Two Cheers for Obama on Foreign Affairs

[babylonsister]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss/522840/two_cheers_for_obama_on_foreign_affairs

Two Cheers for Obama on Foreign Affairs
posted by Robert Dreyfuss on 01/28/2010 @ 06:40am


Make no mistake -- to use one of President Obama's favorite phrases -- the United States faces a difficult and daunting foreign policy challenge over the next three years of Obama's first term.

Still, it was a pleasure to listen to a State of the Union address, especially after eight years of his predecessor's alarmist warnings and warlike thundering, in which war, terrorism, and "rogue states" went almost unmentioned.

During an hour-plus speech, the president devoted about eight minutes to foreign affairs, and much of that dealt with issues other than war and terrorism, things like negotiations on nuclear disarmament, HIV AIDS, and climate change. Even though the problems are still out there, it was wonderful to listen to a president who didn't try to scare us to death or mobilize us for some misguided military adventure.

He started the short foreign-policy portion of his speech with a slap at President Bush, who bungled the powerful, worldwide sympathy for the United States after 9/11 by launching his absurd Global War on Terror and his illegal war in Iraq. "Sadly, some of the unity we felt after 9/11 has dissipated," said Obama, adding that he wouldn't attack Bush directly for that: "We can argue all we want about who's to blame for this, but I'm not interested in re-litigating the past."

Then he ridiculed the Republican party's tough-guy attitude: "Let's put aside the schoolyard taunts about who's tough. ... Let's leave behind the fear and division."

In other words, not only did Obama criticize the "fear-and-division" strategy of the right, but he notably avoided engaging in the fear-and-division tactic himself. That alone is worth a standing ovation.

snip//

Anyone reading my commentary knows that I'm an Obama critic on foreign policy, in a wide range of areas. But let's take a moment to appreciate Obama's speech last night.

[lamp_shade]

1. K&R

[Clio the Leo]

2. Make that three! NT

[impik]

3. He spent very little time talking about "terror", there was no

"Axis of evil", no bully talk. He sounded secured, confident, wise and sober president who while knowing that his most important job is to be commander in chief - he has no intention to have i define his presidency. It's education and life quality that really interest him.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Indeed. It was a boffo production! Such a great relief. nt