The simple fact is that the failed policies of weak presidents produce more misery and pain in the long run than they prevent in the short.

Recently a man and his wife visiting Falcon Lake on the Texas border strayed over into Mexico. As anyone following the story knows, a group of pirates "allegedly" shot and killed him and then nearly killed his wife. Later, the Mexican police official brave enough to seriously investigate the crime was killed, decapitated, and his head was delivered to an army garrison. What has the Obama administration done in response? Essentially, they've ignored it and focused on their domestic agenda.  In the meantime, they are inviting further serious incursions against America.

The United States has a checkered history when it comes to "enlightened" foreign policy, and unfortunately we do not seem to learn from our mistakes. The pattern of failure that Obama is now emulating actually stretches back to our very first Democrat president: Thomas Jefferson. In 1807, a British warship, the HMS Leopard, fired on and boarded the USS Chesapeake. The British took four sailors off the ship and hung one of them, a deserter from the British navy. The others were imprisoned, while the Chesapeake was allowed to limp home in disgrace.

What did Jefferson do to reply to this massive provocation? Nothing in particular. He did pass the ill-fated Embargo Act of 1807 (essentially his equivalent of our sanctions) as a weak attempt at forceful diplomacy.  Not only did it not work, it hurt the Americans more than it did the British. The result? He sent a clear message that the British could do what they liked and America wouldn't respond. James Madison, our next president, then had to deal with a war.

While Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler also demonstrate this pattern of failure, a more pertinent example is Obama's Democrat predecessor, Bill Clinton.  While to most Americans September 11^th seemed to come from nowhere, it was, in large measure, allowed to take place due to the weak foreign policy of the Clinton Administration:

• In 1993 Islamic radicals working for Osama bin Laden bombed the basement of the World Trade Center in an attempt to knock it down. Clinton responded by placing the culprits in the U.S. justice system which took years prosecuting people willing to die for their cause in an instant.
• Also in 1993, American soldiers were killed in the Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down) by Al Qaeda-trained fighters. Their bodies were dragged through the streets and spit upon. Clinton ordered all military operations stopped and quickly withdrew American forces.
• In 1998, Al Qaeda operatives bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya, killing hundreds. Clinton responded by aiming some cruise missiles at a pharmaceutical factory.
• In 2000, Al Qaeda suicide bombers attacked the USS Cole, in dock in Yemen. Clinton called it "a despicable and cowardly act," but did nothing about it.

Is it any surprise, then, that after eight years of America serving as Osama bin Laden's doormat, Al Qaeda would take the next step that resulted in September 11^th?

By his failure to respond forcefully (not necessarily militarily) to North Korea, to Iran, to China, and now even to a Mexican drug gang, Obama is sending the message that America will allow her enemies to get away with just about anything. For instance, if we won't respond to Iran's burgeoning nuclear program after issuing so many ultimatums they've probably lost count, why should Ahmadinejad think Obama will suddenly do so when Iran announces it has a nuclear weapon? If Mexican border pirates can kill unoffending citizens with no response, why should they stop? Why should we be surprised when they take the next step and begin attacking Americans on our own soil? 

Perhaps it's time for our President to take a page from his more manly predecessors — occupy the lake and the towns on the far side with military forces, hunt down and kill anyone connected with the murders, and then withdraw back to U.S. soil. If Mexico objects, ask them if they are really willing to risk a war with the United States over a limited military operation launched in direct response to their failure to control their own criminal citizens.

The simple fact is that the failed policies of weak presidents produce more misery and pain in the long run than they prevent in the short. Obama has even stated that he believes we can absorb another terrorist attack like the one on 9-11. If ever there was an invitation to disrespect and attack our nation, Barack Obama has extended it.