After Five Years What Is The Obama Doctrine?

The absence of decision is not proof of pondering.

People are taking to the idea that Obama is exhibiting some grand master chess playing in foreign policy. It's the only way, I think, they can explain his thinking for there really is no articulated foreign policy philosophy. "Thinking his way through" and "winging" things because "things change in a heartbeat" is not a strategy.

A couple of comments I've noticed these at WaPo:

"Would you want him to do the decider and get us in another war? At least the president is thinking things out before he rushes in like they did when they said their were weapons of mass destruction."

What a bunch of baloney. He was given a gift by way of a John Kerry gaffe. Nothing more. I find that Assad on 60 Minutes sent a strong message perhaps overlooked. He claims he's fighting terrorism in his homeland no different than what the Americans did after 9/11. He also laid it out that the Americans were supporting terrorism in Syria. Them strong words - and with validity.

If true, Obama has calculated it's better to support Al-Queda backed rebels who in turn are backed by Iran because Assad used chemical weapons against his own people (possibly looking to stick the blame on the rebels)? 

"In Republican fantasyland it is seen as a sign of strength and intellect when you make a decision in 30 seconds and never change your mind in the face of changing dynamics and overwhelming evidence. In the real world this gets people killed. Fortunately, this president lives in the real world. Marc's former boss? Not so much...

Yeah, well I don't seem to recall Bush getting that benefit from liberals.

In any event, I wouldn't classify Syria as 'fast moving.' I think that game has been at play for quite some time.

Say what you want, next to Obama Bush's doctrine was more clear minded. The world knew where the Americans stood during his administration. 

Nah. Obama likes to speak first and deny later.  He seems to debate himself more than anything while blaming and demonizing whatever he can't solve or rationalize. 

It's cover your ass governance all the way.

Obama doesn't consider any potential after shocks attached to his rhetoric or actions abroad. Everything he does is calibrated for domestic purposes. It's all about his power and little else. He was supposed to 'reset' America's place and credibility in the world. America's place remains as it is (whatever that may be) but Obama's legacy is fast becoming forgetful.

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Another example of Obama's inability to govern with 'common sense' (a term he likes to use) was the obtuse politicking hours after the Washington shooting. In what was supposed to be a speech on the economy turned into a rant against Republicans.

After making his case that he laid the foundations for a better economy in the future and offering data to defend his current policies, he could have just said "there's much to do and I will see to it we get it done."

See how simple that is? You don't need a degree or former aides or a course in rational thought to say that. That's, well, just common sense.

Instead, he continuously chose to chastise his opponents rather than take the high road.