Tension with Iran, N. Korea mark end of Obama honeymoon

In the several months after the Presidential election, many Obama supporters spoke as if international relations with world superpowers would be a walk in the park. Globally, leaders such as Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised Mr. Obama, welcoming a change from the Bush administration.

The last several weeks, however, have been quite unfavorable in terms of maintaining peaceful foreign relations. The Iranian post-election debauchery lead to Obama uttering some harsh words for Ahmadinejad, and the recent N. Korea threat to launch a July 4th missile in the direction of Hawaii, has created mounting tension with Kim Jong Il. Ahmadinejad said Obama was “acting just like Bush”, which of course is the last thing the President wants to hear.

Americans have the incredible ability to expect too much, especially of those we idolize. Obama was, perhaps, unfairly placed on a pinnacle of flawlessness, expected to make the planet a perfect and conflict free place. What many forgot, is that the world is filled with tyrannical dictators who do not comply at our beckoning.

Now that we are past the worship and praise portion of the Obama presidency, it’s time to find out what our new leader is really made of. How will he perform under the intense pressures of foreign conflict? How will his decision making be affected by stereotypes created by the media? John McCain was dubbed a blood thirsty “war monger”, while Obama was given the dove of peace label. What happens when Obama must make a split second decision to use military force? Is he protected from the “war monger” title, simply because he’s not Bush?

Aside from Iran and N. Korea, the drug war in Mexico rages on, the Taliban continues to rebound and violence in Iraq is climbing. These are matters that we can’t ignore, and they must be faced head-on. The time has passed to sit back and gaze in awe at the new wunderkind that is President Obama. Like a first-round draft pick who spends the months leading up to his first season being praised for past accomplishments, and basking in the glory of his new achievement, his first season remains his test of true worth. It’s sink or swim time for Obama.