The world and its dictators applaud: Castro for example, and Obama was meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, whose country elevated their nation over others since Obama's decision to scrap a defense plan that Russia strongly opposed.
Our staunchest allies are distancing themselves away from us as well. Obama met with the new Japanese prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, who has said he wants to shift Japan's diplomatic stance from one that is less centered on Washington's lead.