Has President Obama Suffered Setbacks In Japan And The Mideast?

President Obama offered a toast to Empress Michiko and Emperor Akihito of Japan during a state dinner at the Imperial Palace. Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Obama Suffers Setbacks In Japan And The Mideast -- Mark Landler and Jodi Rudorenapril, new York Times

TOKYO — President Obama encountered setbacks to two of his most cherished foreign-policy projects on Thursday, as he failed to achieve a trade deal that undergirds his strategic pivot to Asia and the Middle East peace process suffered a potentially irreparable breakdown.

Mr. Obama had hoped to use his visit here to announce an agreement under which Japan would open its markets in rice, beef, poultry and pork, a critical step toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the proposed regional trade pact. But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was not able to overcome entrenched resistance from Japan’s farmers in time for the president’s visit.

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My Comment: President Obama's trip has only started .... and the knives are already out. The first two commentaries below are from liberal publications .... and they are brutal on President Obama.

Obama’s Foreign Policy Failures Are Proving His Critics Right -- Michael Crowley, Time
Overseas, President Obama projects a whole lot of nothing -- Dana Milbank, Washington Post
U.S. Foreign Policy: In Troubling Disarray -- Richard N. Haass, American Interest

What's my take .... I am not surprised. Since 2008 President Obama's priority has always been to transform America .... and on that level he has been spectacularly successful .... even if his supporters and critics may disagree on this point. As to foreign affairs and international relations .... this has taken a back seat in this White House .... but I will also concede the U.S. is also involved (directly and indirectly) in more wars now than ever before. As to this Asian trip .... let him finish it before condemning it.