Comment – Opinion. If you read my posts you will know that it has been my observation and contention that this President is more inept in the arena of foreign affairs than Sarah Palin was ever accused of. The Wall Street Journal’s Washington D.C. Correspondent, Jonathan Weisman, said in a newscast, (July 2, 2009 – viewable on the wsj.com), that Obama has appointed ambassadorships to his biggest donors, filling 13 of the 18 posts to his supporters and only 5 of the 18 to career foreign service officers. What is noteworthy of this move is that,(according to Weisman), Obama broke his campaign promise, (one of many so far), to curtail involvement of political supporters and lobbyists to government positions.
Now to the heart of the matter. Obama appointed his biggest fund-raiser John Roos, San Francisco Bay Area Lawyer and his biggest Silicone Valley fundraiser, (according to Weisman), Ambassador to Japan; Roos has no diplomatic experience or skills and cannot speak Japanese. The Japanese consider this a backhand slap that Obama, (once again proving his lack of foreign culture and political systems), would make this kind of appointment. The Japanese who are very sensitive to cultural perception, possibly believe that Obama may not think them important enough to appoint someone experienced in diplomatic affairs, rather than a political syncophant like Roos.
In summary, it seems to me, that once again this President has proven himself not up to task when it comes to understanding the complexities and sensitivities inherent in diplomatic affairs. Just my opinion.
Beaudreaux
