1/27/10

The connection between the foundations of American power and its exercise abroad was one rarely tended to by the last administration.  Unfortunately, this led to a myriad of problems that hampered our country's efforts to project influence around the world.

Fortunately, the Obama administration has reversed course.  Its actions comport with an understanding that America's national security policy is only as strong as the institutions that advance it; that its economic strength cannot be sustained without significant investments at home; and that the capacity of America to inspire people overseas rests on our adherence to traditions born at home.

Among the administration's national security accomplishments is a resurgent foreign policy infrastructure that has elevated diplomacy and development to equally complement, rather than just support, a 21^st century military.  Through the stimulus package passed this spring, the administration has invested in the domestic economy by boosting government support for infrastructure, energy, and education.  And, the administration has moved admirably to dispense with the idea that America's national security practices are somehow separate from the principles enshrined in Constitution.  These reforms have made America better equipped to deal with the national security challenges of both today and the future.

Restoring America's foreign policy infrastructure for the 21^st century.  When the Obama administration came into office, America's diplomatic and development instruments were atrophied, its military overburdened.  Now, thanks to the administration's efforts, the U.S. has begun the slow but vial return to a tradition of American global leadership that brings together diplomatic, economic and military components.

Adopting a 21^st century approach to resourcing the military. President Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates led a bipartisan effort to reform the defense budget so that the United States could better address the threats it faces in the 21^st century. This past October, the president signed into law a defense budget that rebalances resources to meet the security challenges of the new century and cuts billions of dollars from unnecessary and wasteful programs that either fight the wars of the past or are pointless for the soldiers of today.  The forthcoming 2011 defense budget makes 21^st century investments that will keep our nuclear complex safe and up-to-date by making sure we have a reliable nuclear defense and not diverting critical resources to expensive, unnecessary new testing or development of nuclear weapons.

Restoring the lost instruments of American power: Diplomacy and development.  Recognizing that the United States needs to use all elements of national power to pursue its interests and that a strong State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development are as important as a strong Pentagon, the Obama administration increased funding for the State Department and USAID by 25% from last year - nearly double what it was in 2005 -and has pledged not to cut the international affairs funding in 2010. Signs of this increased stature range from Secretary Clinton spearheading efforts to increase diplomacy's prominence within the U.S. - China relationship to USAID leading U.S. efforts to respond to the crisis in Haiti. 

Setting the course of American strategy. The Administration also convened a series of reviews to improve and integrate all aspects of our foreign affairs:  the first ever Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) as well as a development review at the National Security Council through a Presidential Study Directive (PSD); the forthcoming Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR); and the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR).

Anticipating 21^st century threats. As the U.S. rebalances its foreign policy approach way from purely military solutions, it increasingly faces an altered national security landscape.  To prepare for this reality, the Obama administration begun several initiatives anticipating the challenges of the 21^st century, including establishing CIA center for climate change and national security, appointing a cyber security coordinator to craft government policy for the threats of the digital age, and linking its nonproliferation policy to the nexus of loose nuclear material and terrorism

Strengthening America at home.  A strong domestic foundation is essential to advancing security interests abroad.  President Obama's strategic investments in areas neglected by the previous administration not only enhance the U.S.' capacity to project national power overseas, but also set the stage for future generations to reap the benefits.

Investing in a clean energy economy.  Less than a month after he took office, President Obama signed into law a stimulus package that triples government spending on clean energy programs, with the goal of doubling the amount of renewable energy in three years. The legislation would simultaneously create jobs and reducing dependence on foreign oil, bolstering America's competitiveness in the global arena.

Strengthening America's infrastructural backbone. Investing in our domestic infrastructure is not only an important economic stimulus, but also benefits the United States' preparedness to handle external security threats.  The Obama administration is fully cognizant of this, allotting $57 billion of the stimulus package to infrastructure development, ranging from highway improvement to high-speed rail development to clean water and food safety projects.  As Steven Flynn of Center for National Policy put it, "The Obama Administration's plans for reinvesting in infrastructure...as a part of its economic stimulus effort provides an historic opportunity to design structures and systems strong enough to handle the stress of disasters."

Preparing for tomorrow's world through education and innovation investments.  Fareed Zakaria highlighted how if America's educational shortcomings were to go unaddressed, they "will, over time, translate into a competitiveness problem, because if the United States cannot educate and train a third of the working population to compete in a knowledge economy, this will drag down the country."  Through the stimulus package, the Obama administration has invested over $100 billion in programs related to education or science and technology. 

Leading the way out of the global financial crisis.  With the rest of the world waiting to see if the United States could lead the way out of a crisis spawned from the previous administration's mismanagement, President Obama headed the global response.  He signed a major economic stimulus on the 29^th day of his presidency; successfully built a G20 consensus on a coordinated response based on financial assistance, regulation, and free trade; and led world leaders to pledge $1.1 trillion to the IMF to stave off impending economic catastrophe.  With economic recovery and job creation essential to the U.S.'s ability to project power abroad, encouraging signs of economic improvement over the past year indicate that the administration's policies have been critical to maintaining and enhancing America's foreign policy interests.

Aligning our foreign policy with our values.  Over the past year, the administration has recommitted America to pursuing a foreign policy agenda that does not conflict with America's founding principles and is aligned with the traditions that have allowed America to flourish for over two centuries. 

Combating terrorism by bringing terrorists to justice. From creating instruments to interrogate terrorist suspects that reflect our values to bringing 9/11 plotters to justice through federal trials, the administration has brought the fight to the terrorists by using a powerful instrument in our arsenal: law and justice.  Experts agree, a counterterrorism policy can only be effective if it is in line with our values.  As one former GOP Congressman said, what they fear most is "justice, democracy, the rules of a free society." 

Limiting executive privilege and increasing transparency.  In stark contrast to his predecessor, President Obama not only respected the traditional oversight mechanisms that maintain our system of checks and balances, he strengthened them.  In a largely unnoticed move just after Christmas, the administration reformed the declassification process declaring that no records can be classified indefinitely.  Additionally, the administration has released secretive memos from the Bush administration and imposed stricter guidelines on the use of state secrets.  While these are positive steps to fulfilling Obama's promise to "watch over the watchers" there still remains room for progress. 

Recognizing Congress as a co-equal branch of government.  Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra said of the Bush administration in August 2008: "As far as this administration is concerned, the best oversight is no oversight." However, over the course of the past year, the Obama presidency has kept with the guiding principle to consult closely with the Congress through such acts as including Congress in the Afghan strategy review and working with bipartisan partners on the Hill for much needed reforms to the defense budget.

Reestablishing America's commitment to human rights.  Embracing its role as a global leader, over the past year the United States has demonstrated to the world it is once again a leader on human rights.  From joining the controversial United Nations Human Rights Council to the possibility of joining the International Criminal Court the Obama administration has sought to promote global governance on human rights by working from within rather than simply criticizing from the outside.

What We're Reading

Expectations are low for the London Conference on Afghanistan. Concerns continue over proposed reconciliation efforts towards the Taliban. NATO is struggling to make good on commitments to deploy extra forces to Afghanistan.

Bombers attacked the Iraqi Ministry of Interior headquarters, killing 38 Iraqis. Rivalries between Kurdish and Arab troops have led to the largest internal deployment of US troops within Iraq since June 2009.

U.S. military teams and intelligence agencies are deeply involved in secret joint operations with Yemeni troops who in the past six weeks have killed scores of people, among them six of 15 top leaders of a regional al-Qaeda affiliate. The US and 20 other nations will meet in order to discuss other forms of assistance to Yemen.

A congressionally appointed commission has determined that the US is still vulnerable to a bioterrorism attack, even eight years after the anthrax scare.

The few food distribution sites in Haiti are becoming mob scenes as Haitians become increasingly desperate for relief.

North and South Korean military units exchanged artillery fire at sea, stoking already tense relations between the perennially feuding nations.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's incumbent president, declared victory in his race against insurgent candidate Sarath Fonseka for a second term.

Malaysian authorities arrested 10 terror suspects, mainly foreigners with ties to an international militant network, who pose a grave threat to the country's security, a top official said.

Five pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong formally resigned their seats forcing city-wide by-elections and setting up what they call a de facto referendum on democracy that has drawn harsh criticism from Beijing.

A new report ranking countries by environmental performance places the United States 61st and China 121st.

Commentary of the Day

The Washington Post believes recent political, economic and social turmoil in Venezuela is an opportunity for the Obama administration to stand up to Hugo Chavez's increasingly authoritarian moves by voicing support for more political freedoms.

Philip Bowring explains why the resignations of five legislators in Hong Kong may prove a futile gesture, but reflects deep popular frustration.

The New York Times condemns Nicolas Sarkozy's embrace of a parliamentary report seeking the ban of veils for Muslim women, saying his actions help distract voters from their anger regarding high unemployment.