"The whole notion was that if we showed courtesy or opened up dialogue with governments that had previously been hostile to us, that that somehow would be a sign of weakness," Obama said, recalling his race for the White House and challenging his critics today.
"The American people didn't buy it," Obama said. "And there's a good reason the American people didn't buy it — because it doesn't make sense."
Oh, our president was so close to making sense.
The problem comes with President Obama's statement that it makes sense to reach out to governments previously hostile to us and his actual action of reaching out to governments currently hostile to us.
I'd have no problem with the president reaching out to governments no longer hostile to us. But that isn't what he is doing, is it?
Yes, I know I'm reaching for nuance to distinguish those subtle differences, but do ponder the difference.
UPDATE: The problem of reaching out to our current--not former--foes is that those who oppose our foes feel undermined and left adrift:
Opponents of Hugo Chavez on Sunday urged President Barack Obama not to warm up to their president without also addressing their concerns about democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
"The president's authoritarianism, which grows everyday, must be discussed," said Milos Alcalay, who was Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations until he resigned in 2004 over differences with Chavez.
Friends suffer when we reach out to enemies. How this strengthens America is beyond me.
