Like his so-called "red line" on Syria's use of chemical weapons or Russia's annexation of parts of Ukraine. Unfortunately (for him), he's judged more on his actions than rhetoric by most of the world.
I'm sick of this shit. People hate Obama's foreign policy because he looks soft but he's actually handled these situations pretty well and the alternatives people propose are either terrible or impossible.
What should he have done in Syria? Invaded and made another Iraq? Started bombing? And how did the whole thing turn out? Syria hasn't used chemical weapons since, they've closed their 12 chemical weapon production facilities and while it's been slower than the US would but like the OPCW has found their progress satisfactory and some 90% of their disclosed stores are destroyed.
With Ukraine, again what are the alternatives? Arming Ukraine is a PR victory for Putin and still wouldn't stop Russia from taking Donetsk if they really wanted it. Crimea is a vital strategic interest for Russia, there is no way they let Ukraine control it unless they can be sure Ukraine is a loyal client state.
There is no way short of direct American military engagement Obama can stop Russia from taking Crimea or Donetsk. Do you honestly think Eastern Ukraine and the Crimea are so valuable to American interests that it is worth risking a war between Russia and the United States over them? Sanctions and diplomatic pressure are the best ways to handle the Russian situation he could have done more in terms of economic support for Ukraine, but I think he left that up largely to Europe and the IMF so that it doesn't look like Ukraine is an American puppet to the Russians.
No one wants an unnecessary war with Iran. We're not opposed to any deal-- we're just asking for a better deal.
Ok, sure but the things Netanyahu has asked for are things that Iranians would never accept. Are Obama and the State department incompetent negotiators and they could get the destruction of centrifuges if they were just "tougher" and implemented more sanctions? Or does Netanyahu not want a deal because he thinks this can be handled the same way Israel handled Iraq and the Osirak reactor? Also Netanyahu doesn't want sanctions lifted because an improvement in the Iranian economy would give them more money to fight their proxy wars with Israel, so he has good reason to ask for something he knows they will never give up.