Our Gravest Peril

[Valin]

WSJ

ObamaCare? Stagnant economy? Crushing debt? Foreign-policy fecklessness may trump them all.

Pete du Pont

1/20/14

 

America's most worrisome problem may not be the failed takeover of our healthcare system. It may not be our languishing economy or even the massive federal debt hanging over future generations. As dangerous as these problems are, perhaps more perilous is just how far our nation has fallen in the eyes of our allies and the lack of caution our feckless foreign policy inspires in our adversaries.

 

Our country too often looks weak. Our foreign policy too often seems rudderless and unreliable. Washington is abuzz over the new memoir by Robert Gates, the former defense secretary, with its recounting of the Obama administration's defense-policy shortcomings. It is interesting reading, but anyone paying attention over the last five years already knew this administration often fails to get critical military and foreign-policy matters right.

 

(Snip)

 

Few governmental responsibilities are as critical or assigned so explicitly to the federal government in the Constitution as ensuring a strong national defense. In today's world, this responsibility demands the same strength and principled resolve that administrations of both parties projected during the Cold War. Our allies must know they can rely on us, and our enemies must respect us and fear the consequences of misbehavior. Foreign policy will always be difficult and often entails choosing the least bad option. Even by that realistic standard, the Obama administration has too often fallen short.