A Thursday afternoon panel discussion entitled “Benghazi and Its Aftermath: U.S. Middle East and Southwest Asia Policy” left CPAC attendees with the impression that presidential shortcomings aren’t the only problem with the United States’ international politics.
The panel, comprised of American Enterprise Institute fellow Roger Noriega, Joel Pollak of Breitbart and John Solomon of the Washington Guardian, offered various perspectives on the Benghazi imbroglio.
Ironically, the discussion focused very little on the policy implications surrounding Benghazi, and instead zeroed in on American journalism and executive politicking.
“American journalism, as we knew before this President, is dead,” said Noriega. He said Obama’s incompetence and “gross mismanagement” are disturbing. But Noriega asserted the media’s willingness to be an accomplice is a far more disturbing trend.
Media aside, one panelist argued that President Obama’s actions warrant the most long-term concern. Pollack attributed the bungled Benghazi operation to a conscious decision to be detached, if not defiant.
“The Benghazi attack happened because the President sacrificed military readiness for ideology and politics,” said Pollack. He noted President Obama’s numerous blind spots, ranging from the resurgence of Al-Qaeda to the burgeoning, nuclear Iran.
According to Pollack, President Obama’s primary problem is his lack of ability to consistently stay engaged in foreign policy as a whole.
Despite the brief foray into foreign policy, panelists found common ground with the idea of a disturbingly weak American press corps.
“Media today is beholden to people that hand out daily news,” said Solomon. Instead of asking questions and fulfilling the role of investigative journalism, Solomon said today’s journalists relay too much on information freebies.
Unlike Noriega, Solomon still sees hope for the future of journalism.
“Journalism is on life support, but not totally dead,” said Solomon. In order to prevent future Presidential behavior from operating with a sort of cavalier carte blanche, Solomon stressed the importance of new media forms.
“New media gives us the best opportunity to get the truth out,” said Solomon.
As new media grows in popularity, perhaps government accountability will, too.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPaXaMkvlxs&w=560&h=315]
