11/24/08

Barack Obama’s election as the 44th President of the United States presents an important opportunity to repair our relationship with our allies and restore America’s image in the world. Obama’s victory was greeted with massive enthusiasm and support from around the world. As Richard Clarke explains, “Obama’s election has taken the wind out of al Qaeda's sails in much of the Islamic world because it demonstrates America’s renewed commitment to multiculturalism, human rights, and international law. It also proves to many that democracy can work and overcome ethnic, sectarian, or racial barriers.”

Despite the important symbolic value of Obama’s victory, the last eight years have left significant divisions between the U.S., its allies, and the international community. Bridging these differences will not be easy and will require a sustained long term effort. Our allies, and the broader international community, are looking to see a different quality of U.S. engagement with the world – and specific actions on torture, detention, global warming, international Law and the United Nations.  Some of these are obvious wins for Washington – but others are not.

Truly restoring America’s position will take time effort and a substantive change in the policies coming from Washington.

The Overwhelming Support Shown Follwing Barack Obama's Electoral Victory Marks A New Era in America's Role in the World

The election of Barack Obama as President was met with unprecedented excitement.  People around the world see Obama's victory as a signal of hope for themselves.  One man from Pakistan told BBC that “It promises hope and courage for the lovers of democracy throughout the world, including Pakistan.” In Bangkok a 29-year-old at a Starbucks demonstrates how people worldwide wanted to be a part of this historic election, saying “What an inspiration. He is the first truly global U.S. president the world has ever had.  He had an Asian childhood, African parentage and has a Middle Eastern name. He is a truly global president.” [BBC, 11/11/08. FT, 10/5/08. FT, 10/5/08. Middle East Times, 10/17/08. CBS, 11/7/08]

Obama’s victory improves America’s image around the world. In general, “Barack Obama’s election seals America’s reputation as a land of opportunity.”  From a British education minister saying “This is going to transform the world’s perceptions of America,” to a 25 year old French woman crying “Tell your readers France says 'Thank you, America, for giving the world Barack Obama!'" the reaction in countries where opinions of America have been in steep decline was remarkably positive. In Turkey, an important strategic ally, where “only 12 percent of Turks had a favorable view of the United States” Obama “is considered the best person to repair the world’s image of the United States.”  This tremendous popular support will give the next administration the opportunity to restore its respect and admiration from America’s most important allies.  [TIME, 11/05/08. BBC, 11/11/08. FT, 10/5/08. FT, 10/5/08. Middle East Times, 10/17/08. CBS, 11/7/08]

Iran provides a vivid example of how Obama’s election transcends conflict-as-usual.  “[M]ost Iranians followed the elections closely and cheered Mr. Obama’s victory” and his election “has raised hope that his victory could thaw nearly 30 years of ice.” Even with attempts by the Iranian state media to portray Obama as “window dressing,” one Iranian signaled the happiness of the people of Iran by saying “let me tell you that now I believe in American democracy.” In general, “Iranians reacted positively to Barack Obama's election, saluting the choice of the American people in breaking with George Bush's policies and hoping - despite years of deep mutual mistrust - for better relations between Tehran and Washington.”  The Guardian reports that the people it canvassed in Tehran were “overwhelmingly pleased and cautiously optimistic about the future.” [NY Times, 10/5/08.  LA Times, 10/5/08. The Guardian, 10/5/08]

America Must Rebuild It's Strained Relations With Its Allies

Closing the prison in Guantanamo Bay and banning the use of torture will send an important early signal to our allies.  Of all the failed policies and practices of the Bush administration the illegal detention and torture of detainees at Guantanamo Bay has perhaps done the most to damage America’s image and respect abroad.  German human rights activist Marianne Heuwagen suggests “the next president should close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and prosecute those detainees implicated in terrorism in regular federal courts rather than before military commissions and send the others to their home countries or appropriate countries of resettlement, including the United States. The new government should issue an executive order to implement the bans on torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by requiring the CIA to abide by the interrogation rules that the US military has now adopted. Further, it should put an end to the CIA's secret detention program and stop renditions of terrorism suspects and others to countries where they are at risk of torture or ill-treatment.” This opinion is broadly shared by American military and diplomatic leaders, including Colin Powell.  [Der Spiegel, 11/5/08. Reuters, 6/10/07]

Our allies are looking for a strong early signal committing the U.S. to communal action on climate change.  Leading an international effort to take on climate change would represent a major shift and would significantly improve America’s relationship with its European allies. The European Union has committed itself to cutting carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and if there is an international agreement, the EU will deepen this cut to 30 percent. Margot Wallström, vice president of the European Commission, expressed the opinion of many Europeans when she said, “I urge the US to take similar steps, working together with the EU on cutting emissions drastically and developing new energy technologies that generate smart, sustainable growth. I invite the new US president to take a leading role in paving the way for a global agreement on climate change in 2009.” The Copenhagen Global Climate Change Conference scheduled for the end of 2009 will be an important opportunity for Obama to demonstrate America’s commitment to addressing this challenge.  [Der Spiegel, 11/5/08]

The international community has a long list of issues on which it is hoping to see a renewed U.S. commitment to international law. One European international law expert offered the following list in order to rebuild the transatlantic relationship, “The next administration should seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council and work to make it more effective. It should support investigations and prosecutions by the International Criminal Court (ICC), seek to repeal the American Service-Members' Protection Act of 2002 and begin steps to join the Rome Statute of the ICC. It should also bring US policy in line with the 2008 treaty to ban cluster munitions and urge the Senate to ratify both the Cluster Munitions Treaty and the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty as soon as possible. It should further urge the Senate to ratify key human rights treaties that are broadly accepted by the international community.” Other international treaties and agreements that would help rebuild America’s image include the “Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.  None of these agreements are perfect, yet each agreement was painfully negotiated for years, has been ratified by the vast majority of U.N. member states, and is on balance in the American interest.” [Der Speigel, 11/5/08. Center for American Progress, 9/07]

The world will be looking for a change in how the U.S. approaches international affairs – away from the tendency to go it alone. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel explained that “The United Nations, as I’ve said many times, is imperfect. We’ve got NATO, multilateral institutions, multilateral-development banks, the World Trade Organization—all have flaws, that’s true. But if you didn’t have them what would you have? A world completely out of control, with no structure, no order, no boundaries.”  Hans Blix, former head of the IAEA and Foreign Minister of Sweden, told Der Speigel, “In international affairs, Obama will have to steer away from the arrogant unilateralism of the Bush years and explain to the public that the interdependence of states and peoples is fast accelerating. In this modern world a constructive use of multilateral institutions like the UN is a necessity. They are indispensable mechanisms where reconciliation of interests can take place and joint action can be organized. Obama was ridiculed by his opponents for saying that he was ready to talk with adversaries. He was right and his administration should act on this principle. To talk is not to concede.” “In other words: a return to normal and established ways of diplomacy is much anticipated -- and much needed. The new president could score easy points and make a huge difference by exercising old-fashioned, respectful leadership” [The New Yorker, 11/3/08. Der Speigel, 11/5/08]

Some of the Greatest Challenges Currently Facing the United States Will Require Support from Europe

Afghanistan remains a controversial issue and source of tension between the United States and Europe.  Support for the war in Afghanistan has plummeted in Europe, creating a real challenge. Despite rising violence, European NATO troop commitments to Afghanistan have fallen well short of the requested by U.S. leaders.  Moreover, many NATO countries, such as Germany, France, and Italy, put caveats on NATO’s use of their forces in Afghanistan – restricting their movements and levels of engagement with enemy forces and thus placing a real hindrance on Alliance efforts. To overcome these challenges “policymakers should open a candid discussion immediately. This will be necessary if the US wants to use the ‘honeymoon’ goodwill offered to a new administration to bridge the expectations gap and secure deliverables.”  [New York Times, 5/03/08.  Armed Forces Press Service, 10/25/07. Voice of America, 11/16/07.  Bertelsmann Foundation, 11/08]

The Europeans have an existing relationship with Iran, a relationship that America can utilize while preparing to engage with Iran.  “Europe wants to be at the center of engagement. Meanwhile, it will take time for a new US administration to shape a program for responsible, prepared diplomatic engagement with Tehran. Negotiations with Iran will be controversial, and constituencies in Congress and across government agencies will want to be considered in the policy formulation. While the US is going through this process, they should simultaneously reach out to Berlin, Paris, London and Brussels. There is no reason that policy brainstorming cannot happen simultaneously.” [Bertelsmann Foundation, 11/08. European Commission, External Relations]

The lack of agreement on both sides of the Atlantic on how to deal with Russia makes it difficult to address common interests, but there are opportunities for cooperation most notably on non-proliferation.  Despite disagreements on both sides of the Atlantic on how to address a newly assertive Russia, there is still an opportunity for important cooperation between Europe, the US, and Russia on non-proliferation.  “Non-proliferation is an area in which American and Russian interests overlap. It is, therefore, an ideal issue on which Washington can extend an olive branch.” It is also an area where Europe’s interests lie, making it also ideal for a trilateral US-EU-Russia effort.  “A number of European capitals have already expressed a desire for close consultations with the new president on non-proliferation.” [Bertelsmann Foundation, 11/08.Washington Post, 11/8/08]

Quick Hits

The government announced a bailout plan for Citigroup.

Presidents Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia and Lech Kaczynski of Poland say they were fired upon at a Russian checkpoint near South Ossetia.  Russia denies the shooting.

Two separate bombings in Baghdad killed at least 20 people.

Iraqi lawmakers opposed to the security agreement argue that the deal does not explicitly protect Iraq’s oil wealth and other assets.

Pakistan announced that a two-week operation has pushed militants back from Peshawar and killed 25 suspected militants.

Marine commanders work on a plan to send 15,000 more marines to Afghanistan.

North Korea hardens its stance on plans to tighten the border with South Korea.

Two senior MPs are looking for answers in the death of a British al Qaeda suspect in Pakistan.  British intelligence appears to have been unaware of the alleged CIA missile attack that killed Rashid Rauf.

Palestinian leaders are deploying troops around the West Bank in a law-and-order push for the holiday season.

The LA Times looks at the consequences of closing Guantanamo Bay.

Ex-Sandinistas are some of the toughest critics of President Daniel Ortega’s rule in Nicaragua.

Protesters in Thailand surrounded the parliament, in a “final push to unseat the government.”

Venezuela’s opposition party made gains in elections yesterday.

A new report from the Brookings Institution argues for a new approach to Latin America.