1/16/09

In his farewell address President Bush claimed many foreign policy successes, but his rhetoric belies the reality of his legacy. Few Iraqis or Afghans would recognize the description of their countries, still plagued by instability and terror, as young “democracies.” It is hard to see the safe America the President claimed credit for against a backdrop of skyrocketing international terrorism, a reconstituted al Qaeda , a badly mismanaged Department of Homeland Security, American values betrayed and our image damaged.  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 thus even more 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.

World’s challenges demand that U.S. deploy all instruments of national power.  During her confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State designate Hillary Clinton affirmed that it will take the full range of foreign policy instruments to reverse the damage done by the Bush administration: “We must use what has been called smart power, the full range of tools at our disposal — diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural — picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation. With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of our foreign policy. This is not a radical idea. The Ancient Roman poet Terence declared that ‘In every endeavor, the seemly course for wise men is to try persuasion first.’ The same truth binds wise women as well.” [Sen. Hillary Clinton, 1/13/09]

U.S. must re-engage with the world by restoring its relationships and placing renewed trust in global institutions.  Over the last 8 years, the U.S. has steadily turned away from the world, and its standing has suffered as a consequence.  As Ambassador to the United Nations Designate Susan Rice said during her confirmation proceedings, “the support of others can never be viewed as a prerequisite for U.S. action, but our actions are strengthened with the support of friends, allies and other stakeholders. Achieving the backing of an institution that represents every country in the world can give added legitimacy and leverage to our actions and facilitate our efforts to garner broad support for our policy objectives... As in the past, there will be occasions in the future when deadlocks cannot be broken, and the United States and its partners and allies will nonetheless have to act. Yet, what our leaders accomplished over 60 years ago was to help establish an inclusive global institution that, by its very existence, provides the potential to enhance collective security, while affording a powerful platform for American leadership -- leadership that can increase our own and others' security and prosperity.” [Susan Rice, 1/15/09]

By stating that “waterboarding is torture,” Eric Holder indicated a return to more than half a century of legal precedent and to values that date back to America’s founding.  During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General-designate Eric Holder expressed a commitment to return to America’s most treasured values and traditions.   Proclaiming that “Waterboarding is torture,” Holder said, “I want to assure you, the American people, and the world: Whatever system we use will be consistent with our values.”  On the controversial issue of rendition, Holder said, “It simply should not be the policy or the practice of the United States of America to turn over a prisoner or captured person to a nation where we suspect or have reason to believe that person will be tortured.” [NY Times, 1/15/08. NPR, 1/15/08]

Obama and his Designate for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy for Michele Flournoy evoked the necessity of comprehensive, strategic approaches that use all elements of national power.  Obama told the Washington Post, “I think one of the principles we’ll be operating under is that all these things are related and if we have got an integrated approach, we’re going to be more effective.”  During questioning from Sen. Jim Webb on Afghanistan, Flournoy expressed the need for non military solutions and the need to work “across the U.S. government as a whole, working with our NATO allies, working with the Afghan government, working with international donors... all elements of national power [should be] brought] to bear. [Washington Post, 1/16/08. Armed Services Committee, 1/15/08]

What We’re Reading

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges Israel to cease its attacks on Gaza.  Israel sends envoys to the US and Egypt for cease fire talks.  Hamas’ leader, in exile in Syria, rejected Israeli demands for a cease fire.

The Washington Post looks at the various factions resisting President-elect Obama’s plan for Afghanistan.

Britain’s defense minister sharply criticized other NATO nations for not fulfilling their duties in Afghanistan, “freeloading on the back of US military security” instead.

A US general said that if violence levels remain low, US troops may begin withdrawing from Baghdad this year.

US officials say that Iran has recently evaded sanctions and acquired sensitive materials from China for weapons programs.

Outgoing CIA Director Michael Hayden said that President-elect Obama’s greatest challenges include Iran’s nuclear program and violence in Mexico.  He also defended the CIA’s use of harsh interrogation techniques.

The Russia-Ukraine-EU gas dispute continues for the 10th day.

The US and the United Arab Emirates signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, the first such deal with a Middle Eastern country.

Commentary of the Day

Jim Hoagland looks at Egypt’s role in the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Joel Kurtzman writes that Mexico’s drug war has destabilized the country to the point that we must not “discount the possibility of a failed state next door.”

Gazprom official Alexander Medvedev argues that Gazprom is trying to get gas to the EU, but that the Ukraine is the unreasonable obstacle.