Marketing 101: Does Barack Obama have the leadership skills necessary to run the foreign policy of the United States and protect us from our enemies? A thorough review is necessary to determine that answer.

1) Paid attention to what was presented publicly about Saddam and WMDs by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Powell? Check.

2) Paid attention to what was presented publicly about Saddam and WMDs by UN inspectors and the International Atomic Energy Agency head? Check.

3) Determined that evidence was lacking of any nuclear program in Iraq and opposed starting a war there, preferring sanctions that continually had weakened Saddam’s military? Check.

4) Asserted in 2007 that, if elected President, would continue the current policies of the war in Iraq, and would stay as long as 100 years? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was Senator John McCain.

5) Asserted in 2007 that, if elected President, would remove most troops from Iraq within 16 months of assuming office? Check.

6) Indicated in 2007 that he would shift some troops to Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban and put more emphasis on capturing the leaders of Al Qaida, like Osama Bin Laden? Check.

7) Indicated in 2007 that, if elected President, would use drones to locate and attack Al Qaida’s leaders in Pakistan, even if Pakistan’s president refused to authorize it? Check.

8) Indicated in 2007 that, if elected President, would not use drones against Al Qaida’s leaders without approval of Pakistan’s president because that would violate Pakistan’s national sovereignity? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was Senator John McCain.

9) Within 6 weeks AFTER the statement Obama made in #7, ordered more attacks by drones in Pakistan? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was President Bush.

10) Indicated in 2007 that, if elected president, would open new lines of more direct communication with Iran and Syria, without onerous preconditions that would prevent such communications? Check.

11) Indicated in 2007 that such communications with Syria and Iran would be dangerous and foolhardy? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was Senator John McCain.

12) Began communicating with Syrian government within a year of Obama’s statement in #10? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was Bush’s Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

13) Began communicating with Iranian government within a year of Obama’s statement in #10? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was another member of Bush’s State Department.

14) Indicated a troop withdrawal timetable for Iraq was unacceptable? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was Both President Bush and Senator John McCain.

15) Has accepted a general timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was President Bush, within the past month.

16) Has indicated a 16 month timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq is acceptable? Bzzzzt! Nope. That was Senator John McCain. TODAY.

They Bush and McCain approach to foreign policy for the past 18 months has become much, much better. It consists of (a) hearing a proposal from Barack Obama, (b) claiming Obama’s nuts to suggest such a dangerous course, then (c) do what Obama suggested within 2 months or within a year.

The Bush/McCain marketing slogan: Barack Obama: he can’t handle foreign policy. Quick, what’s he suggesting now? Get the Secretary of Defense in here, on the double!