The sun sets on the Pax Americana

There are a number of opinion pieces referring to the recent Syria as a foreign policy disaster for the Obama Administration and consequently for the US:

From the Weekly Standard:

This revealed to Putin Obama’s real liability, his vanity. Obama always needs to look good. He will embrace defeat so long as he can still imagine himself a handsome princeling. After pushing Obama around for five years, now Putin escorts him out of the Middle East. Here, friend, take my hand. Let me help you to the sidelines.

From David Samuels at the Tablet:

By showing that Obama’s America is unable and unwilling to keep its promises, Putin has widened the leadership void in the Middle East – as a prelude to filling it himself. 

Reagan advisor Bing West at NRO:

Russia gains prestige and influence. 

Assad gains security. Iran secures its links. The U.S. loses global influence and leaves its longstanding friends in the region angry and frustrated. The mainstream press praises Kerry and endorses Mr. Obama’s speech tonight as sound and reasonable.

From The Globe and Mail (Canada):

Swinging back and forth in his strike sales pitch from a moral to a geostrategic rationale is costing Mr. Obama hearts and minds that he cannot afford to lose in the Middle East. The rhetoric he is using in his efforts to convince constituents at home will further entrench long-standing scepticism of America’s willingness to act multilaterally and guarantee any strike a particularly poor reception in the Arab and Muslim world, much of which has suffered from misguided U.S. geostrategy.

So, it’s a good thing we have a comprehensive energy policy that includes a smart, cost-effective strategy for fossil fuel and overall energy independence…oh wait, nevermind.

Dr. J.