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Candidate Obama contrasted his foreign policy posture with that of the Bush administration by promising to bring a more conciliatory approach to America’s challenges in the region and to resolve our problems with “smart diplomacy.” As president he would renew American leadership in the world with a more humble approach—“leading from behind,” one of his advisers would famously call it. These were the ideas that animated the Obama Doctrine. Just a few days before, the president had pointed to his approach as a reason for voters to keep him in office. “In a world of new threats and new challenges,” he said, “you can choose leadership that has been tested and proven.” Tested and proven—to fail.