Obama Forces Flip-Flops to Paralyze McCain

With a deft series of domestic political moves followed by vigorous international maneuvers, Barack Obama triggered a diplomatic revolution and forced flip-flops on one of his main rivals -- incumbent President George W. Bush -- that have paralyzed the campaign of Senator John McCain.

For many months, Obama called for a timetable for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and direct negotiations with the governments of the Axis of Evil and other nations with which the US government has disagreements.

For just as many months, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, John McCain, Condoleezza Rice and their ideological guru, John Bolton, argued -- strenuously and vociferously -- against Obama's timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and his "naïve" proposal for negotiations the neocons described as talks with terrorists and states that sponsor terrorism.

However, when Obama revealed his plans to tour Europe and the Middle East, the captain, midshipmen and swabs rapidly rearranged the deck chairs on the political Titanic aka "USS Bush White House." Aides to Obama released the destinations of his international fact-finding mission: Afghanistan; Iraq; Jordan; Israel; the West Bank; Germany; France and Great Britain.

In political time, it did not take long for the repercussions of Obama's bold foreign policy initiative to start hitting the Potomac shoreline. Last week, in a historic climb-down George Bush flip-flopped and authorized a US diplomat to meet with representatives of Iran in Geneva - a bitter pill for the lame duck to swallow. Yesterday, Condoleezza Rice followed Bush's reluctant footsteps and met with North Korean diplomats in Singapore.

In virtual synchronicity with Bush's acquiescence to Obama's policy on Iran, the government of Israel exchanged prisoners and remains with Lebanon and Hezbollah. Two days before Obama's arrival in Israel the government announced the construction of a new Arab city in Galilee, the first such project since 1948. In his June address to AIPAC, Obama specifically recommended his own prescription for peace that included the following sentence,

"Israel can also advance the cause of peace by taking appropriate steps consistent with its security to ease the freedom of movement for Palestinians and improve economic conditions in the West Bank."

It is now abundantly clear that the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, is having an impact on international diplomacy even though he is still merely the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

Four days ago, Barack Obama flew to Afghanistan where he touched down in Kabul to meet with US troops and President Hamid Karzai. The following day while Obama was still in Afghanistan, the influential magazine, Der Spiegel, published an interview with Iraqi President Nuri Al-Maliki who explicitly endorsed Obama's timetable for withdrawal. Maliki's endorsement of Obama hit the Bush White House like Batman slugging the Joker.

The White House klaxons sounded the alarm, and all hands hit the deck and manned their panic stations. Over the next twenty-four hours, the White House spin-doctors perspired in tortuous negotiations with Baghdad. Ultimately, the White House accomplished nothing. Of course, they coerced Maliki's office to issue a clarification that clarified precisely nothing. On Monday in an embarrassing repudiation of Bush and McCain, the Iraqi government confirmed their support for a short Obama-style timetable for withdrawal by 2010. The US client state had become the mouse that roared into the lion's ear, and the message was not subtle, "Get Out! And make it snappy -- on Obama's timeline!"

Three days into his international fact-finding mission, the junior Senator from Illinois had polished his foreign policy credentials considerably. For starters, he achieved a revolution in American diplomatic history. It is now official: the USA talks with representatives of states she finds unfriendly, inimical and downright hostile: Iran and North Korea.

The second part of the Obama revolution is simplicity itself -- the now universal consensus that US military withdrawal from Iraq should be based on a timetable. Obama's impact on the potential for peace between Israel and Palestine will be more obvious after he departs the strife-torn region tomorrow.

The rapidly morphing foreign policy situation has been difficult -- even painful -- for George W. Bush, a man so filled with hatred for Barack Obama that he went on an international mission of his own in May to destroy the junior Senator when he was still just one of two viable candidates for the Democratic nomination. Bush cannot suppress his feelings for Obama -- for months he has steadfastly refused to utter his likely successor's name in public.

While Bush is being forced - like a recalcitrant five year old - to swallow those bitter herbs that will ultimately be good for the nation he serves, Obama's diplomatic impact on John McCain may prove to be politically fatal. Obama forced flip-flops on George Bush compelling John McCain to drink the poisoned chalice brimming with the toxic potion of neoconservative ideology and suicidal statecraft laced with the imperial cyanide of military mis-adventurism -- a surefire prescription to trigger political apoplexy.

Follow Michael Carmichael on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alchemistoxford

Comments

[yareallygotmegoin]

The surge really consisted of paying the Iraqi's to NOT attack the US soldiers. Seems we coulda done that on day 1 and saved 4000 lives.

[frustratedinohio]

It would be foolish to count McCain out at this point. Especially since the gap in the polls between the two has narrowed since Obama left.

[MalleusMaleficarum]

Nobody is counting McCain out at this point, but neither should anybody pay any attention to polls taken since Obama started his international tour. The latest Pew survey shows a remarkable statistic -- Obama leads McCain among Hispanics 67% to 23%. Let's remain calm and look at polls about this time next week for a realistic appraisal of Obama's international tour, but the chances are good that he will get a bounce.

[twiggy2]

it is foolish to think mcain is good for america? what can he accompolish at this point with foreign policy? barak has stepped out of the box and into the real world, of real people, with real issue and real agendas . wake up this is not democrate vs republican this is about the global future of the entire world .

[lboucher]

Obama canceled a previously-planned stop to visit thousands of American service personnel, including troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan being treated at Landstuhl, so he could hold a political rally for Germans and go shopping in Berlin. Now that’s a nice set of priorities for a man who wants to become Commander in Chief.

[LTinCali]

Get your facts straight. He decided to cancel to avoid politicizing the troops who are healing. As a Senator, there are certain things that are appropriate and some that are not. This is nearly the same as when McCain used the general in a campaign ad that was quickly rebuffed and immediately removed from circulation.

[twiggy2]

i 'd like to see proof of that ! prove it ! don't post if you don't have proof. innuendos are not considered proof and neither is fox news considered credible

[Pupadup4oBama]

Wow, a president who actually gets things DONE - even BEFORE he's prez!

Love HIM!

Bush and his twin are so jealous they can't even see straight (let alone straight talk)

[Cathexis]

Hey, c'mon now, Pup! Bush got things done, too!!!

Well, not GOOD things, admittedly, but ...

[luvangelHussein330]

Only a man prepared to be President would be able to do such a thing...Excellent Mr Obama

[mamacat]

If one man can make such a drastic review of American foreign policy possible, imagine what would have happened if the Bush administration had not been staffed with "yes"-men (and women) and incompetents for the last 7 1/2 years. We might have done better, much better.

Obama's trip to the Middle East and Germany really puts a highlight on how bad things have been with Dubya's leadership.

[gorideabike]

No good has or ever will come from GWB.
Pity.

[fedupcitizen]

Excellent summary of how Obama leads and others follow.

[jemeagirl]

Wonderful post!!!

This sums up the whole foreign policy debate. For some of us who travel the world, we know exactly that the world cannot go on with America waging wars wherever there is oil. Hopefully people will understand that even when you have disagreements with people, it is in your best interest to be flexible, be open to discussion.

Keep it coming!!!

[Veratruth]

SEN. OBAMA has PROVEN that he has the EXPERIENCE and KNOWLEDGE to be President of the United States. AND, HE and MICHELLE LOVE THIS COUNTRY. YES WE CAN.

[anfractuous]

"Obama forced flip-flops on George Bush compelling John McCain to drink the poisoned chalice brimming with the toxic potion of neoconservative ideology and suicidal statecraft laced with the imperial cyanide of military mis-adventurism"
Please, I'm choking on your metaphors!

[Pavane]

I, however, loved them.

[impassionator]

Fun to read - a mouthful of merciless metaphors. I had to go over a couple of times though... reminds me of this witty little ditty -

"The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true! "

Somethin' like that...

[anothergayrepublican]

my god, Mr. Carmichael is almost as full of himself as Mr. Obama. But he forgot to add the the only reason Mr. Malaki and others in Iraq, who of course have supported our presence there for many years (unlike the folks on this blog), can talk about a timeline is because the SURGE WORKED BEYOND ANYONE'S EXPECTATIONS. And most of the political benchmarks that would "never be met" (according to the cynics) HAVE been met or are being met as we speak. Ironically, it turns out that Mr. Obama is perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the success of the surge, but most of you wackos are so blinded by your hate of Bush, you can't or won't admit it.

[4President]

J.S. McCain admittedly disagrees with the American people on the situation in Iraq!

What is running for president for?

[w&cheneysuck]

LOL! Good one and so true.

[jfor]

Barack Obama is not perfect, he is not liked by all, some like him to much but we all can plainly see the difference between legacies and someone who earns their own way. Bush and McCain have proven to be stubborn, whiny, self centered and selfish individuals who graduated near the bottom of their classes and it shows everytime Barack steps up and performs beyond anyones imagination. Obama on the other hand worked his way up and learned how to negotiate, lead, and work with others along the way. Only one of these men is a leader and its not the two rich guys with chips on their shoulders.

[SeriousBlack]

Hear, hear!

[blaqntelligence]

Excellent post!

[Woopie]

It all might be true, but if no one is listening does it matter? The way I see it is is that both camps are talking to their base, but the voters they need are not engaged, and will not be untill they show up at the polls when they just pull the lever.

[gopindrag]

Hey woopie cushion, how do you measure 'engaged.' Would that be those people who say they are excited about their candidate? 14% for McCain, hmm is that engaged. 43% for Obama. Speak for yourself, I'm engaged to be released from the Bush detention.

[sfbayani]

What elegant choice of words and excellent rhetoric that propose to divine Senator Obama's moves.
Bravo!