Peace Work

Such an award, from a panel of liberal,
pacifist Europeans, should actually surprise no one. Jimmy Carter,
another U.S. president, won in 2002, and also had few accomplishments.
As an Illinois legislator and then a U.S. senator, Obama was noted by
New York Gov. David Patterson as having “spent little time advocating
for peace and justice.” Obama opposed the Iraq war and continued
opposing the Iraq “surge” even when it became obvious that it was
successful.

Obama failed to seek sanctions against
Iran and gave them until the end of 2009 to respond to U.S.
negotiations, even with Iran insisting that it would not negotiate the
future of its nuclear program. Obama also threw away the huge U.S. lead
on Russia in missile defense technology by abandoning Bush’s European
Ballistic Missile Defense, firmly opposed by Russia, in a futile search
for better relations with Russia.

Is Obama’s pacifist mindset affecting
his judgment and integrity? Yes, if one examines his Sept. 24 conduct
at the United Nations, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Obama concealed explosive revelations about an illegal Iranian facility
near Qom, as he wanted the Security Council meeting to be about his own
dream of a nuclear-free world. A fuming French President Nicolas
Sarkozy then reportedly reminded Obama that, “We live in a real world,
not a virtual world.” Obama’s positive March 27 plan for Afghanistan
and Pakistan raised high U.S. hopes, but it’s fading fast, as are U.S.
hopes for victory.

—Richard Lindsay

North Syracuse