Dear teacher, what's the exact meaning behind this sentence?

[atoom]

My respected teacher

hello!

i have read a democrats' criticism comparing Washington's China policy to a 'total failure'. She said present-day U.S. face way more challengement than it did 5 years ago due to Bush's many impolitic decisions, in the end, she said:"Our leverage is greatly diminished because of those decisions, I don't know if you (americans) can turn back on it."

well, no politics please.

i just know the meaning of the bold part of what she said at last faintly , so could you tell me the exact meaning, especially the phrase 'turn back on'? (i just know turn on and turn back, i cant look for 'turn back on' in the dictionary )



thanks a lot!

[Marylin]

Originally Posted by atoom

My respected teacher

hello!

i have read a democrats' criticism comparing Washington's China policy to a 'total failure'. She said present-day U.S. face way more challengement than it did 5 years ago due to Bush's many impolitic decisions, in the end, she said:"Our leverage is greatly diminished because of those decisions, I don't know if you (americans) can turn back on it."

well, no politics please.

i just know the meaning of the bold part of what she said at last faintly , so could you tell me the exact meaning, especially the phrase 'turn back on'? (i just know turn on and turn back, i cant look for 'turn back on' in the dictionary )



thanks a lot!

I am pretty sure it should be : "turn your back on it", meaning they could care less or simply refuse to help.

[Mister Micawber]

If your transcription is accurate, I would think that 'can turn back on it' means 'able to reverse Bush's decisions, the reduced leverage, and or the subsequent challenge'-- 'it' would be the path of diplomacy that the Bush administration has embarked upon and the challenge that America is now confronted with.