Foreign policy requires a delicacy that ideology cannot provide.

With the United Nations meeting in New York, American clumsiness, indeed childishness, is on full display. And it is not just the administration that is to blame.

Congress, in its zeal to carry water for Ukraine and partially for Israel, limits the United States in the methods that can be employed to preserve its influence, not only because of its power, but also as the premier moral leader in the world.

Confusion reigns with Trump and the Congress resembling the St. Vitus’ dance. In the Middle East, Trump backs Binjamin Netanyahu’s policies. Democrats hedge by backing Israel, but harshly criticizes its Prime Minister. Both are skeptical about the Palestinians, with confusing distinctions. At least Trump is clearer on his position; the Democrats are blowing an uncertain trumpet.

Mostly, Democrats are whistling past the Middle Eastern graveyard. They are uncertain about French and British initiatives regarding recognition of a Palestinian state. The Democrats are somewhat sympathetic to their efforts, but do not fully support them. Now Trump has fewer problems, but his concerns are to appease the Abraham Accords allies, chiefly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, over the Palestinians. As for Europe, he will try to talk his allies out of Palestinian recognition.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world gazes, wondering where they stand in all of this. Russia, China, India, Brazil, and the rest of the BRICS nations gaze within a mixture of amusement and horror.

To these nations, Europe is a spent force, and the United States is feared, but only for its power, not its perspective. Not since Kaiser Wilhelm II has a head of state, in this case, Trump, conducted business through the media. It upsets the State Department and makes American foreign policy appear to be a floating crap game.

Trump never seems to appreciate that his position does not depend solely on raw power. Alliances are needed, not simply with the old former colonial powers. Trump, better than the Democrats, seems to understand that. Still, his crude coercion, such as a 50% tariff levied on India for purchasing Russian oil, damages attempts to forge new alliances. Democrats, of course, will do anything Ukraine wants and will eventually concede to Israel. Give Netanyahu credit, he is no fool; he knows who has bells on their tunics (the US Congress), he hears them for miles, and knows that he has nothing to fear.

Foreign policy is not a fool’s game. Calling leaders names will no longer work. Trump, although preferable to Democrats on this score, is erratic and unwilling to settle on a policy; he is being slowly dragged into a position akin to his critics. Bluster cures none of it. Serious negotiations might. Both Trump and his adversaries are in the same boat, lost at sea.