'STRIKE?'
The Pins Say: 'Energy, Economy, Security'
[El
Espectador, Colombia]
El Mundo, Colombia
Obama's Words of
Hope and of Disappointment
"The inaugural address of the
so-called 'Obama Era' left us with the impression that the 44th President of
the United States is a combination of two rather strange personalities. … Obama
believes the Empire should continue being the Empire - only a good Empire."
EDITORIAL
Translated By 'Douglas Myles Rasmussen'
January 21, 2009
Colombia
- El Mundo - Original Article (Spanish)
The inaugural address of the
so-called "Obama Era" left us with the impression that the 44th
President of the United States is a combination of two rather strange
personalities for our times: the leader of the greatest world power, selected
to confront, from this moment forward, two wars and an economic crisis almost
as serious as the Depression of the 1930s; the other, a charismatic pastor who
invokes God's help time and again, while calling on his people to take up
again, the values of "honesty and hard work, courage and fair play,
tolerance and curiosity, loyalty," and patriotism. And to assume, as a kind
of Manifest Destiny, that "What is required of us now is a new era of
responsibility - a recognition on the part of every American that we have
duties to ourselves, our nation and the world."
It was only logical that the
economic crisis was a key part of his address - without neglecting the aim of
injecting optimism, because, "We remain the most prosperous, powerful
nation on Earth" - and that he would insist on his theme that the crisis
isn't only due to the "greed and irresponsibility on the part of
some," but also the "collective failure to make hard choices."
For that reason "our
time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant
decisions - that time has surely passed" he declared. But above all else, there
are two fundamental concepts that probably didn't please those who hoped to label
him a leftist - as a suspected backer of economic protectionism and an enemy
of the free market.
"The question we ask
today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it
works …" And later he said: "Nor is the question before us whether
the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand
freedom is unmatched. But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful
eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it
favors only the prosperous."
Another notable
characteristic of Barack Obama's speech is its glorification of the past of the
United States, his absolute vote of confidence in the Founding Fathers and the Constitution,
and his conviction that the Empire should continue being the Empire - only a
good Empire. "Recall," he said, "that earlier generations faced
down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy
alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot
protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we
please."
This reflection led him to refer
to the Iraq War - which, along with Afghanistan, was the only reference to a
specific U.S. foreign policy theme. This left people who sought pronouncements
about the crisis in the Middle East or strained relations with Russia dissatisfied.
The same could be said for those naive enough to believe that part of the change
would be taking a new look at the Latin American "backyard" and
the Empire's difficulties with the "Four Musketeers" of the
"Bolivarian Revolution. [Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Raul Castro of Cuba, Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador].
----THINGS
THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY----
BUSH SAYS: 'WHAT DID I DO WRONG?'
[La
Jornada, Mexico]
But No. His only specific
announcement - nothing new since he had already said so just after his
electoral triumph - is that "We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its
people and forge a hard- earned peace in Afghanistan," something that,
furthermore, happens to coincide fully with the policy defended by the Bush
government. And thus the Empire, as we have pointed out, whether it be with
Bush or Obama, Republicans or Democrats, isn't going to walk away from Iraq
humiliated and defeated after the immense cost of that war.
On that front, there will no
fundamental change, but rather a change in style and nuance. Obama announced
that "With old friends (surely referring to Great Britain, France and
Spain) and former foes (Russia, Germany), we'll work tirelessly to lessen the
nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet." But he went
on to clarify in the next line: "We will not apologize for our way of life
nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims
by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that,
"Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and
we will defeat you," a clear allusion to the regime in Iran and its allies
within fundamentalist Islam.
'EPILOGUE'
[La
Jornada, Mexico]
Later, almost at the end of
his speech, he returns to the topic of terrorism with an appeal "To the
Muslim world," out of which came part of his ancestry. "We seek a new
way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." But he warns:
"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their
society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you
can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption
and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of
history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your
fist." We cannot help but notice, as a mere curiosity, that that last
phrase, even in the original English, (about "extending a hand if you are
willing to unclench your fist"), is apparently a gaffe on the part of
President Obama, that could be wielded by detractors to talk about weakness and
ethical incongruity in dealing with dictators and corrupt leaders.
Finally, we emphasize his
expression of gratitude to President Bush, "for his service to our nation
as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this
transition," the cordial way he saw his predecessor off at various moments
of the ceremony - and the gallant gesture of accompanying Bush, his wife and
the vice presidential couple up to the moment they lifted off by
helicopter. Obama evidently wanted it made clear that no spirit of revenge
would be permitted against the previous government just to please furious
anti-Bushites. And that, after all, is how the inexorable Obama change is meant
to come about.
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