When Vice President Joe Biden predicted that within six months the world would test the Obama administration, he was right. With Obama currently in Europe for the G20 Summit, countries around the world have been preparing to deal with the new government in Washington… in order to ultimately curb American global power. Some for sinister reasons, some for nationalistic reasons, and some for pragmatic reasons, but their approach will be semi-predictable. Those nations with enough either military or economic power , to challenge us (Russia and China respectively) will approach be seen with the president, all smiles, asking for “cooperation.” At the same time, nations lacking the power to pose a significant threat will puff up their feathers, beat their chests, and talk tough. Today, Russia’s Medvedev met with Obama to discuss an arms reduction treaty… but let’s not forget that only a few months ago, Medvedev threatened to start a new arms race by deploying missiles in Eastern Europe if we decide to green light the anti-missile defense shield. In other words, he had his photo op moment with the photogenic head-of-state while holding behind his back the threat of an arms race and all that America has to do is give in to Russia’s demands and no one gets hurt. Good move on their part if you ask me.

Next, you have an upcoming official meeting with China, coming on the heels of announcements that they are less confident in American debt and suggestions of creating a new international reserve currency. Of course, during Clinton’s visit to Asia she signaled that we would not let China’s human rights records get in the way of economic cooperation… pesky human rights, who needs them? I thought that “ending torture” would give us the moral high ground to address other nations’ rights abuses, but I guess not if it gets in the way of business. And so this administration continues to assist in China’s quest for superpower status. Bravo.

On to N. Korea, a concern of mine as of late. This is one of the countries without the ability to threaten us significantly, so they bark and bark and bark. Just today they threatened to shoot down U.S. planes that enter their airspace as they prepare to launch their missile/rocket. Clinton called this an “unfortunate and continuing example of provocation,” and proceeded to wag her finger at Kim Jong Il. “Bad, Kim, bad!” Japan has threatened to shoot down the missile in order to protect its territory and North Korea announced that they would consider this an act of war and would retaliate. Looks like the six-party negotiations are working like a charm. Ain’t dialogue with dictators grand?

And on the terrorism front, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, a Mr. Baitullah Mehsud, threatened yesterday to carry out attacks against the United States on our own soil. Though they are going to focus on Pakistani and Afghani terrorist operations first. This group carried out an attack on a police academy in Pakistan last Monday killing eight cadets, is the prime suspect in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and orchestrated a suicide bomb attack in September 2007 in the city of Rawalpindi near the capital. Just today, a missile attack took place aimed at Mehsud but he reportedly escaped unharmed. What we need to do is get Pakistan to invade that area and/or bring it under control quickly before it becomes too late. Clinton’s, Bush’s, and now Obama’s missile strike strategy have historically not been sufficiently successful in dealing with these terrorists and others around the world. Just ask Israel if their own missile strikes have brought an end to terrorism. There are various other strategies available, such as gaining the support of “moderate” Taliban or boots on the ground to name a couple, that can better deal with the enemy in a shorter period of time. We cannot wait for them to get their act together and hit us at home.

By the looks of it, Biden had a point, we are being tested on every front. Unfortunately, we as Americans did not ask the tough questions and demand to know what this administration would do to meet those threats and challenges. All that I heard was “tough diplomacy” and “invade Pakistan if we have actionable intelligence on bin Laden.” On the former I say, tough talk is just that: talk. And on the latter I say: good luck. In the meantime, how do we make sure that in 4 years we will still be a/the global superpower and not replaced by some authoritarian regime that wants to gobble up its neighbors (read: Russia and/or China)? I fear I may live to see the triumph of evil empires over the promise of American freedom.

-AG