Shaking the hand of a dictator that has ordered Americans killed and has helped maintain an atrocious human rights record for a half-century is unforgiveable. Like Jane Fonda sitting atop a Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun, President Obama has, in one shutter click, betrayed countless Americans and handed our enemies a tremendous propaganda tool.
Greg Campbell, TPNN Political Analyst — On Tuesday, President Obama shook hands and caroused with despots and tyrants around the world at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. While the President certainly cannot be blamed for who was in attendance, the overly-cavalier attitude with our enemies is indicative of a president whose foreign policy has been remarkably weak and whose commitment to America-first policies has been the subject of great debate.Notably, the President has received criticism for the photo making the rounds where Obama is seen shaking the hand of Cuban dictator Raul Castro. The White House has tried to desperately spin this photo as a benign meeting, but contrary to what the Obama Administration would have Americans believe, this is a very big deal.
A top White House aide tried to downplay the significance, saying that the two just merely met and exchanged handshakes. The aide insisted that there is not substantive discussion to be had concerning the handshake.
First and foremost, it was not merely a handshake, but a handshake coupled with a bow. Though it may seem petty or unimportant, the respect shown to world leaders is something that commands attention from our Commander-in-Chief, the top spokesman for our country on the world stage. Shaking the hands of dictators with American blood on them is a dramatic betrayal of all Americans.
In 1996, Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul, was Minister of Defense for Cuba and cold-bloodedly shot down two U.S. civilian planes over international airspace that carried four American rescue workers. Even the Democrat President Bill Clinton condemned the act as cowardly as the Castro brothers hailed the Cuban pilots as heroes.
Noting this incident, Otto Reich of the National Review wrote,
There is no moral equivalence between the leader of the free world and the leader of a morally bankrupt military dictatorship that holds power only by force.
The Castro brothers have been vying for the world to see a handshake with a U.S. president for over 50 years. (President Clinton did shake hands with Fidel at a U.N. summit in 2000, but there was no photo.) They knew it would represent a form of recognition, something they forfeited by virtue of presiding over a military dictatorship, and their support for violence and anti-American terrorist movements and governments on three continents.
Until now, every American president had studiously avoided this mistake: At U.N. and other gatherings U.S. Secret Service and diplomats were under orders to make sure such a “photo op” so highly desired by the Castros did not happen.
With his action President Obama has squandered U.S. prestige and honor.
The President’s bow and handshake, as insignificant as it may seem to courteous Americans, is emblematic of a much greater issue. Obama, as president, has received well-deserved criticisms for what has become known as his “apology tours” where the President has assumed a decidedly soft approach when explaining the role of the United States in the world.
Shaking the hand of a dictator that has ordered Americans killed and has helped maintain an atrocious human rights record for a half-century is unforgiveable. Like Jane Fonda sitting atop a Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun, President Obama has, in one shutter click, betrayed countless Americans and handed our enemies a tremendous propaganda tool.
While many Americans rightfully hold animosity toward “Hanoi Jane” Fonda, it should be noted that she was a young actress- not the supposed leader of this country. » Full Article
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About The Post Author, Greg Campbell
A former contributor for The Oregon Commentator, a conservative journal of opinion, Greg is the Chief Political Analyst and Correspondent for The Tea Party News Network, and a regular contributor for RightWing News and DustinStockton.com. His main field of expertise is firearms and Second Amendment-related issues. He lives in the Northwest with his wife, Heather, and enjoys writing, marksmanship and the outdoors.
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