Restoring America's Standing

[Geee]

American Thinker:

"I think that we've restored America's standing in the world."
- Barack Obama, November 18, 2009

Was this the simply the usual prevarication of a President with a massive ego, or something he truly believed? In any event, the panorama of the world today is far different as America is increasingly finding itself isolated, vilified, and ignored as never before in its recent history.

The heady days of "hope and change" have given way to cynicism and mockery within the international community. There is little hesitation among world leaders and even the left-leaning global media to be openly contemptuous of the President who campaigned on fortifying American image abroad by the sheer force of his personality and self-proclaimed ability to connect with the people of the world.

After twenty-seven months into the Obama Presidency, The Express (United Kingdom) avers:

Obama's campaign slogan was mesmerizingly simple and brimming with self-belief: "Yes we can." His presidency, however, is turning out to be more about "no we won't." Even more worryingly, it seems to be very much about: "Maybe we can...do what, exactly?" The world feels like a dangerous place when leaders are seen to lack certitude but the only thing President Obama seems decisive about is indecision. What should the US do about Libya? What should the US be doing about the Middle East in general? What about the country's crippling debts? What is the US going to do about Afghanistan, about Iraq?

Many German writers claim Obama has lost support of European leaders because he doesn't pay much attention to them. The reality is the American president doesn't have a single strong ally among the European heads of state.

The chief question numerous foreign pundits are asking: President Obama, you have lost the trust of the Arab world, destroyed confidence in American financial leadership due to your economic policies, and are forcing many Europeans and other allies to question the wisdom of relying on the U.S. -- what next?