Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is asking President Obama to deliver a hat tip to his brother George W. Bush — noting that in many ways Obama’s foreign policy was “modeled after” Bush’s.
As you’ll recall, Obama ran for in 2008, vowing to undo the foreign policy decisions of his predecessor. He promised to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, end the use of torture in interrogations, stop the practice of indefinite detention, end the wars in the middle east — and adopt a friendlier attitude to the world.
Upon entering office, however, some of those promises turned out to be little but the strong Chicago wind.
Guantanamo’s still open for business.
Indefinite detentions? Still a regular practice.
Afghanistan? We’re still there, and will be until 2014 at the earliest.
In some ways, President Obama has actually ratcheted up Bush’s policies. Drone warfare, for example, has increased. This might be a good thing or a bad thing — but it is interesting to note the relative (with a few prominent exceptions) lack of criticism emanating from the left.
When talking to his base, the president will claim he wanted to honor his pledges. But he’s the president. Campaign promises aren’t made with disclaimers — “I’ll do this, but only if it’s cool with everyone.”
Sorry, Mr. President, but it’s a tough world. You can’t have it both ways.