The New U.S. Foreign Policy
America the great, with its grudging and begrudged reputation as the world's policeman, has retreated under the current administration of President Barack Obama. What we see now is an internationally more modest country, one that pronounces its carefully discriminating opinions but which hesitates to become involved too deeply into the affairs of other countries.It is currently embroiled in awkward and insistent situations which it finds difficulty in extracting itself from. Therefore the caution. But not entirely.
For this administration has an entirely other mind-set and sensibility. Under this administration traditional friends and allies appear to have been set aside rather cavalierly. While preferential treatment, or at the very least, an open-minded patience has been extended to those who have not been, nor are at present, the least bit 'friendly' to the United States of America.
Forbearance seems to be the new password for entry into America's sphere of notice. Insult it, attack it, threaten it, and the administration merely shrugs off the slanders and the dangers to its essence as the former leading human-rights-advancing country of the world, one that while presenting as a substantial but yet avuncular bully, stood as a bulwark against the truly vicious human-rights-abusers of the world.
If the Middle East alone is to be considered, consider this: those Arab states and the lone Jewish state that have traditionally aligned themselves with the interests of the United States, and which, as a result, had received abundant support from America, along with high regard and trust have suddenly found themselves thrust backward. Abandoned to their own devices, more or less.
While those states and state actors who have distinguished themselves by their bellicose howling about the threat that the United States poses to world peace and harmony, have earned gentle consideration from this administration, which has not hesitated to pronounce its willingness to extend the hand of friendship to them. Iran, Syria, Libya, and Lebanon (through its proxy Hezbollah militia and politics) have spurned that open hand.
The Obama administration pronounces high-minded options for human-rights-under-performing countries' advance into the future. And in aid of their advance, the United States under this administration hints at assistance and material support. Unfortunately, the promises fall short, and happen not to correspond to the actual need expressed by people anxious to throw off the shackles of tyranny.
The clever verbiage of regrets and denials, assurances of high regard, significantly not backed up by action has puzzled those who have long looked on the United States as a unifier, as a moral support, as an ethical supporter of freedom around the world. The Iranians who protested against their rigidly repressive government know the bitter taste of abandonment, and so now too do the Libyan rebels.
Labels: Conflict, Middle East, Political Realities, United States
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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