As President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign has trumpeted successes abroad — such as Osama Bin Laden’s death, a crippled al-Qaeda and the end to the Iraq War — as examples of Obama’s leadership, new challenges abroad threaten Obama’s near-perfect foreign policy record.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is the increased tensions between Israel and Iran. Amidst new speculation that Israel may launch a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, questions surround the Obama administration’s response.
It’s certainly a delicate issue. The Obama administration certainly does not want to be dragged into a potential conflict with Iran and thus will continue to pursue a strategy of peaceful diplomacy.
However, the administration wants to maintain America’s image as a loyal friend of Israel. By not standing up for Israel, Obama risks providing ammunition for the eventual Republican nominee who will try to seize Jewish support that Obama overwhelmingly won in 2008.
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