CAMERON AS THE NEW WINSTON – AT 8:30 P.M. ET:  In the face of American presidential weakness, British Prime Minister David Cameron, of whom not much had been expected, has stepped forward as a vigorous foreign-policy leader, providing clarity where we provide "consultations."  British writer Nile Gardiner explains, in The Telegraph:

In the last few days the PM has projected strong British leadership on the Libya crisis, in marked contrast to his US counterpart, who has been distinctly underwhelming. He is winning plaudits across the Atlantic for his handling of the issue, with influential conservative publication The Weekly Standard praising his “Churchillian” statement in the House of Commons yesterday. Cameron’s recent landmark speech in Munich attacking multiculturalism and throwing down the gauntlet to militant Islamists was also widely praised in the United States, and stood in stark contrast to President Obama’s silence on the issue.

There’s no doubt about it – Britain is once again making its mark on the world stage after a period of decline under Gordon Brown, precisely at the same time that American leadership is sorely lacking. As I’ve written before, Britain may no longer be a superpower but it remains a world power, and still retains a key role in helping shape international affairs.

And in advancing this vision, Cameron is helped by a strong team of pro-Atlanticists with an important understanding of British history and her role in the world, including Defence Secretary Liam Fox, Foreign Secretary William Hague, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and Education Secretary Michael Gove. This a group that does firmly believe in British exceptionalism, in contrast to a US presidency that rejects the Reaganite concept of American exceptionalism.

COMMENT:  Cheers for Cameron.  Of course, he has to face down the British leftists, who'd like to see a socialist, disarmed Britain, and have no problem with Islamic extremism.  But Churchill had to face down the Neville Chamberlain crowd, and even parts of Britain's upper crust, who thought Hitler was just a passing nuisance...or who thought he was a great man.

George W. Bush was inconsistent, and is still in the shadow of Ronald Reagan.  But he was a giant compared to the high-school philosopher who now occupies the White House.  If we don't pay the price for this today, we will certainly pay it tomorrow.

March 1, 2011