Kaj Leers writes:  Obama has been judicious on most key crises of the day. His caution and care have been notable—and underrated. He has sometimes taken the notion of strategic restraint too far, as with a premature U.S. military departure from Iraq, excessive nervousness about any entanglement in Syria’s civil war, and ongoing plans for a complete military withdrawal from Afghanistan next year. But Obama’s discipline has often been quite wise and quite beneficial to the nation, especially in regard to Russia, China, and Iran. As his presidency begins to wind down, the country’s fundamentals of national power as measured by economic growth, high-technology, industrial entrepreneurship and productivity, fiscal and trade deficits, and military power are generally no worse and in some cases modestly better than when he entered the White House.

Notable contrasts between his first secretary of state and his second reveal John Kerry as a master of diplomacy.    On behalf of the President, Kerry has furthered an Asia-Pacific rebalance,   The tricky Russia relationship is being re-considered.  The Iran deal is momumental in terms of nuclear safety and the turmoil in the Middle East.  Obama Opens Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs