Unplugged: Tough Decisions Abroad Still Ahead

By: Michelle Levi
Topics: Washington Unplugged

David Ignatius, the popular novelist and renowned foreign policy voice of the Washington Post, told CBS News' Bob Schieffer that the Arab-Israeli conflict is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the new administration on 'Washington Unplugged' Friday.

Ignatius said that there were four major substantative objectives for the Obama administration abroad: Rhe Arab-Israeli peace process, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.

"All of the tough decisions, I think, are still ahead of him," he said.

"In terms of fundementally changing the mood in the world," he said, the Arab-Israeli conflict is the most crucial to face head on. "Its a little but like health care - there is resistance, there is delay," Ignatius said.

Schieffer asked the journalist to assess President Obama's foreign policy thus far.

Ignatius responded that the administration has focused "overwhelmingly" on changing the world's view of the United States.

"They set out to change this reflexive anti-American feeling that you found in Europe, that you found in Asia and you certainly found in the Middle East," he said.

Ignatius said "in foreign policy, [Obama] has been lucky."

"His biggest potential adversary, Iran, has imploded after it's election," he said. Ignatius argued that this is a moment of great opportunity for the United States.

"I would like to see us peel away some of Iran's...allies. Peel away Hamas. Peel away Syria. Peel away even Hezbollah to the extent they can," he said.

The prolific novelist has another thriller out this summer titled "The Increment," which focuses on fiction and reality in the C.I.A.

Watch the full interview above.

Click here for today's full episode of "Washington Unplugged," which also includes Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn on faith and submarine races.