U.S. Is Seen Losing Its Edge: "international skepticism and domestic pressure from Americans seeking a more collaborative role with the world had prompted the administration to adjust its tone. But it may be too late, he said. 'I don't think you can turn around three years of U.S. foreign policy with some midnight initiatives,' he said. 'The image of this president in the public's and the world's eyes is pretty much established.'
... Last week, the United Nations moved to clip American wings by refusing to extend to United States troops immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court.
Despite a heavy lobbying campaign within NATO, administration officials concede that the president is likely to win only token help in the form of military trainers. And on North Korea, American negotiators have been compelled by Asian allies to forsake a hard-line stance forbidding incentives to North Korea so that it will abandon its nuclear program. China, the host of the six-nation negotiations, urged the change; when South Korea and Japan signed on, the administration had to act to keep its partners from going their own way."
- posted by geoff @ #