Promises Made, Promises Broken: Foreign Policy

During The 2008 Debates, Obama Made Serious Promises On Foreign Policy That He Has Failed To Keep

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RESTORING AMERICA’S STANDING IN THE WORLD

PROMISE: Obama Promised That “One Of The Things That I Intend To Do As President Is To Restore America’s Standing In The World”

Obama Promised That “One Of The Things That I Intend To Do As President Is To Restore America’s Standing In The World.” OBAMA: “And one last point I want to make. It is important for us to understand that the way we are perceived in the world is going to make a difference, in terms of our capacity to get cooperation and root out terrorism. And one of the things that I intend to do as president is to restore America’s standing in the world. We are less respected now than we were eight years ago or even four years ago.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks During The First Presidential Debate, Oxford, MS, 9/26/08)

BROKEN: Obama Has Not Restored America’s Standing In The World

Obama Has “Not Managed To Radically Transform America’s Standing In The World Through The Illuminating Force Of His Biography Or Personality.” “When presidential candidate Barack Obama swept into Europe in 2008, television screens showed massive, adoring crowds. But the latest TV images from abroad are far more ominous: mobs in the Muslim world besieging U.S. embassies, torching American flags and even burning Obama himself in effigy. The two sets of images show a gap between aspirations and reality: A president who is popular overseas has not managed to radically transform America’s standing in the world through the illuminating force of his biography or personality.” (Josh Gerstein, “World’s Obama Fever Cools,” Politico, 9/21/12)

Obama’s International Popularity “Has Dimmed In Much Of The World.” “As Obama prepares to stand for reelection, the surge in good feeling toward the U.S. that he ushered in has dimmed in much of the world. And evidence is scant that his popularity has advanced U.S. interests with America’s allies or its adversaries in a tangible way.” (Josh Gerstein, “World’s Obama Fever Cools,” Politico, 9/21/12)

• Global Opinion Of Obama’s International Policies “Has Declined Dramatically Since 2009.” “Global opinion of President Barack Obama has declined dramatically since 2009, according to a new survey of the president and his policies in 21 countries. Approval of Obama’s international policies has dropped from 78 percent to 63 percent in Europe; from 34 percent to 15 percent in Muslim Countries; from 40 percent to 22 percent in Russia; and from 57 percent to 27 percent in China, reports the Pew Global Attitudes Project.” (Tim Mak, “World Poll: Chill On Obama Policies,”Politico, 6/13/12)
• Only 20 Percent Of Adults In 12 Countries Across The Middle East And North Africa Approve Of Obama’s Leadership. “Approval of U.S. leadership in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region was already slipping before the recent wave of anti-U.S. protests across the region. An average of 20% of adults across 12 MENA countries Gallup surveyed between January and May 2012 approved of the job performance of the leadership of the U.S. This rating was down from 22% in 2011 and 25% during the first two years of President Barack Obama’s term.” (Jan Sonnenschein and Mohamed Younis, “U.S. Approval Eroding In MENA Before Film Controversy,” Gallup, 9/24/12)

Under Obama, “America’s Image Is Again In Decline, Especially In The Middle East.”“But while polls show Obama remains personally popular in many parts of the world, America’s image is again in decline, especially in the Middle East, the focus of intense personal outreach at the start of the president’s term.” (Matt Spetalnick, “Obama Foreign Policy Bright Spot Now Looking Dimmer,” Reuters, 9/23/12)

CRACKING DOWN ON CHINA’S UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

PROMISE: Obama Said He Would Label China A Currency Manipulator

Obama Promised To Enforce The Rules Against Chinese Currency Manipulation.OBAMA: “In the same way that we should enforce rules against China manipulating its currency to make our exports more expensive and their exports to us cheaper.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks During The Third Presidential Debate, Hempstead, NY, 10/15/08)

BROKEN: Obama Said Labeling China A Currency Manipulator Would Have No Effect And That He Didn’t Want To “Embarrass” China

Asked About China’s Currency Manipulation And Unfair Trade Practices, Obama Said That He Did Not Want To “Embarrass” China. “President Barack Obama, addressing questions Wednesday about China’s alleged trade abuses and currency manipulation, said the United States must push back against unfair practices but not ‘go out of our way to embarrass’ the country. Doing so would risk ‘an all-out trade war,’ Obama told The Plain Dealer in an exclusive interview.” (Henry Gomez, “President Barack Obama Warns Against Embarrassing China On Trade Complaints: Plain Dealer Interview,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/27/12)

Obama Claimed That Labeling China As A Currency Manipulator Would Have No Effect On Their Trade Practices. “Asked if the tag would present the embarrassment he is hoping to spare China, Obama suggested that the designation would accomplish little. ‘They’d have to push back, and there’s no automatic trigger that results from it,’ Obama said. ‘So the only thing that happens is we then have to go back and negotiate with them. The key here is just constant pressure, and that’s what we’ve applied in a much more aggressive way than the previous administration.'” (Henry Gomez, “President Barack Obama Warns Against Embarrassing China On Trade Complaints: Plain Dealer Interview,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/27/12)

The Treasury Department Said That China “Did Not Meet The Definition Of A Currency Manipulator Under Its Standards.” “The Treasury Department on Friday once again declined to name China a currency manipulator despite bipartisan calls for action from Congress. Treasury noted that China’s currency has appreciated against the dollar since June 2010, and said it did not meet the definition of a currency manipulator under its standards.” (Julian Pecquet, “Treasury: China Not Manipulating Currency,”The Hill , 5/25/12)

• Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “Once Again, The U.S. Treasury Department Has Given China A Free Pass When It Comes To Its Currency Manipulation.” “‘Once again, the U.S. Treasury Department has given China a free pass when it comes to its currency manipulation,’ Brown said. ‘While we’re seeing American manufacturing rebound, China is stepping up its efforts in a number of critical sectors, including clean and solar energy, advanced manufacturing, and auto parts. Addressing China’s currency manipulation is critical to our economic recovery and for job gains, and despite wide bipartisan support in the Senate for legislation that tackles this issue, the U.S. House has failed to act. Speaker Boehner should bring the Currency Exchange and Oversight Reform Act to the floor as soon as possible.'” (Press Release, “Treasury Giving China A ‘Free Pass’ On Currency Manipulation,” Senator Sherrod Brown , 5/25/12)
• Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY): “The Administration Continues To Let China Get Away With Flouting Trade Rules Just For The Sake Of Diplomacy.” “Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has been sponsored legislation that would punish Chinese imports for the undervalued currency, also criticized the administration’s report. ‘The administration continues to let China get away with flouting trade rules just for the sake of diplomacy. Calling out China as a manipulator may be awkward, but it is time to take off the kid glove,’ he said in a statement. ‘With the administration continuing to balk on this, it’s up to Congress to act. The Senate has passed bipartisan legislation to confront China and stand up for American workers, and Speaker Boehner needs to stop sitting on it and give it a vote.'” (Julian Pecquet, “Treasury: China Not Manipulating Currency,” The Hill , 5/25/12)

Once In Office, Obama Retreated From His “Tough Talk” On The Campaign Trail And Decided Not To Label China A Currency Manipulator. “The Treasury Department on Wednesday declined to label China a currency manipulator, retreating from tough talk last year when a campaigning Barack Obama said Beijing had kept its currency’s exchange rate unfairly low.” (Glenn Somerville and Doug Palmer, “U.S. Again Declines To Brand China Currency Manipulator,” Reuters, 4/25/09)

The Washington Post : “China’s Policy Has Probably Cost Americans Hundreds Of Thousands Of Jobs And Contributed To China’s Destabilizing Pile Of Trillions Of Dollars In Reserves.” “China’s undervalued renminbi is a long-standing, bipartisan concern, and it is not a phony one: In pursuit of growth led by exports, China has held the renminbi down in relation to the dollar, rendering its goods artificially cheap in the U.S. market. The renminbi would gain about 20 percent against the dollar if it were allowed to float freely like other currencies, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. China’s policy has probably cost Americans hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributed to China’s destabilizing pile of trillions of dollars in reserves.” (Editorial, “Breaking China? Last Thing Needed Is A Trade War,” The Washington Post, 9/1/11)

• Obama’s Failure To Confront China Cost The United States 450,000 Jobs From 2008 To 2010. “American jobs have been shifting to low-wage countries for years, and the trend has continued during Obama’s presidency. From 2008 to 2010, U.S. trade with China alone cost about 450,000 American jobs because of the growth of Chinese exports, said Robert E. Scott, a pro-labor advocate at the liberal Economic Policy Institute. That figure was less than in previous years, but the decrease was probably tied to the U.S. economic slowdown, which crimped demand for imports. ‘I think he has walked away from the campaign commitments,’ said Scott, the institute’s director of trade and manufacturing policy research. ‘He has done far too little to improve U.S. trade.'” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post , 7/9/12)

Obama’s Treasury Department Delayed Release Of Currency Report That Could Have Branded China A Currency Manipulator, Making It “Unlikely The Report Will Be Released Before The U.S. Presidential Election On November 6.” “The U.S. Treasury on Friday said it would delay a semi-annual currency report until after a meeting of the Group of 20 finance ministers in Mexico on November 4-5, which makes it unlikely the report will be released before the U.S. presidential election on November 6.” (“Romney Hits Obama On China Policies,” Reuters, 10/13/12)

TOUGHER SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

PROMISE: Obama Promised Tougher Sanctions Against Iran Because Of Its Nuclear Program

Obama: “We Do Need Tougher Sanctions.” OBAMA: “Now here’s what we need to do. We do need tougher sanctions. I do not agree with Senator McCain that we’re going to be able to execute the kind of sanctions we need without some cooperation with some countries like Russia and China that are, I think Senator McCain would agree, not democracies, but have extensive trade with Iran but potentially have an interest in making sure Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks During The First Presidential Debate, Oxford, MS, 9/26/08)

BROKEN: Obama Has Resisted Harsher Actions Against Iran During An Election Year And Let Congress And European Allies Lead

Iran Is “Ahead Of Schedule In Its Enrichment Work” According To Israeli And Western Intelligence Agencies. “Iran’s nuclear enrichment program is progressing faster than western intelligence had initially realized, raising the stakes in Tehran’s showdown with the international community over the controversial program. The assessment that Iran was ahead of schedule in its enrichment work is based on new information gathered by Israel and several other western intelligence agencies, according to reports by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.” (Carlo Munoz, “Report: Iran’s Nuke Work Moving Ahead Of Schedule,” The Hill’s DEFCON Hill, 8/7/12)

“Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions Have Far Exceeded Previous Assessments By The United States And Its Allies.” “Senior diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Israel have reportedly agreed the new-found information proves Iran’s nuclear ambitions have far exceeded previous assessments by the United States and its allies, according to the report. Citing sources with knowledge of western efforts to gain access to Tehran’s nuclear facilities, signs of the advanced state of Iran’s nuclear program began to emerge in February.” (Carlo Munoz, “Report: Iran’s Nuke Work Moving Ahead Of Schedule,” The Hill’s DEFCON Hill, 8/7/12)

• Iran Has Enough Enriched Uranium For Almost Five Nuclear Bombs . “Iran now has amassed roughly 225 pounds of 20% uranium and 11,000 pounds of 3.5%, sufficient for almost five nuclear bombs. Rather than stand by its initial demands, however, the P5+1 is now seeking merely the cessation of Iran’s 20% enrichment, the removal of its 20% stockpile, and the closure of the facility at Qom. Arguably, this would be the first stage in the phasing out of Iran’s nuclear program. But Iran has rejected even this preliminary gesture.” (Michael Oren, Op-Ed, “Time Is Short For Iran Diplomacy,” The Wall Street Journal , 8/6/12)

The Wall Street Journal : “The Current U.S. Approach To Sanctions … Is Destined To Become Increasingly Ineffective Over Time. It Also Doesn’t Help That The Administration Is Waging A Behind-The-Scenes Campaign To Water Down Existing Sanctions.” “All of this means that the current U.S. approach to sanctions, which depends on the ability and willingness of the Administration to go after individual Iranian or foreign companies, is destined to become increasingly ineffective over time. It also doesn’t help that the Administration is waging a behind-the-scenes campaign to water down existing sanctions by granting nearly every available waiver to countries that continue to buy Iranian oil.” (Editorial, “Iran Sanctions Test,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/31/12)

• The Obama Administration Has Now Granted Waivers To “All Twenty Of Iran’s Major Trading Partners,” Including China, For Their Efforts To Reduce Iranian Oil Imports Ahead Of The Sanctions. “Though economic sanctions still haven’t slowed or stopped Iran’s nuclear drive, the Obama Administration has decided to make them even weaker. The Iran sanctions regime is looking like the U.S. tax code-filled with loopholes. It’s so weak, in fact, that all 20 of Iran’s major trading partners are now exempt from them. We’ve arrived at a kind of voodoo version of sanctions. They look real, insofar as Congress forced them into a bill President Obama had to sign in December. The Administration has spoken incantations about their powers. But if you’re a big oil importer in China, India or 18 other major economies, the sanctions are mostly smoke.” (Editorial, “Obama’s Iran Loopholes,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/2/12)

The Obama Administration Actively Worked “Behind The Scenes To Water Down Congressional Language That Would Impose Crippling Sanctions On The Central Bank Of Iran (CBI).” “President Barack Obama’s administration is working behind the scenes to water down congressional language that would impose crippling sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). The Obama administration sent to Congress this week a list of requested changes to the sanctions language found in the Senate’s version of the defense authorization bill, which was passed last week. Those sanctions, which would punish any bank that does business with the CBI, were part of an amendment authored by Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) that passed the Senate over the administration’s objections by a vote of 100 to 0. … The administration’s laundry list of requested changes to the bill was sent to leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The administration wants to delay the implementation of sanctions not related to oil purchases from 60 to 180 days, and wants to water down the severity of sanctions measures if and when they are put into effect.” (Josh Rogin, “Administration Tries To Water Down Iran Sanctions Legislation,”The Cable, 12/6/11)

• Biden National Security Adviser Antony Blinken Said U.S. Policy In Iran Is Based On “Buying Time And Continuing To Move This Problem Into The Future.” “U.S. policy on Iran is aimed at ‘buying time and continuing to move this problem into the future, and if you can do that – strange things can happen in the interim,’ Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser to Vice President Biden and Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, said on Monday. ‘You never know,’ Blinken added.” (Chemi Shalev, “U.S. Policy Aimed At ‘Buying Time’ With Iran, Says Senior Official,” Haaretz, 2/28/12)

Fearing Higher Oil Prices And “Political Trouble In An Election Year,” Obama Has Resisted Taking Strong Action Against Iran’s Nuclear Program. “Officials fear that too powerful a blow to the world’s third-largest oil exporter could cause an oil price increase, damaging the global economic recovery, undermining international support for the sanctions campaign and creating political trouble in an election year.” (Paul Richter, “Obama Administration Takes Back Seat On Iran Sanctions,” Los Angeles Times, 2/17/12)

• Despite Obama Administration’s “Vows To Cripple Iran,” “It Is Leaders In Congress And Europe Who Have Seized The Lead In The West’s Long-Running Campaign To Punish Tehran For Its Suspected Nuclear Weapons Program.”“Despite the Obama administration’s vows to cripple Iran with economic sanctions, it is leaders in Congress and Europe who have seized the lead in the West’s long-running campaign to punish Tehran for its suspected nuclear weapons program. In recent months, the toughest moves to deter Iran from pursuing its presumed nuclear ambitions have come from a bipartisan group in Congress and European allies, especially Britain and France. The White House at first resisted these steps before embracing them as inevitable.” (Paul Richter, “Obama Administration Takes Back Seat On Iran Sanctions,” Los Angeles Times, 2/17/12)
• The Washington Post : Obama “Is Resisting Pressure From Allies Such As France And From Congress To Sanction The Iranian Central Bank,” Sending “The Wrong Signals To Iran.” “Though Mr. Obama boasted Thursday that his administration has orchestrated ‘the toughest sanctions that Iran has ever experienced,’ he is resisting pressure from allies such as France and from Congress to sanction the Iranian central bank. Last week the Senate passed 100-0 an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would sanction foreign banks that conduct transactions with the Iranian central bank, with an option for a postponement if the White House determines that the effect on the oil market would be too severe. The administration opposed the measure and is trying to narrow its scope in a conference committee.” (Editorial, “The Wrong Signals To Iran,”The Washington Post, 12/6/11)

DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE PEACE CORPS

PROMISE: Obama Said He Was “Interested In Doubling The Peace Corps”

Obama Said “I’m Interested In Doubling The Peace Corps, Making Sure That We Are Creating A Volunteer Corps All Across This Country That Can Be Involved In Their Community.” OBAMA: “I think the young people of America are especially interested in how they can serve, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m interested in doubling the Peace Corps, making sure that we are creating a volunteer corps all across this country that can be involved in their community, involved in military service, so that military families and our troops are not the only ones bearing the burden of renewing America.” (Sen. Barack Obama,Remarks During The Second Presidential Debate, Nashville, TN, 10/7/08)

BROKEN: Obama Has “Fallen Far Short Of His Pledge”

“President Barack Obama Has Already Fallen Far Short Of His Pledge To Double The Agency’s Number Of Volunteers.” “President Barack Obama has already fallen far short of his pledge to double the agency’s number of volunteers by its 50th anniversary. Its budget for 2011 is $374.3 million — an almost 7 percent reduction from 2010, and its 2012 request for an increase to $439.6 million appears to unlikely as a congressional ‘super committee,’ set to report in November, searches for trillions of dollars in additional cuts.” (Bill Steiden, “Peace Mission Hits Milestone,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/18/11)

RE-EVALUATING “RESURGENT AND VERY AGGRESSIVE RUSSIA”

PROMISE: Obama Said Our Relationship With A “Resurgent And Very Aggressive Russia” Needed To Be Re-evaluated

Obama Said A “Resurgent And Very Aggressive Russia Is A Threat To Peace And Stability In The Region.” OBAMA: “Well, I think that, given what’s happened over the last several weeks and months, our entire Russian approach has to be evaluated, because a resurgent and very aggressive Russia is a threat to the peace and stability of the region. Their actions in Georgia were unacceptable. They were unwarranted. And at this point, it is absolutely critical for the next president to make clear that we have to follow through on our six-party — or the six-point cease-fire. They have to remove themselves from South Ossetia and Abkhazia.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks During The First Presidential Debate, Oxford, MS, 9/26/08)

BROKEN: Russia Remains An Obstacle To International Peace And A Supporter Of The Syrian Government’s Crackdown On Its Citizens

Russia Is “One Of The Biggest Obstacles For The Obama Administration” In The Effort To Unify The International Community Against Assad. “One of the biggest obstacles for the Obama administration is Russia, which has supported the ceasefire but has also backed Assad and allegedly provided arms to the Syrian army. While Obama administration officials have frequently accused Russia of being complicit in the deaths of Syrians, they’ve also said they won’t take stronger action without the international community’s backing, something Russia remains opposed to allowing. Russia and China, who has joined the Russians vetoing more UN action, were invited to this week’s Friends of Syria meeting, but the countries did not attend.” (Jeremy Herb, “Obama faces tough choices in Syria,” The Hill’s “DEFCON Hill”, 4/21/12)

• Russian Support For The Syrian Regime “Gives It ‘A Huge Role’ And Leverage Over The West.'” “Some political analysts said the Russians still had little incentive to turn against Mr. Assad. Peter Harling, project manager on Syria for International Crisis Group, said Russia’s support for Mr. Assad gives it ‘a huge role’ and leverage over the West. ‘If they turn against the regime more decisively, they will lose all leverage and soon be ignored by all, including the West,’ he said.” (Ellen Barry, “Russia Seems To Soften Its Support For Syria,” The New York Times , 3/20/12)
• Russia’s Ambassador To NATO Threatened “To Close The Transport Route Through Russia That The U.S. And Its Allies Use To Supply Troops In Afghanistan.” “Moscow’s ambassador to NATO this week amplified this message by threatening to close the transport route through Russia that the U.S. and its allies use to supply troops in Afghanistan. This so-called northern corridor was another touted achievement of the ‘reset.'” (Editorial, “Our Friends The Russians,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/5/11)

Russia Threatened To “Carry Out Pre-Emptive Strikes” If NATO Missile Defense Systems Are Built In Europe. “ Russia’s military chief of staff said on Thursday that Moscow could carry out pre-emptive strikes on future NATO missile defense installations in Europe to protect its security – a stark warning against a system the Kremlin sees as a threat.” (Adrian Croft and Steve Gutterman, “Russia Says It Could Pre-Emptively Strike Missile Shield,” Reuters, 5/3/12)

• Amid Growing Fears Of Iran’s Nuclear Capacity, Russian Officials Say They Are “Unlikely To Sign An Agreement On The Missile-Defense System” Because It Weakens Russia’s “Strategic Deterrent.” “Russia’s talks over the planned U.S. and NATO missile shield in Europe aren’t past the ‘point of no return’ even as the issue remains an ‘irritant’ between the countries, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said. Russia and the U.S. are unlikely to sign an agreement on the missile-defense system in May during the summits of the Group of Eight and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the U.S., Antonov reporters in Moscow today. The shield’s capabilities allow it to intercept Russia’s ballistic missiles, hurting its strategic deterrent, he said.” (Stepan Kravchenko, “Russia Says Agreement Over Missile ‘Irritant’ Unlikely At Summit,”Bloomberg, 3/13/12)

NOT RETURNING TO A “COLD WAR POSTURE” WITH RUSSIA

PROMISE: Obama Said We Cannot Return To A “Cold War Posture” With Russia

Obama: “ Now, We Also Can’t Return To A Cold War Posture With Respect To Russia. It’s Important That We Recognize There Are Going To Be Some Areas Of Common Interest.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks During The First Presidential Debate, Oxford, MS, 9/26/08)

BROKEN: The United States Ambassador To Russia Admits Our Relationship Feels Like The Cold War

U.S. Ambassador To Russia, Michael McFaul “Said It Felt Like He Was Back In The Cold War.” “In February, McFaul said it felt like he was back in the Cold War when he moved into Spaso House, the Moscow residence of American ambassadors since 1933. ‘It has been surprising that there was so much anti-Americanism, because we thought we were building a different kind of relationship, and it makes some people nervous that it could so quickly and reflexively go back to – in terms of rhetoric – an era that we thought was behind us,’ said McFaul.” (James Brooke, “US Envoy Sees Closer Moscow Ties After Putin’s Election,” Voice Of America, 3/23/12)

• VladimirPutin Stoked “Anti-Americanism” In His Election Campaign And Accused The U.S. Of “Political Engineering” In The Russian Election. “Putin has helped stoke anti-Americanism as part of his election campaign emphasizing a strong Russia. He has warned the West not to interfere in Syria or Iran, and accused the United States of ‘political engineering’ around the world.” (Susan Cornwell, “U.S.-Russia Ties Strained During Putin Political Campaign,” Reuters, 3/2/12)
• Putin’s Participation In The Regional Security Summit In China “Stood In Stark Contrast To His Decision Not To Attend A Summit Meeting Hosted By President Obama Last Month.” “Mr. Putin’s visit, during which he will participate in a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security organization that includes Russia, China and former Soviet republics in Central Asia, stood in stark contrast to his decision not to attend a summit meeting hosted by President Obama last month in the United States.” (Jane Perlez, “Putin Arrives In China For Regional Talks,”The New York Times, 6/5/12)
• Putin Rejected Obama’s Offer For “Landmark Bilateral Talks At The White House” Earlier This Month. “Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month rejected an offer from United States (US) President Barack Obama for landmark bilateral talks at the White House, the Kremlin revealed on Tuesday.” (“Putin Rejected Obama’s White House Talks Offer: Kremlin,” AFP, 5/29/12)

BROKEN: Russia Refuses To Renew Nunn-Lugar During Obama’s Tenure

Russia’s Refusal To Renew The Nunn-Lugar Nuclear Weapons Agreement Is A “Potentially Grave Setback In The Already Fraying Relationship Between The Former Cold War Enemies.” “The Russian government said Wednesday that it would not renew a hugely successful 20-year partnership with the United States to safeguard and dismantle nuclear and chemical weapons in the former Soviet Union when the program expires next spring, a potentially grave setback in the already fraying relationship between the former cold war enemies.” (David M. Herszenhorn, “Russia Won’t Renew Pact ON Weapons With U.S.,”The New York Times, 10/10/12)

• “The Plan To End The Nunn-Lugar Program Appears To Be The Latest Step By The Russian Government In An Expanding Effort To Curtail American-Led Initiatives.” “The plan to end the Nunn-Lugar program appears to be the latest step by the Russian government in an expanding effort to curtail American-led initiatives, and especially the influence of American money, in various spheres of Russian public policy.”(David M. Herszenhorn, “Russia Won’t Renew Pact ON Weapons With U.S.,”The New York Times , 10/10/12)
• The Announcement Came Shortly After Russia Expelled USAID And As “The Kremlin Has Been Hewing To A Distinctly Anti-American Tone” In Its Domestic Politics. “The move comes just a few weeks after Russia announced it was expelling the U.S. Agency for International Development, the American foreign-aid program. Earlier this week, UNICEF also announced that it will wind up its operations in Russia by the end of the year. On Wednesday evening, Interfax quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying there was no connection between the shutdown of the aid programs and the end of the weapons agreement. But the Kremlin has been hewing to a distinctly anti-American tone as it attempts to portray its domestic opponents as agents of the United States.” (Will Englund, “Russia No Longer Wants U.S. Aid On Nuclear Arms Security,” The Washington Post , 10/10/12)
• Russia Is Forcing USAID Out Of The Country In The Midst Of Putin’s Crackdown On NGOs And Political Dissenters. “The Kremlin has taken a number of actions in recent months to bring pressure on nongovernmental groups and clamp down on political dissent, including a new law requiring any organization receiving aid from abroad to register with the justice manager as ‘acting as a foreign agent.’ Russia also increased the penalties for libel and slander – a step that seemed intended to intimidate critics of government officials.” (David M. Herszenhorn and Ellen Barry “Russia Demands U.S. End Support Of Democracy Groups,” The New York Times, 9/18/12)