But Obama has been unwilling to correct or even update the record. Why step on a useful propaganda theme? He also may fear being called "soft" on Putin by deviating from the "tough-guy" conventional wisdom that blames Putin for everything. Obama has even continued to imply that Russia was at fault for the atrocity.
Speaking in Australia on Nov. 15, Obama left the impression of Russian guilt as he reprised the self-congratulatory "America is No. 1" themes favored by the neocons. He declared:
"As the world's only superpower, the United States has unique responsibilities that we gladly embrace."We're leading the international community in the fight to destroy the terrorist group ISIL [Obama's preferred acronym for the Islamic State]. We're leading in dealing with Ebola in West Africa and in opposing Russia's aggression against Ukraine -- which is a threat to the world, as we saw in the appalling shoot-down of MH17, a tragedy that took so many innocent lives, among them your fellow citizens.
"As your ally and friend, America shares the grief of these Australian families, and we share the determination of your nation for justice and accountability."
If you parse Obama's phrasing carefully, you might note that he does not explicitly blame Russia for the shoot-down of MH-17, but he leaves that inference. It seems clear that hope is quickly fading -- if it ever existed -- that Obama would seize the post-election opportunity to chart a more realistic and honest approach to U.S. foreign policy.
Obama seems content to follow the lead of the neocons, albeit sometimes reluctantly and possibly deviating from their most extreme policies at the last minute -- as he did in deciding not to bomb the Syrian military in summer 2013.
But there are grave dangers in Obama not honestly informing the American people about what he knows regarding these crises. Yes, he would face condemnation from the insider community of Official Washington and face broader Republican accusations of "weakness" and "capitulation."
Still, he would at least give the thoughtful part of the U.S. populace a chance to resist the next neocon-scripted disaster.
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