SYMBOLISM

Posted at 12:10 p.m. ET

Symbolism is, obviously, very significant in international politics.  Therefore, this story is disturbing.  In the first month of his presidency, Barack Obama has done some things that should worry all of us - groveling to the Muslim world in a bizarre interview, insulting President Karzai of Afghanistan by saying he has a bunker mentality, and this week snubbing the king of Spain, who is on a visit to the U.S.  Apparently, Mr. Obama hasn't got time to see him.  But he had plenty of time to make his first call to a foreign leader to the president of "Palestine."  Further, the Obama administration has hinted at concessions to Russia on our missile-defense program, undercutting our East European allies.

But get this one for symbolism.  From London's Telegraph:

Barack Obama has sent Sir Winston Churchill packing and pulse rates soaring among anxious British diplomats.

A bust of the former prime minister once voted the greatest Briton in history, which was loaned to George W Bush from the Government's art collection after the September 11 attacks, has now been formally handed back.

The bronze by Sir Jacob Epstein, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds if it were ever sold on the open market, enjoyed pride of place in the Oval Office during President Bush's tenure.

But when British officials offered to let Mr Obama to hang onto the bust for a further four years, the White House said: "Thanks, but no thanks."

An absolutely unnecessary snub.

The rejection of the bust has left some British officials nervously reading the runes to see how much influence the UK can wield with the new regime in Washington.

There's almost some justice in this.  The British lefties and chattering classes were all over themselves when Obama was elected. 

Finally...

A British Embassy spokesman said: "The bust of Sir Winston Churchill by Sir Jacob Epstein was uniquely lent to a foreign head of state, President George W Bush, from the Government Art Collection in the wake of 9/11 as a signal of the strong transatlantic relationship.

"It was lent for the first term of office of President Bush. When the President was elected for his second and final term, the loan was extended until January 2009.

"The new President has decided not to continue this loan and the bust has now been returned. It is on display at the Ambassador's Residence."  

COMMENT:  Obama's action is crude.  There's been some suggestion that he returned the bust because Churchill was a colonialist, and Kenya - land of Obama's father - was a British colony.  But Churchill was half American, and Britain's stand against fascism was at least as important to "making Obama possible" as was Lincoln's victory in the Civil War. 

This is not good.  It suggests that Obama may be a small-minded, petty man, much like Jimmy Carter.  We'll have more on some strange hints about Obama's foreign policy tomorrow morning.  By the way, notice the way the American press ignored this story.

February 15, 2009.