The UN and ISIL - Promises, Promises

President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday. (Photo/in.reuters.com)

President Obama gave a speech at the UN

(Kinda like when Daniel stepped into the lions' den)

He stood up to Russia in support of the Ukraine;

Said that Putin's actions there would cost more than they'd gain.

Mainly though, he spoke about the flailing Middle East;

Pointing out, when tensions rise, religions are the yeast.

Sunni versus Shia versus Christian versus Jew...

When you fund a sect you're funding terrorism, too.

Voting was unanimous; the Council stands opposed

To the new Islamic State (whose oil fields we've just closed.)

Countries pledged to do their part - whatever that might be.

Will they keep their solemn words? We'll have to wait and see.

Dear Mr. Cheney et al. - You're Kidding, Right?

Former Vice President Dick Cheney

ISIS is establishing a modern Caliphate

Based upon fanaticism...  Isn't that just great.

Thank you Bush and Cheney; you guys kicked the hornets' nest,

Certain that America was right and knew what's best.

Ever since, the region has been going up in flames.

Now Dick Cheney's claiming it's Obama who he blames.

It was not Obama who invaded on a whim;

I cannot believe the gall of Cheney blaming him.

This war has been brewing for a century, or more.

It's about religious sects and settling a score.

Once dictators fell, removing pressure from the lid,

Experts warned some countries might explode - and so they did.

All the blood and treasure spent on playing global cop

Didn't make this process one the U.S.A. could stop...

But, to say Obama caused the current Mid-East mess,

Means you're badly misinformed (by FOX, would be my guess.)

Foreign Policy Isn't For Dummies

(Mr. Bennett's cartoon/Courtesy of The Christian Science Monitor)

President Obama's seen approval ratings drop

Because there are conflicts in the world he cannot stop.

John McCain can name you three the U.S. should invade;

Plus another couple where he thinks we should have stayed.

I don't think he understands how that would be perceived.

When we throw our weight around the Arabs feel aggrieved.

Libyans are mad we grabbed a suspect off the street,

Hustled him aboard a ship, and sailed off with our fleet.

"Well...  It took us long enough," said everyone on FOX

(Proving true the nickname for TV - the idiot box.)

These wars are religious...  They're the kind that can't be won

And we shouldn't risk the life of one more mother's son

In a fight that's lasted for at least a thousand years.

When we've jumped into the fray before it led to tears.

Once we put our foot down innocents are always crushed.

Thankfully, this President won't let himself be rushed.

Sykes and Picot Were Idiots

During World War I, the major powers drew some lines;

They decided who got oil and who got diamond mines.

Sticking to those borders, which were drawn without regard

For the locals' feelings on the subject's, proving hard.

They're the cause of "civil" wars, attempts at genocide;

Hard to estimate how many people may have died,

All because we started drawing lines upon the sand.

I suspect this isn't working quite the way they planned.

Africa, the Middle East... Religious sects and tribes;

At each others throats (when they're not out collecting bribes.)

All those simple lines they drew aren't easy to erase.

Even now we feel the need to straighten up the place.

Seems to me we've done enough; we'll only make things worse.

Rising tide of change is something we cannot reverse.

Militants will not be stopped by lines drawn on a map

But by locals who decide they're tired of this crap.