Winston-Salem Journal LTE FR 09/21/12

Sum It Up

The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Are you satisfied with President Obama's handling of foreign policy?

I am quite satisfied with President Obama's foreign policy. He has shown a mature, measured approach to volatile situations, as well as raising our image where the prior administration had shown poor judgment toward our strongest allies in Europe. I am grateful that we have not rushed into another “Iraq” based on inconclusive evidence, costing our country billions of dollars and, worst of all, thousands of precious lives.

ROBYN MIXON

Generally speaking, there is not a Republican foreign policy or a Democratic foreign policy. There is only the American foreign policy. Nevertheless, the Obama administration uses military might more judiciously and is more focused on al-Qaida. The administration also shows more sensitivity toward other nations and thus regains the respect of the world and enhances America’s position as a leading world power. Narrowly speaking, the current protest against the anti-Muslim film across the Islamic countries has no direct link to American foreign policy. It is a religious uproar that could happen regardless which party is in the White House.

BOON T. LEE

Hmm. I'm not sure. Are the people who killed our ambassador the same people President Obama gave U.S. air cover without the approval of Congress?

SMITH M. HAGAMAN

Absolutely yes! We are out of Iraq, we are getting out of Afghanistan, bin Laden and many of his operatives are dead, we are not at war with Iran.

The president is criticized for dealing diplomatically with other countries, but that is smart, not weak. Do we want another war or do we want a president who is tough but diplomatic?

It is easy enough as a candidate to say what you would do, but when the lives and well being of the American people are your responsibility, it is wise to aim long and hard before you shoot. At least, that is what we would hope for in a president.

CYNTHIA GOUGH NANCE

Yes, he's doing the best he can, with what he has to work with, especially trying to avoid war with Iran, which Romney seems to want.

WILLIAM SAMS

The president's foreign policy is clearly working. Many more radical Islamists are feeling good about themselves now.

DEB PHILLIPS

Have you been reading the newspapers and watching TV? We are being attacked and killed all over the world. It seems that everybody hates us. Now, this is not good foreign policy.

ROBERT VERDINEK

He has no foreign policy. In fact he has no policy, period!

DONALD R. CREWS

Very much so. At least he thinks before he speaks, opposed to the goof-ups of Mitt Romney saying that Russia is our number one geopolitical foe, or misquoting the president on the embassy attack, never mind the facts.

Either they don't have a clue about foreign policy or they have Sarah Palin for their advisor.

NAOMI J. DAVIS

President Obama has handled foreign policy for this country very well. People like Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney are quick to criticize ,but I have not heard them put out specific ways of how they would do things better.

The world is in turmoil and after the Arab Spring, many countries in the Middle East are evolving to new governments. So caution is the best option for now. Walking softly and carrying a big stick should pay off in the long haul, which is what President Obama is doing.

THOMAS W. MURRAY

No. All that remains now is hope and change in a successor.

LLOYD V. EVANS II

Generally, yes. Obama is a Jeffersonian/Wilsonian trying to manage foreign policy with the lowest risks possible, typical of the large strategies of George Kennan's Cold War idea of containment and the Monroe Doctrine. The Jeffersonian response often strikes people as too passive, hence the criticism from the far right, but after several decades of the Jacksonian approach, we need restraint to prevent what historian Paul Kennedy calls “imperial overstretch” by ensuring that America's foreign-policy ends are proportionate to its means.

KAM BENFIELD

I fully agree with President Obama's foreign policy. He recognizes the strength of diplomacy. He also recognizes that acting like an arrogant bully evokes hatred and resentment, not respect and trust.

J.G. WRIGHT

No. Uh … does he have a foreign policy?

BECKY ANDERSON

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