The unprovoked attack on South Korea couldn't have happened at a worse time for Obama - which is why I wouldn't be surprised if China planned it, or is at least enjoying seeing a young administration squirm.
Its the worse time for Obama, having just been shunned by Korea and China trying to open their markets in the G20 meeting in South Korea.
...but there is lemonade to be made here.
The world remembers one memorable line from us in this century."Either you are With Us or Against Us. Either you are with us or you are with the Terrorists", making them feel that we are NOT honorable. That we are bullies.
A major Obama speech in Seoul can change all that. At least a speech about the United States long standing ONLY principle we agree upon over the last 50 years:
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty"?
Yes, this is a Kennedy moment. Its time to expose our intentions, not our supposed values. Lies ring hollow but truth rings loud. That's why the Bush speech is remembered. He stood by his words, which is why we are so alone.
Declaring our new intentions is the best economic policy, and that's the way out of the recession too. In Asia and Africa people kept buying Americans rather than equivalent Japanese or European products throughout the 60's because we weren't the colonialists. We stood for liberty. We supported their independence. They knew we stood with them against the USSR and China. They did not know yet that most countries will be overrun by rich powerfull as@$&! that will sell the country to the highest bidder.
Yes, Obama needs a speech declaring not our values, which he did, but our intentions. As the son of a political science buff I am stunned he hasn't yet.
So far Obama's intentions are not clear. He seems to say to every group in the world that we are their friends.
We stand with the Muslim, and we have no quarrel with Arabs (Cairo speech)
We stand with Europe (Berlin during the campaign)
We stand with Israel (AIPAC)
We stand with India in their effort for a permanent security council decision (last week)
We stand with Russia. We stand with China as long as they don't pay for Republican add campaigns.
A speech in South Korea can change all of that.
Whatsmore, with Republicans in congress Obama's only hope is a strong foreign policy agenda.