Long political crisis will weaken US abroad

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Saturday the political standoff paralysing Washington was "reckless" and would weaken the United States' standing abroad if it did not end soon.
The country's top diplomat said the bitter struggle between Republicans and Democrats that has led to a partial government shutdown was sending a message to the world that the United States could not get its "act together".
Kerry insisted the United States had not yet been diminished in the eyes of leaders around the world and that a solution would be found soon, but warned of consequences if the standoff continued.
"If it were prolonged, or repeated, people would begin to question the willingness of the United States to stay the course and its ability to," Kerry told reporters at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Indonesian .
Nevertheless, Kerry insisted he was convinced the standoff would not be long term, and the United States would emerge as strong as ever.
Kerry also was adamant that Obama's so-called strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific had not been weakened by the president having to cancel his trip to the region.
"Let me be clear, none of what is happening in Washington diminishes one iota our commitment to our partners in Asia, including our efforts for both trade and investment throughout the region," Kerry said.
US President Barack Obama had been due to travel to Bali for an APEC leaders' summit starting Monday. But he had to cancel his Asian trip, which would have also taken in Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines, to deal with the first government shutdown in 17 years.