“It was a nice gesture to give me a book; I’m a reader.”

So says President Obama about Hugo Chavez creating a stereotypical Chavez-serving photo op by giving Obama a copy of “The Open Veins of Latin America:  Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent,” a book by Eduardo Galeano.  Like Chavez’s ties to Hamas and drug cartels, the title speaks for itself, don’t you think?  Little surprise coming from the man who only a month ago went on record calling Obama “ignorant” and is well-known for his sentiments towards “the most murderous American empire.”

Maybe it simply came as a relief after Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega thrashed the United States for 50 minutes during the opening ceremonies of the 5th Summit of the Americas.  “I’m grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old,” he said.  A dangerously flippant remark that speaks volumes to this American patriot about where Obama’s loyalties really lay.  As the elected leader of this Republic, he represents America and her history; it horrifies me that the man lacks such basic knowledge.  But then again, this is the man who considers the Constitution to be a “flawed document” so perhaps it is understandable after all that he would want to be seen as divorced from it.

But this kind of disrespect for his country hasn’t gone unnoticed by those Obama would most wish to impress.  No sooner did he speak to Iran about engaging in some kind of peaceful dialogue, behind closed doors they convicted American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi of “spying” and sentenced her to 8 years in prison.  And French President Nicolas Sarkozy has become less-than-complimentary of late, calling Obama “inexperienced” and wisely noting that despite “a “subtle mind” and being “very intelligent, very charismatic,” intelligence doesn’t necessarily guarantee political success.

I fear that this kind of foreign policy is going to do only one thing:  get the United States engaged in another great war.  Obama can dismiss Venezuela’s military size but he cannot dismiss its Communist and other anti-American ties.  He has already thrown Israel under the proverbial bus by his inaction at the U.N. and Israel now stands poised to attack Iran alone.  Or is that attack Iran for us?  I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find this is all a machination of those of George Soros’ ilk, Obama a perfect foil to finally take control when the economy gears up once again to support a war machine.  It’s not really a far stretch when we get wind that the administration is considering converting its preferred shares in the banks into common stock.  In lockstep with not allowing banks to repay TARP loans, can you say “nationalize the banking system”?

The President may think he’s a reader, but it’s becoming more and more obvious that the books he’s chosen to read are doing us all far more harm than good.