Hillary Clinton and the Brits Dump on Indecisive, Weak Obama

Obama's "yes we can" slogan replaced by "maybe we shouldn't?"

Leaks from behind the scenes at Hillary Clinton's State Department reveal the rift between Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama. In an article titled "Oh HILL No" these nuggets stand out:

“Obviously, she’s not happy with dealing with a president who can’t decide if today is Tuesday or Wednesday, who can’t make his mind up,” a Clinton insider told The Daily. “She’s exhausted, tired.”
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Or as the insider described Obama’s foreign policy shop: “It’s amateur night.”

Hillary also made it clear that no matter whether Obama is re-elected in 2012 or not she intends to resign as Secretary of State and will not serve another term.

As frustrated as Hillary Clinton is with Obama, the frustration in Europe is even more intense. The Europeans who love to complain about the heavy handed American leadership of the Bush years are now complaining about the even worse lack of leadership on the part of Obama. This from the Daily Express, a British newspaper:

BARACK OBAMA: THE WEAKEST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY?
By Anna Pukas
The Daily Express
Friday March 18,2011

INEFFECTUAL, invisible, unable to honour pledges and now blamed for letting Gaddafi off the hook. Why Obama’s gone from ‘Yes we can’ to ‘Er, maybe we shouldn’t’...
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Obama’s campaign slogan was mesmerisingly 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 his indecision. What should the US do about Libya? What should the US do about the Middle East in general? What about the country’s crippling debts? What is the US going to do about Afghanistan, about Iran?

What is President Obama doing about anything? The most alarming answer – your guess is as good as mine – is also, frankly, the most accurate one. What the President is not doing is being clear, resolute and pro-active, which is surely a big part of his job description. This is what he has to say about the popular uprising in Libya: “Gaddafi must go.” At least, that was his position on March 3.

Since then, other countries – most notably Britain and France – have been calling for some kind of intervention. Even the Arab League, a notoriously conservative organisation, has declared support for sanctions. But from the White House has come only the blah-blah of bland statements filled with meaningless expressions and vague phrases. Of decisive action and leadership – even of clearly defined opinion – there is precious little sign.

The comments section for that article are a treat in themselves. Americans are writing in to tell the Brits, many of whom hopped on the hope and change bandwagon "we told you so."

What is heartening is that despite Obama's winning the Nobel Peace Prize for doing absolutely nothing (the Norwegians should ask for it back) the rest of the world is slowly waking up to what the rest of us knew all along. Unfortunately, Obama is in a position to continue damaging U.S. foreign and domestic policy for a little less than two years. I can't wait until January 2013!

Thanks Ken Taylor on Facebook for finding the cartoon!