*Obama’s foreign policy now boils down to ‘let’s pretend’ <http://nypost.com/2016/02/23/obamas-foreign-policy-now-boils-down-to-lets-pretend/>*
By Post Editorial Board February 23, 2016 | 8:53pm [image: aptopix_obama_115656095] Modal Trigger <http://nypost.com/2016/02/23/obamas-foreign-policy-now-boils-down-to-lets-pretend/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NY%2520Post%2520Newsletter&utm_source=Sailthru> [image: Obama’s foreign policy now boils down to ‘let’s pretend’] President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry meet with veterans and Gold Star Mothers in Washington to discuss their Iran deal. Photo: AP President Obama’s policy — well, his lack of one — when it comes to confronting America’s enemies was on full and embarrassing display Tuesday. First, the president unveiled his long-delayed plan to close the terrorist-detention center at Guantanamo Bay, saying that keeping it open is “contrary to our values.” It was dead before arrival. Even Democrats weren’t rushing to endorse it. After all, just three months ago Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans moving the detainees to the United States. (The Senate vote was 91-3.) And moving them here is the only way to close Gitmo. Second, Secretary of State John Kerry conceded that his much-touted ceasefire in Syria, set to take effect Saturday, “may be” little more than what a Democratic senator called a “rope-a-dope deal.” With Washington as the dope. “I’m not going to vouch for this,” said Kerry. With good reason: It doesn’t cover ISIS, the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and other terrorist groups — nor anyone who cares to fire at them. For months, Russia’s been bombing anyone it wants to while claiming to be targeting ISIS. Plus, no one knows how (or even if) violations will be handled. The whole thing depends on the good will of Iran, Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin — who’s sure to continue airstrikes against anti-Assad forces. The Gitmo plan is just as hollow — and with even less justification, despite the president’s repeated and dubious claims. The remaining detainees aren’t “low risk” — those were mostly freed before Obama took office. They’re very much high-risk — like the five top Taliban commanders Obama sprang in exchange for Bowe Berghdal, who now faces court-martial for desertion. On Tuesday, in fact, a Gitmo “alum” was arrested by Spanish officials, who said he was part of an ISIS recruiting cell. Just more proof that when it comes to threats to the nation, this president lives in the land of make-believe. __._,_.___ ------------------------------ Posted by: "Beowulf" <[email protected]> ------------------------------ Visit Your Group <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/grendelreport/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMTAzcjVkBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0NTYzMjI3NDY-> [image: Yahoo! Groups] <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNXB1aTlvBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ1NjMyMjc0Ng--> • Privacy <https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html> • Unsubscribe <[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe> • Terms of Use <https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/> __,_._,___ -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
