Apparently Obama’s strategy of meddling with our allies and sucking up to our enemies is having negative consequences. How does that make any sense?
For six decades, [it's] been more or less certain in Japanese politics that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) would run the show… [but] the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) poised to take power in next month’s elections… And it’s not clear that the Obama administration knows what’s about to hit them… In the event of an LDP loss next month, the Obama administration will be forced to grapple in the near term with the DPJ’s pledge to renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)… As part of these discussions, Japan will insist on renegotiating the way the two countries share the cost of the U.S. military presence in Japan.
The good news is that Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Kurt Campbell is one of Japan’s most trusted friends in Washington… The bad news is that President Obama has pursued an Asia policy that in many ways seems divorced from the strategy pursued by the Clinton administration in which Dr. Campbell previously served — a strategy he has described as an “allies-first” Asia policy… The Bush administration pursued a geopolitical project in Asia that, while building a stable and productive relationship with China, worked to shape Asia’s strategic evolution by strengthening the alliance with Japan; expanding Japan’s alliance roles and responsibilities to make that country a global security leader.
See? That’s the thing about taking a petulant group of September 10 experts and distributing them throughout the diplomatic corps. At some point things are not going to be like the Clinton years, but these tools will blindly insist otherwise. And then they might be inclined to craft an “allies last” strategy and approach hardened ideological enemies with sweet nothings, development assistance, and appeasement. Cf. Iran.
At least Japan isn’t a country with a history of becoming nationalistic during economic downturns in response to percieved geopolitical threats. If that was the case – and if we were entering such a downturn while they were worried about China and North Korea – we might have a recipe for North Pacific instability. How much would that suck?
References:
* The coming tsunami from Japan [FP Shadow Gov't]
Previously:
* Politico: Obama "Takes Tough Stance On Iran" By Urging Engagement
* Obama Continues Pattern Of Sophisticated Phone Calls With Post-Inauguration First Call To Holocaust Denier, Erstwhile Terrorist
* Dumbest Quote About International Diplomacy. Ever.
