Tuesday, June 8, 2010 – Aaron Klein, Ken DeGraffenreid, Andy McCarthy

on Jun 8, 2010

Frank’s opening monologue summarizes the Obama Administration’s reckless abandonment of America’s allies, especially Israel, while it coddles our enemies.  Aaron Klein stops by to talk about his new book titled The Manchurian President, which exposes President Obama’s ties to Communists, Socialists, and other Anti-American extremists. Dr. Kenneth E. deGraffenreid of the Institute for World Politics talks about President Obama’s latest pick for Director of National Intelligence,  General James Clapper.  SFR regular Andy McCarthy returns to chat with Frank about the Obama Administration’s wrongheaded new national security strategy.

MONOLOGUE: June 8, 2010

But first I want to share with you some thoughts of my own about where we are in the world at the moment. You know the United States marines have long–not only espoused– but exemplified the motto ‘no better friend, no worse enemy.’ Through their unstinting dependability in the fact of adversity, and their ferocity in combat. And to the extent that the country as a whole has hued to these– well– time-tested principles, the world has been made more stable, and American interests more secure.

Sadly, in its time in office, the Obama administration has increasingly turned this proven formula on its head. The message of its policies–and its conduct– is as unmistakable as it is ominous:

‘It is better to be an enemy of the United Sates then its friend.’

Consider, just as an example, the really starkly contrasting treatment associated with two episodes at seas in the past couple of months. The first, of course, was the North Korean submarine’s act of war against South Korea, when it covertly torpedoed a South Korean naval vessel on the 21^st of March, which resulted in the sinking of the latter–that South Korean vessel, and the loss of 46 lives—South Korean sailors.

The second occurred just last week when Israeli commandos, acting lawfully in enforcing a declared naval blockade, intercepted a Turkish ship determined to violate that blockade. Upon boarding the vessel these commandos were set upon by a mob comprised–as it turns out– of weapon-wielding jihadists. Not–as advertised–the humanitarian-minded peace activists we keep hearing about. The commandos defended themselves, and in the course of the melee that ensued, nine of the would-be martyrs were killed.

I say martyrs because they filmed jihadist videos– that have come to be associated with martyred operations– in advance. There was no mistaking their purpose. There’s been no U.N. Resolution to date denouncing this North Korean travesty. No calls for an international investigation. No talk of retaliation by the so-called community of nations if the perpetrator–namely the North–does not recant and make amends.

By contrast, though, the U.N. Security Council was immediately seized–as they say in diplomatic circles–with the Israeli Operation. It adopted in short order a President’s statement–a kind of resolution– condemning those responsible—the Israelis. And demanded–demanded– an international investigation that’s now been set in train by the U.N. in its Human Rights Council. And given the absolutely predictable hostility of virtually any–so-called– international participants in such an inquiry, the result can only be a new basis, yet another, for vilifying Israel and insisting that it end the blockade of Gaza. Something the Obama administration seems to be preparing for support.

What’s the difference between these two? Well, there are a number of differences. Of course, different regions, different nations. But at the end of the day, what’s really going on here–folks– is that North Korea has as its greatest friend–communist China. While Pyongyang considers the United States its main enemy. Beijing has no intention of allowing the U.N.–or for that matter anybody else– to challenge or otherwise call into question the legitimacy of its allies actions. And the United States has no intention of upsetting the Chinese, with all the help–as we keep telling ourselves–help that Beijing is going to provide us on sanctions on Iran, on trade, on currency revaluation, the six-party talks, and so on.

By contrast, Israel has traditionally had but one powerful friend–the United States. And this alliance has been all the more important because most of the rest of the world is at least somewhat, if not actually rabidly hostile towards the Jewish state.  

Under President Obama, however, Israel seems to have–in the United States–a friend in name only. American diplomacy did nothing to prevent passage of the Security Council’s condemnatory resolution. Instead focusing on muting, somewhat, its criticism of the Jewish state–making it a little bit more oblique.

Unfortunately, this is part of a pattern. And I’m afraid that this pattern has not only isolated Israel and undermined it, but has sent a signal to other allies–has in a way exacerbated our treatment of other allies. Like Britain, and Honduras, and Poland, the Czech Republic, and Georgia, and Ukraine, and India, and Columbia.

Countries that have been friends. That are allies. And that instead we have been much more interested in enemies like–or would-be adversaries–like communist China, Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey. All of whom have been given very, very serious attention, and insistent engagement by the Obama administration.

And this is not the way to run a secure American–and successful–American foreign policy. And more grief will come of it.