil liberties record because he needs China's lending power. He ignores their continuing military build up at all levels. He knows of China's efforts in South America and does nothing. His treasury secretary, Tim Geithner, was laughed at on his first trip to China back in 2009 as he presented American economic theory to a group of university students.
Russia: he avoids meeting with Putin and signs a New START nuclear proliferation treatise that means nothing because it does not involved any of the remaining nuclear powers in this world including Red China.
Pakistan: if anything, our relationship with this country has worsened to the extent that the deteriorating relationship threatens the outcome of the Afghan War.
Iraq: he intends to move all military services from the region, not only Iraq. Brilliant !! I feel safer, already.
Iran: Obama has level a host of prohibitions against Iran , but has allowed hundreds of corporate exemptions to these restrictions. In fact, one report suggests more than a thousand such exemptions exist. He has done nothing to influence the situation and wholly abandoned the freedom demonstrators of two years ago.
Venezuela: Hugo Chavez has publicly humiliated Obama in several venues. His trip to South America in 2009 proved to be a disaster. In the meantime, Chavez has received 5 billion dollars in military aid from Russia and more than 100 short range land to air missiles, effective to 16,000 feet. . . . all on Obama's watch.
Brazil: this country is in the process of increasing its ties with China, Iran, and Russia.
Netherlands: folks in that country forced the cancellation of President Bush's European book tour, threatening to have our president arrested and tried for war crimes. Obama does nothing, ignoring the fact that such a maneuver would be an act of war.
Poland and Georgia: one of the first actions taken by Obama was to unilaterally cancel out agreements with these two countries insuring and installing a missile defense system that was not to the liking of Russia.
England: he has severely damaged our relationship with Briton. It has become obvious that he has no love for this country and has allowed his personal feelings to damage our standing with this nation. He has called France our greatest European ally, as ridiculous an observation as any president has ever made. Palin would never act as stupidly as this. What has not been featured in the news is the fact, the fact we say, that Obama agreed to reveal nuclear secrets of England (missile counts) to the Russian's as a condition of the New Start treatise. No other president would have done such a thing, Democrat or Republican.
Israel: only 6% of Israelis believe that Obama is not pro-Palestinian. As "president," he has yet to step foot in this country, and has publicly humiliated Prime Minister Netanyahu on more than one occasion. He is a walking , talking disaster with regard to this country. Obama has threatened to release secret information concerning Israeli nuclear strength and has publicly branded Israel as an "occupier" of the West Bank. All of his Israeli strategy, as it turns out, is stupidly wrong. A Republican president would never make this mistake. In the end, our presence in the Middle East, a presence that is critical to our physical well being as a nation, is in serious danger of being eliminated by this Administration.
Honduras: back in 2009, what proved to be his first foreign policy disaster, we have his decision to side with the communists in this country, as they - the non-Communists - worked to remove the ruling president as he attempted to establish himself as that nation's dictator. The hopeful dictator was expelled from Honduras and within two hours of that explusion, Obama pronounced the Honduran government to be in violation of international law and threatened to withdraw US aid. Someone finally convinced him to shut up. He quietly reversed his position and did not take action against that freedom loving country.
Gaza: he moved (2009) to grant the terrorist controlled nation, Gaza, a near billion dollars in aid and, again, in 2010, another 400 million. Of course, it was for food and clothing. None of this money was used by the terrorist to buy missiles -- and it you believe that, you probably have a growth located at the base of your brain. Gaza fires more than 1,600 missiles into Israel each and every year. Obama has done nothing but enhance that opportunity. Understand that financial aid given to Hamas in Gaza is aid given to the Muslim Brotherhood. The two entities are one in the same.
Mexico: Obama believes in an open border when it comes to illegal aliens from Mexico. More than 16,000 Arab nationals enter our country via the southern border each and every year. While he has deported more aliens back to Mexico than previous presidents, he has ignored federal law that enforces and prosecutes these folks. And, he has done nothing to substantially assist Mexico in its battle against the drug cartel --- more than 40,000 people have been murdered in that country in the past five years.
Egypt: his message was as convoluted and confusion as anything thing he has done during the 18 days of demonstrations. First, "get the bum out of there " (our words - his idea); then, "we need him to stay." But, more than this, he is supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood being a vital part of the new Egypt. Understand that the Muslim Brotherhood's military manifestation is Hamas in Gaza. Obama thinks the Brotherhood is not terrorist in its leanings. We disagree and have good reason for that disagreement. And, in the latest headlines, Obama's phone calls to ousted Mubarak are being refused by that ex-leader.
Get the drift?
m
m
No comments:
Post a Comment