WSJ: Bush Troubles at Home May Impair Power Abroad

[question everything]

Bush Troubles at Home May Impair Power Abroad

Hurdles Rise on Trade Pacts, Nuclear Threats, Bringing Shift to Seeking Out Allies
By GERALD F. SEIB and NEIL KING JR.
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 31, 2005; Page A1

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But that kind of story doesn't end at the water's edge: In recent weeks, there have been the first hints that a weakened president also is starting to find it harder to get his way around the world.

At the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.S. last month found itself unable to push through a proposal it championed to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions over its nuclear program. Instead, in a body where resolutions normally pass unanimously, 12 of the 35 countries represented abstained, and one -- Venezuela -- voted no. Among the abstainers were Brazil, China, Pakistan, Russia and South Africa.

Last month, in Geneva, the U.S. received a stiff rebuke at a U.N. gathering on digital technologies when the European Union sided with most other countries in a move to assert international control over the Internet, which is currently administered by a private concern under the eyes of the Commerce Department. While vowing to resist changes, U.S. officials said they were nonetheless shocked that even the EU had abandoned Washington's push to maintain the status quo.

As those straws in the wind suggest, an American president's domestic situation often slops over into his diplomatic position as well. Less than three years ago, friends and foes alike were fretting that an overly muscular America was imposing its will around the globe. Today, they are pondering the quite different question of what the international consequences might be of an America weighed down by problems and tempted to turn inward.

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Write to Gerald F. Seib at [e-mail] and Neil King Jr. at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113072755784783940.html (subscription)

[butterfly77]

1. What power>

he pays off everyone over their to do his bidding with their people. In Iraq the puppet government is like the gov over here they are stealing and being paid to lie to their people, they are reading bush er...I mean cheney's script because bush dosen't know how to write on or what to put in it.

[Kolesar]

2. "You are either with the President or you are with the terrrorists"

:nuke: :nuke: :hide: :nuke: :nuke:

[cliss]

3. Because that stupid idiot Bush has been in power,

the U.S. has become weakened. I read about some trade groups on Central & South America that met recently. They basically kicked sand in the US's face. The article said that "US delegates were incredibly disappointed about being let down".

In the India Times magazine, there was an article about the US calling the Indian envoy to the U.N. "an imbecile" and "mentally deficient". I couldn't believe it when I read it. The Hindus tries to smooth things over, saying that the U.S. was "stressed" and "under pressure". Under pressure? I guess so. The article called the U.S. an "aggressive bully".

With a leader like Bush, who wouldn't be.

Now in my opinion, dragging our name in the dirt is not NEARLY as bad as our perceived loss of power. What about the countries who want to harm us? Like North Korea, or China or maybe Russia. They see this idiot at the helm, and they think.......

"Let's watch this clown. He may provide us with an interesting opportunity....."

[tocqueville]

4. they are right, it's already the case

a weak President with internal troubles has always difficulties in implementing his foreign policy. The winners right now are Iran, China, Russia and to a certain extent the EU.

it can be an argument to have him REMOVED since he is a liability to his country, since the argument "RALLY" isn't plausible anymore.