US foreign policy becomes fabulous

[Virus]

Does this new foreign policy have any teeth to it? Like cutting off subsidies to countries that persecute gays? Such as the Palestinian Authority or Saudi Arabia?

 

[cwalner]

Does this new foreign policy have any teeth to it? Like cutting off subsidies to countries that persecute gays? Such as the Palestinian Authority or Saudi Arabia?

We'll see, but I suspect it is mostly pre-election pandering. All Democratic candidates do something similar, to remind us that they are not as bad as the Republicans on gay rights. However, history shows that follow through is typically sorely short of what gets promised.

I really can't see Obama willing to do to much that might annoy the Saudis, but this can also give him a stronger case against Iran.

In short, I think that when we perceive other national interests in antagonism, this will give the President one more tool to use.