TREATING OUR FRIENDS LIKE ENEMIES - AT 11:35 P.M. ET:  An example of the "success" of Mr. Obama's foreign policy, from The Politico:

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed today that he declined last night to take a call from the U.S. informing him of the decision to scrap planned missile-defense bases in his country.

Two U.S.-based sources close to the Polish government said Thursday that Tusk also rejected a call from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — on the grounds that, as the head of the government, he should speak to the president.

"Hillary called — and the reason he turned it down was because of protocol," said a source.

Questions about the exchanges surfaced in the Polish press after Obama reached the Czech prime minister late last night to warn of the policy change, but did not speak to the Pole until this morning. And the static offers a glimpse at the distress beneath the diplomatic facade being offered by Eastern European leaders.

COMMENT:  We have no doubt that any leader of North Korea, Iran, Venezuela or Russia would be glad to take Hillary's call.  After all, the news would probably be good.

The sound you hear is either the laughter in the foreign ministries of our enemies, or the gasping in the foreign ministries of our friends. 

September 17, 2009