By Joseph Loconte, Ph.D.
Mr. Obama came to office vowing that the United States would not act “unilaterally” and without United Nations support — which is exactly what will happen if Congress approves U.S. military intervention next week. His promises to elevate diplomacy in U.S. foreign policy earned him the Nobel Peace Prize — yet he has failed even to persuade Great Britain, America’s most reliable ally, to help uphold an international moral norm banning the use of these weapons. The president who once advocated a foreign policy befitting Mother Teresa has turned instead to Machiavelli: A spasm of political realism has seized the White House, and not a moment too soon.