Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer had some harsh words for President Obama Monday in the wake of Russia and China's handling of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
Appearing on Fox News's Special Report, Krauthammer said, "If there's no element of respect or fear - and you saw it in the summit with the head of the United States and head of Russia and China within the last two weeks - they care nothing for what Obama says, and they know that when he makes a threat, it carries no weight behind it."
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: The fact that people don't like the United States is not new. What's new is that these non-likers have no respect for the United States. As Jason indicates, nobody worries or cares about what Obama says because it carries no weight. We heard Jay Carney say, what did he say, “Whether this would unquestionably have a negative impact on U.S- Chinese relations.” Do you think anybody in Beijing cares about that or believes that? Is there any evidence?
Remember how the president said we're going to hold accountable those who killed our ambassador in Libya, we're going to hold accountable the authorities in Syria who have killed so many of their own people? He's talked a hundred times about holding X or Y or Z accountable. Nobody’s held accountable and everyone knows that.
The Washington Post in their news story today spoke about Snowden eluding the grasp of the normally long arm of U.S. justice. If there's no element of respect or fear - and you saw it in the summit with the head of the United States and head of Russia and China within the last two weeks - they care nothing for what Obama says, and they know that when he makes a threat, it carries no weight behind it.
