1/26/2010

Just over a year ago, President Obama inherited an atrophied American diplomacy, hostile global public opinion, and an agenda that had disengaged from the international community.  The last year has seen an American diplomatic resurgence.  This renewed American appetite for sustained diplomatic action has produced modest but real results.  

A return to diplomacy steadied and advanced our relations with  21^st century powers China, India, and Russia.  Challenges such as Iran and North Korea remain - but we face them with unity that was completely lacking 2-3 years ago.  Robust outreach to international organizations and on global priorities such as climate change and nuclear disarmament has produced results on issues of great concern to Americans - from preventing a global economic meltdown to building global action against nuclear terrorism. 

The Administration's unprecedented public addresses to the peoples of the world -particularly the Arab and the Muslim worlds -rejected the clash of civilizations meme that dominated the previous administration.  These efforts helped improve the image of America in the world, changed the negative trajectory of the previous decade, and enabled heightened cooperation on issues from terrorism to humanitarian disasters to Afghanistan - the quiet underpinnings of progress on the difficult challenges the US faces in 2010 and beyond.

Returning to diplomacy as a means of achieving U.S. interests in the world.  After eight years of unilateral action that showed disregard for our international partners and allies, President Obama has restored shrewd diplomatic efforts as a means for reaching U.S. security interests.  By reengaging the international community, President Obama has reinstated American leadership on key international issues that are vital to furthering our national security interests.

"Reset" relations with Russia. President Obama took office with U.S.-Russian relations at a post-Cold War nadir.  However, through practical engagement the Obama administration pursued common interests with its former rival and "press[ed] the reset button."  The contrast with the 2008 level of hostility was strong and immediate - resulting in a more streamlined policy toward Iran, progress in overflights to resupply US troops in Afghanistan, and major movement toward a follow-on agreement to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in order to secure deeper cuts in U.S.-Russian nuclear stockpiles. 

Pursued internationally backed response to challenges in North Korea and Iran. North Korea's long disregard for the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Iran's refusal to answer questions concerning its nuclear program were met with a tough, direct approach.  Rather than refusing to deal with such issues, the new administration took diplomatic action and sought to reengage North Korea and Iran in an attempt to find a lasting solution.  With modest but real results, the Obama administration worked with international partners to implement tough sanctions on North Korea while keeping the door open for talks.  The U.S. also pursued a two-track policy toward Iran that backs an open dialogue with smart, targeted sanctions. President Obama was able to meet these longstanding challenges head on by bringing the international response more closely in line with U.S. interests.

Demonstrated commitment to address the serious threat of climate change.  The Administration's forward-leaning rhetoric was matched by the President's tenacity before and during climate change negotiations at Copenhagen, breaking stalemates and working through different groups of countries to set a foundation for future progress where failure had been thought to be assured.

Engaged the 21 century's rising powers. With strong economic ties to China, the new administration recognized the growing importance of securing a strong and stable relationship with China -expanding cooperation with China in the revamped "Strategic and Economic Dialogue."  Renewed U.S.- China cooperation has promoted global economic efforts as well as progress on climate change issues. Similarly, the United States also strengthened its relationship with India and established a "strategic dialogue" for further cooperation.

Promoting U.S. interests by supporting international organizations and partnering on the interests of others.  The Administration recommitted to international institutions and priorities that had been ignored or disdained by its predecessors - and galvanized increased tangible international support for US priorities in return, from prevailing in Afghanistan to preventing nuclear terrorism.

Rebalancing and reviving global economic governance.  In response to the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression, the new administration rallied with partners around the world -including countries that have previously been left out of such discussions -to rebuild the global governance structures.  This international effort helped ward off a devastating depression and regained trust and respect for American leadership around the world.   

Reengaging the United Nations.  The Administration and Congress moved to restore relations with the UN - paying off arrears, re-funding its support for family planning, and returning the post of UN Ambassador to a Cabinet slot.  Obama then challenged others, in his address at the United Nations General Assembly and his Nobel Peace Prize speech to match his administration's effort at global cooperation.   The commitment paid off with renewed international commitment to block nuclear weapon or technology transfers and increased international aid and civilian commitment to Afghanistan and Yemen.

Comprehensive nuclear security agenda.  Obama's Prague pledge to negotiate cuts to US and Russian arsenals, ratify the Test Ban Treaty and work toward a world free of nuclear weapons re-galvanized international support for the key US concern of preventing nuclear terrorism.

Engaging through regional organizations.  From Europe to Asia to the Americas, president Obama has returned from regional summits with concrete deliverables - new NATO troops for Afghanistan - and reinvigorated cooperation on North Korea, Congo and other tough issues. 

Enhancing American security by improving America's image in the world.  Over the past year, the United States took significant steps to improve America's image in the world, translating into practical leadership on a variety of core national security issues.  The results have included an improvement in global opinion of the United States and an improved ability to achieve core national security goals.  

Winning the Fight Against Violent Extremism.  The President's Assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan made clear that a core part of the Administration's counter-terrorism strategy is reaching out to the Muslim world and "declaring that America is not and never will be at war with Islam," because "it is people in these countries, not the United States, who ultimately will isolate these extremists."

From holding his first official interview as president with Al Arabiya to his Cairo and Ankara speeches, the President expressed a clear and important message: "Americans are not your enemy."  His administration has built on the themes of this interview by consistently seeking to make common cause with the peoples of the Arab and Muslim worlds against the violent extremists in their midst.  These speeches restored the image of the United States as partner and created significant good will towards the U.S. in the Muslim world.

Engaging Iran. From the New Year's Nowruz message sent directly to Iranians in March 2009 to the careful but direct support for Iranian democracy activists, the Administration reversed Iranian perceptions that the US regarded citizens and government alike as the enemy and created a more challenging situation for the autocrats clinging to repressive rule in Teheran.  Prior to the election, opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi expressed willingness "to push for Iran to embrace President Barack Obama's offer of dialogue after a nearly 30-year diplomatic freeze" saying that "the taboo in this country (Iran) about talking to America has been broken."

What We're Reading

America's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, released diplomatic cables detailing the robust policy debate preceding President Obama's Afghanistan strategy decision. The United Kingdom and Japan have offered a $500 million dollar fund to coax reconcilable Taliban fighters to lay down their arms.

The Haitian government has asked for $3 billion in development assistance once relief efforts transition into reconstruction efforts.

36 Iraqis were killed in a triple bombing in Baghdad which targeted hotels. Ali Hassan Majid, one of the most notorious figures of Saddam Hussein's regime and known as "Chemical Ali" to using chemical weapons against the Kurds, was hanged by the Iraqi government.

Two of Iran's opposition leaders, Mohammed Khatami and former Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, appear to have dropped their demand for a new presidential election, saying that while they still believe the vote in June was fraudulent, they accept incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the head of government.

A new report warns that al-Qaeda has not abandoned its goal of attacking the United States with a chemical, biological or nuclear weapon.

Recent Pentagon war games simulating a cyberattack demonstrate how quickly the nation's escalating cyberbattles have outpaced the rush to find a deterrent.

Russia has ended a five-month diplomatic freeze with Ukraine, demonstrating the Kremlin's relief over President Viktor Yushchenko's failed re-election bid and its willingness to work with either of his successors.

The Nepalese government struggles to pass a new constitution to incorporate a Maoist militia and political party before their constitutional convention's deadline.

Commentary of the Day

The Economist claims that the Haitian government is not equipped to rebuild the country, and that a temporary external authority should step into that power vacuum.

Anne Applebaum argues that India presents a democratic alternative to the censorship and authoritarian political control that many nations like China claims is necessary for its meteoric economic growth. Roger Cohen tells the story of a Chinese woman who stood up against China's aggressive eminent domain campaign.

The LA Times argues that Venezuela continues its slide into authoritarianism with the Chavez administration ordering cable television operators to stop broadcasting Radio Caracas Television, a vocal critic of the Venezuelan president.