In praising President Obama’s video message to Iran, Joe Klein wrote, “The Iran message–already being criticized by neolithic conservatives–is part of a strategy: make it clear that we’re willing to be reasonable, that our goal isn’t regime change (hence, the reference to Iran as the “Islamic Republic”), that the ball is in the Supreme Leader’s court.”

Here’s what the Supreme leader did with the ball:

“Have you released Iranian assets? Have you lifted oppressive sanctions? Have you given up mudslinging and making accusations against the great Iranian nation and its officials? Have you given up your unconditional support for the Zionist regime? Even the language remains unchanged,” [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei said.

Khamenei, wearing a black turban and dark robes, said America was hated around the world for its arrogance, as the crowd chanted “Death to America.”

Is it too “neolithic” to say Obama’s strategy isn’t working? Or to suggest that our president might spend his time more effectively than in trying to persuade an apocalyptic theocrat that we’re “reasonable”?

People like Klein have tended to view Obama’s foreign policy moves in a vacuum. The president’s goodwill gestures are praised as a return to sanity and equanimity — but the rebuffs go unnoticed or are absorbed into the “Bush really blew it” chorus. Obama’s Al Arabiya interview was groundbreaking — never mind that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded with a litany of American “crimes.” Hillary Clinton’s Russian reset button established a new tone in U.S.-Russia relations — except in Russia, where Putin and Medvedev are still helping Iran with nuclear power and threatening America over our NATO obligations. Hillary’s letting Beijing off the hook for human rights abuses signaled a cool-headed willingness to cooperate with China — yet the Chinese Foreign Minister came to Washington a week later and told us to stop “meddling” in Chinese affairs, while Beijing is broadcasting doubts about investing in the U.S.

As each of Obama’s nice-guy efforts fails internationally while succeeding domestically, a cumulative impression is setting in around the globe. In Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and beyond, leaders are getting confirmation that not only is the new American president willing to indulge bad actors, but that the American public is thrilled about it. This is a strange and dangerous way to “restore America’s image.”