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On Foreign Policy, the Days of Invading are Over | Heather Hurlburt

By Heather Hurlburt

February 13, 2013 | The Guardian

Beyond any words that were spoken, Internews’ Jamal Dajani caught what may have been the most powerful message of last night’s state of the union:

“Given by an African American, rebuttal offered by a Latino. Not bad.”

But Barack Obama’s speech also held up for the world a challenging critique of our vaunted legislative system. Obama pointed out tartly that Congress has failed to challenge him on targeted killings, including of American citizens; has hung itself up on a measure originally designed to be non-implementable and force compromise on tax and spending reform; and may not have the courage to vote on gun safety.

The speech also reminded the world – if a reminder was needed – that the days of US response at the point of an invading army are past. By pledging to pull half of US troops out of Afghanistan in the next year, pointedly telling Congress that the Pentagon’s budget, doubled since 2001, could be cut, and sparing not a word for Iraq, Obama’s message was clear. But in case those who have grown accustomed to democracy promotion at the point of a gun missed it, he had this to say as well:

“The process will be messy, and we cannot presume to dictate the course of change in countries like Egypt; but we can – and will – insist on respect for the fundamental rights of all people.”

How will the US engage instead? Here Obama was less specific, but gave some hints: leading by example in reducing the role of nuclear weapons; maintaining “our commitment to a sovereign and unified Afghanistan”; “eradicating such extreme poverty in the next two decades” and “realizing the promise of an Aids-free generation”.

Building explicit congressional and public support for those approaches, cheaper than war but not free, in this time of austerity? That is the challenge of the months ahead.

For the original piece, click here.