Obama’s Double Century
By Prof. Michael Brenner • Jun 12th, 2009 • Category: Politics • No ResponsesHome run? Boundary 6? Dazzled them! some of them? I submit that these are not the most appropriate metaphors. Let us begin by distinguishing between Obama the celebrity and Obama the statesman - something that we ourselves have difficulty doing. The celebrity realm has its own logic (more accurately, non-logic) that has to do with image and virtual realities. But in the political realm, the hoopla stops at some point.
Of course, Obama’s speech was eloquent and earnest in tone – as are all of his public declarations. Yes, attitude and mood do count - even if actions alone are the sufficient factor that determines outcomes. But it was still a virtual world that he was conjuring; a world in which the United States remains comfortable pronouncing on the conduct of others, in which our interests ipso facto supercede those of others. A dispassionate listener may find it hard to reconcile the principles and high mindedness enunciated with just about everything we have been doing, and continue to do, in the Islamic world. On the key issues, I could detect no ‘match salvaging’ changes - and let’s acknowledge that we are losing big at this point - despite our flailing. 150 runs down and five batters dismissed (three for leg before wicket). Popping the champagne is premature - to say the least.
Even leaving aside military actions, consider Obama’s subtle disquisition on democratic political culture with its emphasis on mutual respect and autonomy pf political decision. Yet the United States has been up to its neck trying to manipulate the internal politics of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq (picking favorites to back actively); Lebanon (the Vice President going to Beirut to threaten an aid cutoff if our people don’t win); and Palestine (annul a free election by coercive means). This conduct goes unquestioned in most of Washington as a sort of natural right. I propose that we pay attention to this sphere as well as to the diplomatic ones as we monitor whether actions are matching words.
Sorry to be a spoilsport.
Trackback URL
|
|
|
Click For More Articles By Prof. Michael Brenner
Dr. Michael Brenner is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations. He publishes and teaches in the fields of American foreign policy, Euro-American relations, and the European Union. He is also Professor of International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. Brenner is the author of numerous books, and over 60 articles and published papers on a broad range of topics.
All posts by Prof. Michael Brenner
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
