By Selwyn Duke

When it comes to foreign affairs,
Barack Obama may be learning that a policy of apologizing profusely, bowing low
and carry a small stick doesn’t get you as far as realpolitik. In fact, this
victory in personal growth may be the only thing he could possibly take away
from his recent trip to Asia, as other victories proved elusive. As Gabor
Steingart of Der Spiegel wrote:

In
Tokyo, the new center-left government . . . pulled out of its participation in
a mission which saw the Japanese navy refueling US warships in the Indian Ocean
as part of the Afghanistan campaign. In Beijing, Obama failed to achieve any
important concessions whatsoever. There will be no binding commitments from
China to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A revaluation of the Chinese
currency, which is kept artificially weak, has been postponed. Sanctions
against Iran? Not a chance. Nuclear disarmament? Not an issue for the Chinese.

The
White House did not even stand up for itself when it came to the question of
human rights in China.

. .
. Obama's new foreign policy has also been relatively unsuccessful elsewhere,
with even friends like Israel leaving him high and dry.

Read the rest here.