on leading from behind

This is what the world looks like when America leads from behind. As the so-called "militants" tell the story, they are executing surrendered soldiers of the Iraqi army. Whatever the truth of this curious bit of propaganda -- for example, how come the Iraqi army is dressed more shabbily than the so-called "separatists" in Ukraine? -- it's a chilling portrait of the world Barack Obama has created. We retreat and they advance, in Ukraine, in Iraq, in Syria, in Nigeria, in Afghanistan, and along the East China Sea. What else did we expect would happen?

No fear! The clever spinmeisters in the White House have a solution for Mr. Obama's abandoned war in Iraq: we'll ask Iran to help out! Meanwhile we'll plead with Iran to give up its nuclear program. Lots of luck with that!