On foreign policy, mixed report card for Obama: #tellusatoday

We asked our followers on Twitter what grade they would give the president on foreign policy and why. Twitter comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

I give the president an A- on foreign policy. I like his calm, analytical method. He's hard to rattle.

—@cykelly1718

Obama gets a D on foreign policy for his appeasement in the face of the Islamic State's threat.

—@AmPowerBlog

I give him a solid C. I appreciate that he doesn't rush us into wars and he acts decisively, but I dislike the NSA spying on us and allies.

—@TweetOnMe2014

Grade of F. No clear plan or follow through. Very disappointed but not surprised.

—@beshannonphotos

Everyone wants full disclosure on foreign policy but doesn't realize that the enemy is here too, listening.

—@MrRealtorElite

A solid B. He's deliberate in evaluating our options and developing strategies. He frames it in plain language.

—@boldensvcs

I would give him a C+. He could do better, but the fact that he didn't take office in a vacuum gets him a pass from me.

—@TimmyBermuda

For more of the conversation, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.

Letters edited for clarity and grammar:

President Obama is absolutely right to be cautious and measured in his response to political violence in other countries, and it is infuriating to hear carping by those who should know better. Few of those now clamoring for displays of "toughness" are seriously prepared to bear the costs of becoming entangled in the world's current conflicts.

Yet, even when politicians and commentators have no coherent response to the crises in Ukraine, Iraq and elsewhere, they suggest that somehow a "tougher" presidential posture would have forestalled them. Really? Were U.S. presidents to blame for the breakup of Yugoslavia, civil wars in central Africa or any dozens of examples one could cite? Is any U.S. president to blame for the long-running drug violence in Mexico on our very border? Even at the height of our power, U.S. presidents could not prevent political violence overseas. Obama has applied the diplomatic and military resources of our country in support of positive outcomes in situations where our power is limited. I hope he continues to resist calls for hasty action or macho posturing.

Joseph S. Harrington; Morton Grove, Ill.

Now that we know Russia has "outright lied" over its military activity inside Ukraine, how long are we going to let Vladimir Putin tell us these are only Russian volunteers and this is all Ukraine's fault? President Obama needs to stand up to Putin the same way President Kennedy stood up to Nikita Khrushchev in the Cuban Missile Crisis or President Reagan stood up to Mikhail Gorbachev to help end the Cold War. They had confidence and strong leadership skills. Russia and China are advancing while the United States continues to fall behind as a world leader.

Russ W. Bill; Fountain Valley, Calif.