The New York Times reports:
The Times then ticks off Obama’s lack of accomplishments in key areas:
Over and over again we’ve heard from the left about how that “cowboy” Bush tarnished America’s image to the point that it was hurting America’s interests. It is now dawning on some that perhaps other nations don’t do what we want them to do because, well, they don’t want to. As Steve Hayes documents this week, Obama has done everything in his power to “reset” our relations with Iran. Where has that gotten us? Thus far, that effort has gone nowhere. By the estimate of Obama’s own handpicked intelligence officials, and our military, Iran continues to sponsor attacks against Americans in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair has even told Congress that Iran gives “lethal” support to the Taliban. North Korea has tested a nuclear weapon, fired long-range missiles, and kidnapped two Americans journalists. Obama sends President Clinton over there to appease a bloody tyrant, and he and his surrogates ramble on about the importance of six-party talks. Yes, they are going to work – any day now. Obama capitulated to Russia on missile defense. Do you think the Russians will help us with tough sanctions intended to counter Iran’s nuclear program? Don’t bet on it. The New York Times account excerpted above says that Obama’s advisers are trumpeting the cooperation they’ve received from Pakistan. It is one of the few examples they provide. But the same Times account says that the Pakistani population’s opinion of America remains “largely unmoved.” So, if there was an increase in Pakistani cooperation since Obama came into office it had nothing to do with an improvement in America’s image. Moreover, it is doubtful that there has been much of an uptick in Pakistan’s cooperation. Obama’s policies thus far have been largely the same as Bush’s (e.g. Predator strikes in northern Pakistan).
