The behavior of U.S. representatives at the Durban II planning session is appalling on its own terms but is consistent with an emerging pattern noted by Victor Davis Hanson yesterday. From President Obama’s apologetic al Arabiya interview, to Vice President Biden’s desire to press the “reset button” on foreign relations, to Secretary Clinton’s denigration of U.S. policy pre-Obama, the Obama administration’s default position is to concede American culpability and lack of moral authority.
That the U.S. would give the appearance of groveling before the likes of Iran, Libya, and Cuba on drafting human-rights related documents is bad enough. A more serious problem, however, is that the administration’s serial genuflections before the Blame America First crowd (Foreign Division) may convey a lack of certitude and resolve. It’s not especially helpful for America to be perceived as a “weak horse.”