[The Toronto Star, Canada]

 

 

de Volkskrant, The Netherlands

American Decline Not Fault of Obama

 

"This is the interesting paradox: the fact that America is in visibly worse shape than before forces Obama to have the courage to take strong measures, not least on the domestic front where a number of sacred cows are dying."

 

By Thomas von der Dunk

                                            

 

Translated By Meta Mertens

 

August 12, 2009

 

The Netherlands - de Volkskrant - Original Article (Dutch)

President Barack Obama: Confronting a slew of domestic and international problems, most of which were not of his making.   BBC NEWS AUDIO: War of words across Atlantic over 'socialized medicine,' Aug. 15, 00:07:11

If during his first six months in office Obama’s foreign policies differ markedly from his predecessor, it's due to the inescapable realization that America’s international position has weakened.

 

SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

 

The weakening is not the fault of Obama. This was all apparent before he came along. But it's at this moment that Washington has dared to face it. First, because the Bush regime with its arrogant shortsightedness - considered strength by a few - never wanted to confront a reality that wasn't consistent with its own narrow view of the world. And partly because the fatal consequences of this Bush-era myopia have become so apparent that no one with an ounce of intelligence can deny them any longer.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Lacking even a minimum of intelligence, some neoconservative hotheads recently accused Obama of showing weakness toward Iran. At the same time the silliest hero of the right-wing Republican camp, ex-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, appears to indicate with her resignation as Alaska governor that she recognizes her own intellectual incapacity to handle today's problems. 

 

FORCEFUL

 

In our new multi-polar world, Obama certainly no longer has the chance to act “forcefully” against Iran. Whatever the regime, he knows all too well that he desperately needs Iran to help bring order to its chaotic neighboring country [Iraq]. And he realizes that he can no longer circumvent China, which has repeatedly stated its disapproval of the monetary tricks being played with its billions of dollars.

 

 

And Obama must also accept Russia, as deplorable as it is, because without Russian cooperation at the U.N., there will be no end to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. In that respect, Bush unknowingly left Obama some pocket change that he can use to placate a humiliated Kremlin. Namely, he can cancel Bush’s absurd plan for a missile shield in exchange for Russian cooperation elsewhere.

[The Independent, U.K.]

 

VISIBLE

 

This is the interesting paradox: the fact that America is in visibly worse shape than before forces Obama to have the courage to take strong measures, not least on the domestic front where a number of sacred cows are dying, from health insurance and energy to the economic path in general. And on the foreign front, there's simply no political room left for shortsighted lobbyists representing factions of the American electorate that manifest pro-Israel or anti-Cuba fetishism.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US August 17, 1:15am]