Obama at War

Barack Obama was elected on a pledge to end America's involvement in wars, not begin them. Unfortunately, world events and tangled alliances and commitments have conspired to defeat the best laid plans. Hosted by Martin Smith, this PBS-aired Frontline report examines the highs and lows of Obama's foreign policy work, particularly during the president's second term. The "Arab Spring" of 2011 led many Americans to hope that democratic change was coming to the Middle East. The U.S. wound up supporting the overthrow of Libyan dictator Gadaffi, only to witness Libya's descent into chaos, culminating with the killing of an American ambassador. And when an uprising in Syria threatened President Assad, the Obama administration sent mixed messages, drawing a "red line" against the use of chemical weapons against rebels, but failing to follow through, which disillusioned our friends and encouraged extremists to fill the vacuum in both Iraq and Syria, ultimately leading to the rise of the terrorist Islamic State (ISIS). The documentary weighs Obama's options, choices, and leadership style, crediting his concern over whether American weapons would end up in the hands of Islamic radicals, understandable reluctance to overthrow sovereign governments, and worries about keeping conflicts from engulfing entire regions. However, the decision to not answer provocations helped embolden radicals, while ineffectiveness in gaining intelligence led to being blindsided when ISIS quickly toppled cities in Iraq and Syria, setting off a bloodbath of hostage taking, beheadings, rape, and possibly genocide, as well as the globe-shaking attacks on Paris in November 2015. Featuring some graphic war footage, Obama at War is an evenhanded, non-partisan assessment that points out White House mistakes, while also admitting that a war-weary America has been left with few good options. A timely addition to ongoing foreign policy dialogue, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)