Is Kerry doing better than Hillary?

Syria, Afghan and now Iran deal. In all fairness, when Hillary took office, America's image was in pretty bad shape, she did splendid job in resurrecting it and reducing further damage.

No. Iran is in deep financial crisis. They also have a leadership change. Hillary was involved when sanctions were imposed and the foul-mouthed Iranian leader was kicked out. Now, Kerry is benefiting from her policy decisions.

confuzzled dude wrote:Syria, Afghan and now Iran deal. In all fairness, when Hillary took office, America's image was in pretty bad shape, she did splendid job in resurrecting it and reducing further damage.

It is foolish to judge foreign policy, as soon as the event happens. It takes decades to completely understand the impact. 

A person as famous as Kissinger himself is in the dock for IGNORING Blood Telegrams from his own state department officials in (erstwhile East Pakistan, present day Bangladesh)  when Pakistan Backed Islamists were involved in ethnic cleansing of ethnic Banglas and Genocide of Hindus. It is unprecedented in American Foreign Policy history for the entire State department of one consulate to protest American Inaction. It  takes time to ascertain the impact. From Bangladesh's standpoint while they applaud the consulate for its principled stand (these state department folks where transferred to obscurity because of their opposition to orders from the top) they do not take kindly to Lack of American support for their independence movement.

BTW Credit for the Syria Deal should ideally go to Russians, who literally rescued Americans.

The main interest of America is to ensure that  American troops are NOT in harm's way. I think Obama/Kerry's conduct has been guided by this core interest.  This is a good!  

However, the relationships between other countries are becoming strained, as these countries are now perceiving an American retreat.

Leaving aside Israel, there were reports that  Turks and Saudi's were NOT too happy about America's handling of Syria and are allegedly making their own moves.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan allegedly does not like American deal with Iran.

India's strategic community (not the Congress controlled Foreign ministry) is livid because of American government's attempts to absolve Pakistan of its past misdeeds and give them a free pass to again control Afghanistan by proxy, with India getting nothing in return for its un-stinted support to US.

Rawemotions: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan allegedly does not like American deal with Iran.

Yes, the deal with Iran is great news for India and Afghanistan. If the deal translates into a long term relationship between the US and Iran, that can decrease the American dependence on the Paki concubine. Paki may suddenly lose their strategic importance.

The Pakis are now basking in the glory of Chinese Silk Road and illegal Gwadar - Xinjiang Corridor through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Their one and only concern is absolving themselves of their past sins , getting equivalent Nuke Deal on par with India, and total direct control of Afghanistan and veto power to keep India out of it.

So looks like they are getting this. They are reducing their dependence on US and are playing the US Vs China game. 
So while I agree that US will get some leverage, it is unlikely to graduate to a stage where Iran starts granting passage for US equipment to go to Afghanistan, in the next few years. The mistrust is just too deep. So Pakistan gets to keep the cake and eat it too for the next few years.

Also, India does not get the benefit of immediate Iranian friendship thanks to some mistakes made by UPA in the past 10 years w.r.to Iran. 

We need to understand that the Persians do not forget easily. 

Any improvement between Iran and India (OR a change to the glory days of their co-operation during the Northern Alliance days) is unlikely to happen with UPA or UPA supported SP/BSP/Leftists at the helm.

Iran has been cut up with India for some of the recent votes in UNSC and their inability to withstand US pressure. Offcourse, India also is upset with Iran for their silence during the machinations of Malaysia, Turkey and Pakistan in OIC on J&K issue for a couple of decades now. 

But it is a far cry from the days, when Iran actually helped India by blocking OIC resolution on Kashmir in Pakistan OR when Khatami came to India and lectured Shias in UP to be loyal to India. If Iran recognizes India to be Darul Islam for Shias it would be an achievement.

At the least India should have got something in return from US, in anticipation of a US detente with Iran at a future date for capitulating to US pressure on Oil purchases. Nothing of that sort was done. 

The problem is India is too busy figuring out what other countries want, rather than taking efforts  to mobilize (using media, strategic opinion)and enunciate a clear position on what it wants.  It is always timid in openly declaring its aims. As long as this approach persists other countries are likely to treat India as a doormat.

rawemotions wrote:It is foolish to judge foreign policy, as soon as the event happens. It takes decades to completely understand the impact. 

Of course, of course hindsight is 20/20 which typically makes you & me look wiser than Gandhi & Nehru.

rawemotions wrote:
BTW Credit for the Syria Deal should ideally go to Russians, who literally rescued Americans.

Right! Russia bailed America out bcz Obama is a Muslim, and has got nothing to do with American diplomacy. Since you're not the one to judge foreign policies at their inception, I'm pretty sure that you did not suggest Obama bungled it.

rawemotions wrote:
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan allegedly does not like American deal with Iran.

surprise! surprise!

rawemotions wrote:The Pakis are now basking in the glory of Chinese Silk Road and illegal Gwadar - Xinjiang Corridor through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Their one and only concern is absolving themselves of their past sins , getting equivalent Nuke Deal on par with India, and total direct control of Afghanistan and veto power to keep India out of it.

So looks like they are getting this. They are reducing their dependence on US and are playing the US Vs China game. 
So while I agree that US will get some leverage, it is unlikely to graduate to a stage where Iran starts granting passage for US equipment to go to Afghanistan, in the next few years. The mistrust is just too deep. So Pakistan gets to keep the cake and eat it too for the next few years.

Also, India does not get the benefit of immediate Iranian friendship thanks to some mistakes made by UPA in the past 10 years w.r.to Iran. 

We need to understand that the Persians do not forget easily. 

Any improvement between Iran and India (OR a change to the glory days of their co-operation during the Northern Alliance days) is unlikely to happen with UPA or UPA supported SP/BSP/Leftists at the helm.

Iran has been cut up with India for some of the recent votes in UNSC and their inability to withstand US pressure. Offcourse, India also is upset with Iran for their silence during the machinations of Malaysia, Turkey and Pakistan in OIC on J&K issue for a couple of decades now. 

But it is a far cry from the days, when Iran actually helped India by blocking OIC resolution on Kashmir in Pakistan OR when Khatami came to India and lectured Shias in UP to be loyal to India. If Iran recognizes India to be Darul Islam for Shias it would be an achievement.

At the least India should have got something in return from US, in anticipation of a US detente with Iran at a future date for capitulating to US pressure on Oil purchases. Nothing of that sort was done. 

The problem is India is too busy figuring out what other countries want, rather than taking efforts  to mobilize (using media, strategic opinion)and enunciate a clear position on what it wants.  It is always timid in openly declaring its aims. As long as this approach persists other countries are likely to treat India as a doormat.

The article below sums up India-Iran relations as of now and the damage done to India-Iran relations, because of UPA's disastrous policy of courting Sunni Muslim Oligarchies, with nothing in return to show for it. 

http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2013/11/26/avoid-spin-train-mind-on-new-thinking-regarding-iran/