e-News 8/7/15

Results of the Obama Administration "leading from behind" in foreign policy

As readers of this weekly e-Newsletter are aware, I remain especially concerned about the Obama Administration’s handling of the recent Iran agreement and deference to Russian aggression in Ukraine’s sovereign territory.  Unfortunately, we are now also witnessing the rapid gains of radical Islamic militants in Libya and Tunisia, nations where the United States hoped to foster partnerships in the fight against ISIL.

Iran

As part of the proposed Iran nuclear agreement, sanctions will be lifted to allow hundreds of billions of dollars to flow back into the economy of the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. 

President Obama has stated “sanctions will snap back into place,” in the case that Iran violates the agreement.  Alissa Rubin, writing for the New York Times, examines the difficulty in re-imposing the sanctions once they have been lifted. 

Read “After Deal, Europeans Are Eager to do Business in Iran” here.

Ukraine

I have long considered Russian aggression against Ukraine’s sovereign territory and its people to be a serious threat against the West.  I have repeatedly urged the President to designate Ukraine as a “Major Non-NATO Ally,” which would make Ukraine eligible for additional training, surplus defense items, and financial support. 

Andrew Michta, writing in Politico, describes the leadership vacuum in the region, which has led to Russia’s aggressive and deadly violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. 

Read “Europe’s Russia denial” here.

A good perspective of another foreign policy failure: Libya

Long, well researched story by Missy Ryan in the Washington Post: “Libyan force was lesson in limits of U.S. power.”  

Tunisia

Like the Administration’s and Europe's lukewarm support for Ukraine, the Obama Administration should also have "a strong interest in a secure, democratic Tunisia and must come to its aid. Only if it does so we can ensure that the question 'Who lost Tunisia?' is one we will never have to answer."  We took action with our allies in Northern Africa in Libya and then abandoned that country; not to mention the Benghazi disaster.

Read Mustapha Tlili’s piece “Saving Tunisia from ISIS” in the New York Times here.