This week in New York at the United Nations General Assemblymeetings, President Obama demonstrated his commitment to both tomultilateralism and to a national security policy that advances Americaninterests through a "whole of government" approach.  In both speeches and deed, he explained how theUnited States would use all aspects of American power to advance its interests,communicated the importance of burden-sharing with our allies, and expressedconfidence in the ability of multilateral institutions to be effective partnersin fostering both diplomatic goodwill and American policy objectives.  These remarks reflected the work of theadministration over the past 20 months to integrate development and diplomacymore robustly into American national security policy.  In particular, at the Millennium DevelopmentGoals summit in New York, the president proposed a new framework forsustainable security based in practical development efforts that are alignedwith America's long-term interests.  Thisrobust activity contrasts sharply with the lack of ideas coming from the conservatives'"Pledge to America," which failed to offer any ideas on how to handle thesepressing challenges of development, diplomacy and defense in the 21st century.

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The inauguration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second presidential term earlier this monthhas not dissipated discontent with the regime or ended political turmoil. Political and religious leaders have organized behind the scenes and opposition leaders continue to make explosive allegations against the government.
This coming month, the fractious regime will be pushed back into the international spotlight. A clogged September calendar will see Iran dominate the agenda of international meetings in Frankfurt, Vienna, Pittsburgh, and New York. Despite Iran’s political uncertainty, engagement remains the best way of forcing a decision from the regime – either move in a new direction offered by the Obama administration or face consequences from a united international community. 

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In his farewell address President Bush claimed many foreign policy successes, but his rhetoric belies the reality of his legacy. However, the President’s leadership in forging and funding a bi-partisan consensus emerged on the need for the U.S. to take action to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa is striking.  It reveals the new approach that America must now deploy consistently as we turn the page on the Bush administration – an approach that seeks to integrate all elements of American power, economic, diplomatic, legal, cultural, and military. The confirmation hearings of the past week have teased out common strands, from State to Defense to the UN, of a new integrated approach toward the world that is strategic about our interests and consistent with our values.

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A new task-force report from the U.S. Institute of Peace called “Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers” makes a strong statement challenging conventional wisdom: “preventing genocide is an achievable goal. The idea that genocide is somehow completely unpredictable and undeterrable is one of the biggest psychological justifications for doing nothing about it.”

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Today Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will speak before the U.N. General Assembly. For years Iran’s leader has brandished hate-filled language that fully deserves the world’s condemnation. But President Bush and his allies, like John McCain, have used this as an excuse to continue a failed approach based on hollow saber rattling that has done nothing to constrain Iran’s nuclear development and its growing regional influence.

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