Bari Weiss has an interesting comparison on the obvious support of Bush for political dissent under his term and the Obama approach of best wishes but tough. And yet it is not a partisan piece in that Mr. Weiss is aware of the negative legacy of the Iraq war and how it undermines other positive actions he might have undertaken. I bring this OpEd to your attention because there is a significant portion devoted to Marcel Granier of RCTV. Indeed, we in Venezuela are aware that the Obama administration thinks that Chavez is a creep and his regime a neo-totalitarian concept. But a few more energetic words would be welcome.
I would say one thing to Mr. Weiss: the US are entering the world of welfare state where business is essential to support its cost. Europeans have thus become masters at making deals with all sorts of unsavory regimes because bills need to get paid and taxes to pay them are collected from these business deals. The Obama administration took over a country in crisis and is using expensive means to find its way out. Europeanization of its foreign policy is almost a given.