9/24/10

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.

A variety of keynational security priorities have been advanced though diplomatic andmultilateral channels.

Restoring the Global Economy:  "We are reforming our system of global finance,beginning with Wall Street reform here at home, so that a crisis like thisnever happens again.  And we made the G20 the focal point forinternational coordination, because in a world where prosperity is morediffuse, we must broaden our circle of cooperation to include emergingeconomies -- economies from every corner of the globe."

Advancing Arms Control: "Earlier this year, 47 nations embraced awork-plan to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. We have joined with Russia to sign the most comprehensive arms control treatyin decades.  We have reduced the role of nuclear weapons in our securitystrategy.  And here, at the United Nations, we came together to strengthenthe Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

Promoting Middle East Peace: "Last year, I pledged my best efforts to support thegoal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace andsecurity, as part of a comprehensive peace between Israel and all of itsneighbors.  We have travelled a winding road over the last 12 months, withfew peaks and many valleys.  But this month, I am pleased that we havepursued direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in Washington,Sharm el Sheikh and Jerusalem...  thistime we will not let terror, or turbulence, or posturing, or petty politicsstand in the way. This time, we will think not of ourselves, but of the younggirl in Gaza who wants to have no ceiling on her dreams, or the young boy inSderot who wants to sleep without the nightmare of rocket fire. This time, weshould draw upon the teachings of tolerance that lie at the heart of threegreat religions that see Jerusalem's soil as sacred. This time we should reachfor what's best within ourselves. If we do, when we come back here next year,we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations -an independent state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel."

Challenging Iran: "Iran is the only party to the NPT that cannot demonstrate thepeaceful intentions of its nuclear program, and those actions haveconsequences.  Through U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929, we made itclear that international law is not an empty promise.  Now let me be clear once more:  TheUnited States and the international community seek a resolution to ourdifferences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iranchoose to walk through it.  But the Iranian government must demonstrate aclear and credible commitment and confirm to the world the peaceful intent ofits nuclear program."

[Barack Obama, 7/23/10]

Creating sustainabledevelopment to advance our interests and security.   The National Security Strategy, whichoutlines the country's approach to dealing with national security challenges,states that "sustainedeconomic progress requires faster, sustainable, and more inclusive development.That is why we are pursuing a range of specific initiatives in areas such asfood security and global health that will be essential to the future securityand prosperity of nations and peoples around the globe."  In his speech on Wednesday at the MillenniumDevelopment Goals summit, President Obama outlined a new, more practical andmore sustainable approach to advancing U.S. interests through development:

"[C]hanginghow we define development," to broaden our understanding of using all tools includingdimplomacy and investment policy to

"[W]e arechanging how we view the ultimate goal of development," by "creating theconditions where assistance is no longer needed."

"[U]nleash[ing]transformational change, we're putting a new emphasis on the most powerfulforce the world has ever known for eradicating poverty and creatingopportunity... broad-based economic growth."

"[I]nsist[ing]on more responsibility -- from ourselves and from others... we'll work with Congressto better match our investments with the priorities of our partner countries."  

[National Security Strategy, 5/10.  Barack Obama, 9/22/10]

While the president articulated a flurry of initiativesand ideas to promote American interests and security, conservatives came upempty. This week at the U.N., the president laid out several coreprinciples that have guided the U.S.'s interactions with the world since he hastaken office.  In sharp contrast to the president'svision for a progressive foreign policy, conservatives released their partyplatform this month. The result was a  flimsydocument that had practically nothing to say about how America should advanceits interests to address global challenges.  For example, conservativesfailed to explain how the U.S. would maintain its competitive advantage as newpowers like China and India emerge; failed to explain how the U.S. would workmultilaterally to address the serious threat of nuclear terrorism; and failedto explain how the U.S. would work to strengthen its partnerships with stalwartallies in Europe and the Middle East.

Instead of offering a clear-sighted vision of their own,conservatives have chosen instead to shallowly define themselves only as an oppositionto the ideas of the current administration.  Worse, of the scant policies thatthey are promoting, there is little that can be described as based in reality.  For example, on missile defense, conservativeswould pursue programs, which, in the words of Defense Secretary Robert Gates,are "taxpayer sinkholes."  In addition, ratherthan using sanctions as one instrument among many for dealing with thechallenge from Iran, conservatives would pursue them as an objective in and ofthemselves.  And instead of adopting acomprehensive strategy to combat terrorism, conservatives would adoptmeaningless slogans that contravene our values, do nothing to protect us athome and completely ignore the need to counter extremist threats abroad. [GOPParty Platform, 9/23/10.Robert Gates, 5/13/09.NSN, 9/23/10]

What We're Reading

Plans by the British government to make significant cuts indefense spending have spurredconcerns among American military experts about Britain's ability to carry outits role as the United States' most dependable ally.

Japanese prosecutors decidedto release a Chinese fishing boat captain involved in a collision near disputedislands, following intense pressure from China.

The U.S. and other Western delegations walked out inprotest during a speech by Iran's president at the U.N., in which he said mostpeople believed the U.S. government was behind the 9/11 attacks.

President Obama pressedBeijing to do more on currency policy, protect intellectual property rights andguarantee "fair treatment" for American companies, at a meeting with ChinesePrime Minister Wen Jiabao.

Australia's Olympic Committee president has said theCommonwealth Games should not have been awarded to Delhi.

Colombia's security forces killedthe second in command of Latin America's largest rebel group, the FARC, in anelaborate bombing raid in the country's remote Macarena mountain range.

International officials, including President Obama, will meetat the United Nations to put their weight behind two referendums in Sudan thatcould either complete a peace process or return the nation to civil war.

Israel raisedthe possibility of a compromise on settlement construction just ahead of thescheduled ending of curbs that threatened to derail U.S.-backed Middle Eastpeace talks.

Three journalists detained by coalition forces andAfghanistan's intelligence service for allegedly spreading Taliban propagandahave been freed.

Opponents and supporters of President Hugo Chavez heldtheir final rallies ahead of legislative elections that both of Venezuela'spolitical camps view as a critical test.

Commentary of the Day

Gen. Paul Eaton writesthat a Tea Party foreign policy platform would degrade the real basis ofAmerican power: the economy.

John Pomfret saysa new generation of officials in the military, key government ministries andstate-owned companies has begun to define how China deals with the rest of theworld.

Jon Perdue arguesthat another election victory for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez could mean heremains president for life.