He was respected in Asia, greatly respected in Africa and generally respected all over the world. He had a functioning State Dept. and White House and wasn't in the papers tripping over his own tongue. He was also respected for the simple reason that he showed respect to other world leaders and didn't use every photo opt to puff and preen.
Everybody loved the great obama. They knew he could be pushed around. To defend any aspect of Obama foreign policy or relations is a joke. He threw gas on a fire that was already started. But it was a ****load of gas.