President Obama’s foreign policy is no good, according to Jeb Bush.
In a National Review op-ed, the former governor of Florida and likely 2016 Republican presidential candidate accuses Obama of failing to recognize friend from foe when it comes to relations with Israel and Iran, thus engaging in “schoolyard antics.”
“Even when presented with evidence of treachery committed by the Iranians, the Obama administration turns the other way,” Bush wrote.
“[I]nstead of recognizing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s re-election and the achievement of Israel’s multi-party, multi-ethnic democracy, the White House issued half-hearted congratulations,” Bush wrote. “Then Obama threatened to downgrade the U.S.-Israel relationship and permit a series of anti-Israel resolutions to pass the United Nations Security Council without firm American opposition.”
He then added later: “This is no way to treat an ally. Conducting the foreign policy of a great nation requires maturity and a strategic sense of America’s long-term interests. This is no time for schoolyard antics.”
The U.S.-Israeli relationship is slowly becoming one of the top issues ahead of the 2016 presidential cycle. GOP candidates, like Bush, have been adamant about throwing their support behind Israel and Netanyahu alike, drawing a stark contrast to the Obama administration.
Bush is tied atop a RealClearPolitics average of polls for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Bush has not yet officially declared his 2016 White House intentions, but did announce in December he is “actively exploring” a run.
