President Obama Making the Grade on Foreign Policy?

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As for -- eleven comes to a close and with the -- twelve presidential election less than a year away.

Photos are beginning to be reminded of the many foreign policy -- -- a President Obama.

From the abrupt US withdrawal from Iraq which of is have been in nineteen a rash of violence.

To the administrations and decisive approach and addressing the nuclear crisis in Iran -- thing his -- This White House does not have had to have a handle on what it takes to create a successful.

Foreign policy strategy.

And all of these missteps by the president on the world stage of apparently emboldened the regime in Iran because yet again today we had threats from Tehran.

That any additional sanctions on its oil shipments would result in the Iranian navy closing the Strait of Hormuz a major oil transportation -- it.

Joining me now with the latest on this very serious threat -- our national security is -- US ambassador to the United Nations and Fox News contributor.

John Bolton.

Sean this Saber rattling from Iran is set is merely a taste of -- things are gonna go if they actually do succeeding -- I mean there isn't.

Well exactly I think this is largely a bluff I think the Iran in military knows that if they actually tried to close the straits of Hormuz.

They would find their navy on the bottom of the sea in two or three days and suffer substantial.

Additional damage to their air defenses and to their air force.

So I think you have to see this in the context of their concern about a military strike against their nuclear weapons program and -- is a concern about economic sanctions.

But -- -- -- psychologically.

Things have deteriorated over the over the last three years or so much of the world accepts the fact that Iran is going nuclear.

And that so what -- reason we lacked the will to prevent.

I think that's exactly right I think the Iran and see a very weak president in Washington somebody that they do not believe -- use military force against the program.

So this thread I think they've given that.

The economy and and the impact that a cut off of -- -- dramatic spike in prices would have.

They're trying to intimidate the Obama White House are also trying to intimidate our European friends many in Germany and Italy for example who don't want stricter sanctions anyway.

And meanwhile across the -- there in Iraq.

Twenty minutes after the United States.

Withdrawals from Iraq it's it's party time -- again that Babylon stuff up.

They feel emboldened that the United States is not AA cannot.

Politically.

Stepped back in to Iraq and that it's now up to them head to -- out what message does that send to the -- Middle East.

Well it set a terrible message that this withdrawal of American forces was a catastrophic.

Move by President Obama.

It's already as you rightly say having FX inside Iraq all of the negative from the US perspective it sends a signal of weakness to Iran.

It worries our Arab friends on the Arabian Peninsula.

It worries -- -- and in fact it should worry just about everybody because of the a broader implications for a second Obama term if he's reelected.

You coined the phrase to describe.

This -- and you called him a post American precedent.

In his view of the -- And in the in the presidential palaces.

Around the planet people seem to have taken that -- a -- in a sense there.

Whether consciously or not there -- adjusting to post American world.

Well precisely they see a weak president they see somebody who really doesn't care that much about foreign policy not that concerned.

With challenges abroad the first American president since Franklin Roosevelt.

To move in that direction and I have free calibrated there.

Challenges and I think the pace in the scope of those challenges will pick up in a second term the only answer Obama has is.

That may be as seal team six killed Osama bin Laden but that's not a foreign policy that's something that.

99 point 99% of the American people would have done if they'd been able to give that order so I think the president's weakness on foreign policy.

Is now coming to the for better late than never I suppose is a campaign issue I think it's terribly important that we elect a real commander in chief next November.

But if you are in Beijing.

If you are in Moscow.

If you weigh in Tehran.

You'd be figuring -- and Obama's second time and by the end of that -- pretty much have the run of the planet or at least you'll region.

Well that or if you're worried that maybe Obama is not gonna get a second term that argues to make your challenge is now.

To take advantage of the weakness that's why I think the debate on the Republican side is so important and why.

When when I C -- have to be candidate candidate like Ron Paul whose foreign policy is if anything worse than the Obama administration.

Apparently leaving in Iowa according to some polls it just gives me great concern.

Doesn't that -- get to the hot all of the -- on the right.

That we have the world's greatest military were responsible for 43% to planetary military expenditure.

We can go in that we can topple the regime.

But we -- the strategic clarity to enforce our will on these nations and we shall sold will -- -- in Afghanistan.

After an American retreat the same thing we see to the American withdrawal in Iraq that's the critique from the right.

Well I think we don't have strategic purpose anymore I think the president lacks that clarity and that's one reason why I've.

Argued before we need more of a debate in this presidential contest on foreign policy we have not had enough.

On the Republican side and as the president's weakness goes ever more apparent internationally I think voters need to know what their alternatives are.

And what would you -- A in terms of where the debate is then because obviously as soon as you said in Iowa it looks like that.

They're gonna -- followed by quite an impressive mountain.

Forum for a guy who is in favor of a nineteenth century isolationist.

Republic that stays -- from the world's Qualls.

Well you know we've got six days to go in the way this race is gone almost anything can happen but I guess I'd say to people who look at Ron Paul and had some.

Measure of support for his domestic policies on the libertarian side I'd have to say look -- Consider myself pretty libertarian but you cannot live in fantasy land the rest of the world.

Is not gonna leave us alone and we need a commander in chief who understands that a Ron Paul president would simply not address the challenges we face so if you're thinking about.

Ron Paul because of his domestic.

Issues think again look at virtually any of the other candidates and consider.

How they would be as commander in chief that's the president's first duty defending the country.

Thanks very much --

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