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Do IT this week: Layering
By Trudy Rubin
Philadelphia Inquirer
Published on Tuesday, Apr 14, 2009
PHILADELPHIA: Now that President Obama has wrapped up his inaugural trip abroad, some are saying he was too wimpy. Traveling from London to mainland Europe to Turkey (with a stop in Iraq), Obama delivered a message of ''Let's work together'' rather than ''My way or the highway.'' This was the ''un-Bush'' in action — admitting America's flaws, looking for consensus among allies, and talking about strengthening international institutions and treaties.
European crowds greeted him as a rock star. Turkish students swooned. Yet despite the adulation, Obama didn't persuade European allies to increase stimulus spending or send more troops to Afghanistan. So some are saying there should have been more of a show of toughness behind the president's trademark smile.
I'd say Obama did what he had to do.
True, allies didn't fall into line. And, true, countries such as Iran and North Korea may try to take advantage of Obama's conciliatory style. Toughness aplenty will be called for in the future.
But history has moved on since that interlude, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when America reigned unquestioned as the world's sole superpower. Global perception of U.S. military credibility has taken a heavy hit due to the Bush administration's difficulties in Iraq. And the world's admiration for our economic competence has been sapped by our descent into economic crisis.
So, in the year 2009, any new U.S. president would have been compelled to adopt a different style if he or she wanted to maintain a leadership role in the world.
Imagine, for example, if Obama had arrived at the recent G-20 conference of major economic powers in London and tried to boss the other 19 members around. The reception would not have been pleasant.
Other nations are in no mood for an American diktat. Most blame the United States for the global recession, which began with the crises in our housing market and financial institutions. China points out that it is financing much of our staggering debt load. Europeans point out that their social safety nets, which are much more substantial than ours, already provide a stimulus to their economies.
With regard to NATO's reluctance to send more troops to Afghanistan, hectoring would have been of little use. So Obama's shifted presidential style — from demanding cooperation to seeking consensus — is the only one with an eventual chance of success.
Obama is clearly trying to restore America's moral capital — our ability to lead by example — with European publics. The pledges to close Guantanamo and not to use torture — the willingness to listen and to admit the United States isn't perfect — are helping to reverse the deep hostility built up toward U.S. government during the Bush years.
''Who cares what Europeans think?'' some will ask. Here's a reason to care: If public attitudes toward the United States shift, European leaders will be in a better position to work with Obama on issues of mutual concern.
''You want to take away some of the excuses Europeans use,'' said Michael Mandelbaum of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. ''Whether they'll retreat to other excuses is hard to say,'' he added, correctly. But Obama's approach increases the prospects for more cooperation.
Similarly, the president's speech in Ankara indicated an appreciation of the importance of changing public attitudes in allied countries with Muslim majorities. Instead of talking about a war between civilizations, Obama praised the achievements of Turkish secular democracy. Instead of harping on the fight against al-Qaida, he stressed that the relationship the United States wants with the Muslim world is based on common interests that go well beyond fighting al-Qaida.
Obama then held a lively town meeting with Turkish students — a recognition that it's crucial to our strategic interests to change the negative attitudes toward the United States among so many Muslim youths.
Resetting America's image in Europe and the Muslim world provides no guarantee that allies will cooperate. But it improves the prospects for partnership and undercuts the strategic propaganda war being waged by our adversaries. For a first trip abroad, that is a good start.
Rubin is a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist. She can be e-mailed at trubin@phillynews.com.
PHILADELPHIA: Now that President Obama has wrapped up his inaugural trip abroad, some are saying he was too wimpy. Traveling from London to mainland Europe to Turkey (with a stop in Iraq), Obama delivered a message of ''Let's work together'' rather than ''My way or the highway.'' This was the ''un-Bush'' in action — admitting America's flaws, looking for consensus among allies, and talking about strengthening international institutions and treaties.
Get the full article here.
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