Why Everyone Is Saying No to Obama?

Everybody is saying no to the American president these days. And it's not just that they're saying no, it's also the way they're saying no.

US President Barack Obama (AP)

The Saudis twice said no to his request for normalization gestures towards Israel (at Barack Obama's meeting with King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, and in Washington at meetings with Hillary Clinton). Who says no to the American president twice? What must they think of Obama in the desert kingdom?

The North Koreans said no to repeated attempts at talks, by test-launching long-range missiles in April; Russia and China keep on saying no to tougher sanctions on Iran; the Iranians keep saying no to offers of talks by saying they're willing to talk about everything except a halt to uranium enrichment; Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is saying no by refusing to meet with Binyamin Netanyahu until Israel freezes all settlement construction; the Israelis said no by refusing to agree to a settlement freeze, or even a settlement moratorium until and unless the Arabs ante up their normalization gestures. Which brings us back to the original Saudi no.

The only thing Obama did manage to get Bibi and Abbas to say yes to is a photo-op at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in NY. Mazel tov.

RELATED POST:  Editorial: Wobbling Washington

So why is everyone saying no to Obama?

It's the economy, stupid.

Everyone has worked it out by now: The great secret is out. America's economy has made Obama a weak president, and he will likely remain weak throughout his first term (and there may not be a second one).  He has about two years to pull the American economy out of its free-fall before he begins his reelection campaign. If he can do it, and that's a big if, chances are good that he'll get reelected, and in his second term he can try to pull some geopolitical strings. But for the next three years, expect to see a world that says no to Obama. No meaningful and dramatic diplomatic initiative can come out of the White House in the next three years, as long as Obama remains weak.

And that's a real pity, because there are some serious and imminent issues that need to be addressed.

Pyongyang is getting more bellicose and not being punished. The North Koreans have violated every single international agreement and norm, and nothing tangible has happened to them.

In Iran, this registers. "Look at how bad they're being," the mullahs say, "and they're getting away with it." Even so, the Iranian government is weak internally and internationally following its election fiasco.

The US and EU could tighten sanctions against Iran without the support of Russia and China, but they would need political will for that. Sanctions, such as a ban on refined oil imports, barring Iranian flights to America and Europe etc., could have a serious impact on Iran and weaken the regime further. The US and EU can act now against Iran like the US and UK did against Libya several years ago when they persuaded Gaddafi to abandon his nuclear ambitions. Back then, though, the US was much stronger. Now, the American economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Korea have all weakened the US.

In retaliation for increased, unilateral sanctions, Iran could turn up the heat on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, which will stymie Obama's plan to win and withdraw. In Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran has the US president by the kishkes, in a manner of speaking. And so do the Taliban.

So, when a president with so many problems comes asking for a favor, everyone finds it easier to just say no

International JPost.com

Related Comments:

101. Koolaid
James - Iraq (09/22/2009 20:26)

100. It's not the economy--it's because the US people no longer support him
Cheryl B - USA (09/22/2009 20:24)

99. Bomber William Ayers
Colonel Rebel - (09/22/2009 20:22)

98. Um, did these same foreigners say yes to Bush?
mmt - USA (09/22/2009 20:19)

97. Weak
Scott - US (09/22/2009 20:18)

96. No to Obama - it's not the economy
Bob - USA (09/22/2009 20:16)

95. Come on now...
Britton - USA (09/22/2009 20:16)

94. Easy when the economy is good
AlEx - USA (09/22/2009 20:15)

93. Well, it's obvious the type of readers this page attracts...
DCResident - (09/22/2009 20:15)

92. Article: Analysis: Why everyone is saying no to Obama
John Jacobs - U.S.A (09/22/2009 20:14)

91. The world finally has the American doormat they've always wanted...
Kevin - USA (09/22/2009 20:01)

90. Why everyone is saying no to Obama?
TGambogi - USA (09/22/2009 20:01)

89. NObama!!!
Honesty - USA (09/22/2009 20:01)

88. Obama
BB - usa (09/22/2009 19:58)

87. Article: Analysis: Why everyone is saying no to Obama
John Jacobs - U.S.A. (09/22/2009 19:58)

86. Many Americans are saying "no" to Obama because...
John - (09/22/2009 19:54)

85. Obama No's the reason....
dan albert - USA (09/22/2009 19:53)

84. Because he is weak and is easily challenged
Gary Grace - USA (09/22/2009 19:52)

83. Obama Cannot Be Trusted
Maddox - United States (09/22/2009 19:48)

82. Very Wrong - Obama is an idiot with horrible policies
Nathan - USA (09/22/2009 19:45)

81. It's not the Economy, who's stupid now?
Not the Economy - USA (09/22/2009 19:41)

80. Israel is on its own now
Mike A - USA (09/22/2009 19:27)

79. Obama should not have been elected
Charles Schilli - USA (09/22/2009 19:23)

78. Welcome back Carter
Red Ruffansore - USA (09/22/2009 19:23)

77. Being respected vs. being liked
Chet Kolson - USA (09/22/2009 19:19)

76. Obama
Darrel - USA (09/22/2009 19:18)

75. Because Obama is a SPY
Vladimir Kropotkin - Russia (09/22/2009 19:09)

74. As an American I apologize
Concerned - USA (09/22/2009 19:14)

73. What was obvious about the man before the election is now becoming clear
Mark - USA (09/22/2009 19:13)

72. Why everyone is saying no to Obama.
Carl G - USA (09/22/2009 19:11)

Last week after Obama’s missile debacle Poland refused to take Secretar Clinton’s calls and it appears that Hillary and Obama are backing the wrong horse in Honduras; appears that deposed President Zelaya is best buddies with Venezuela’s Dictator:  Hugo Chavez.  The question there is… “A coincidence?  Or just more of Obama’s radical friends and part of the overall plan??

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The Week in International Affairs Updated -  (9/13 & 9/19 2009)