Obama's foreign failings are putting U.S. at greater risk - II

Russia is also in the business of selling arms to potential foes of America, including China, Iran, Syria and Venezuela. Of proliferation concern, Moscow is building Tehran's first nuclear reactor and has offered them to Caracas, too.

Even more troubling in the eyes of many, the Obama-viks knuckled under to the Russkies on the proposed, Europe-based, Bush-era missile defense system (see “Another Foreign-Policy Fumble,” December 2009).

The U.S.' Eastern and Central European allies and friends now increasingly feel Obama is abandoning them as he acquiesces to the growing shadow of a Russian sphere of influence in Moscow's old territory. In fact, America's fawning over Russia since Obama entered office has left these nations, especially Poland, wondering about the country's commitment to their security under NATO, in stark contrast to the Bush years.

The fact that Obama sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Germany for the November celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall — instead of going himself — only bolstered the notion of seeming indifference.

Not to mention, Washington has fully engaged Moscow despite the fact Russia has increased troop levels and announced new bases on the Georgian territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in violation of the 2008 cease-fire pact. Obama has also put NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine on ice.

It's no wonder some 20 former senior officials from the region boldly expressed concern about current U.S. policies in their part of the world in an open letter to President Obama last summer.

Despite White House efforts, the Kremlin clearly hasn't hit Obama's reset button, aimed toward improving relations and cooperation on issues such as Iran's nuclear program. For Moscow, a “reboot” in relations instead means a significant retreat for Washington's interests in Europe and elsewhere in the face of a resurgent Russia.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what the current administration seems willing to do. Worse yet, it's not just there, but closer to home as well.

Losing Latin America

With dictators on the rise, democracy under assault and foreign powers making inroads in Latin America, it's not evident the Obamanistas have a plan for dealing with it, other than with more of its “have a Coke and a smile” approach to foreign policy.

Topping the list of issues, not surprisingly, is Venezuela, a major thorn in America's side for some time now, which has only gotten worse over the last year.

Venezuela's caudillo President Hugo Chavez continues nationalizing the economy, muzzling the media and corralling any political opposition into his one-party state.

But that's not all.

This year, the Chavistas were fingered providing weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a narco-terrorist group, which has been fighting the Colombian government, a major U.S. ally, for years.

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