By Zachary Keck
A series of events in recent weeks has created a widespread narrative that the U.S. is an unreliable ally and a weak partner.
First, the U.S. government shutdown forced President Barack Obama to cancel his trip to a couple of Asia summits. Then, new Edward Snowden leaks revealed that the National Security Agency has been spying on up to 35 world leaders, including top U.S. allies like German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Both events take place against a backdrop of concerns about U.S. credibility from top Middle East allies, most notably Israel and Saudi Arabia. Both countries are fearful that Washington will cut a deal with Iran over its nuclear program, and have taken exception to the Obama administration backing down on its various threats against the Assad regime in Syria.
Taken together, the general sentiment was summarized succinctly by former Vice President Dick Cheney, when he observed that “our friends no longer count on us, no longer trust us and our adversaries don’t fear us.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat