Obama Appears To Be Reversing The GOP's Odd Policy of Self-Isolation - Will It Work?

[Median Democrat]

I understand that neocons believe that if you can't bomb a country into oblivion, then you should isolate them. Of course, this policy was replete with hypocritical exceptions such as China and Saudi Arabia. The latter exception was all the more difficult to understand since most of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Yet, withou any real overall vision, the U.S. invadaded Iraq, identified an Axis of Evil, kept Cuba isolated, told France that it could not do business in Iraq, etc. In other words, it was hard to keep track of all the countries that the Bush administration put on their shit list or understand why these countries were on such a shit list?

In the end, it seemed that in creating this giant shit list, the U.S. had succeeded in isolating itself from the rest of the world. With President Bush's "You Are With Us, Or With The Terrorists" dichotomy, the U.S. managed to go from having counties standing in solidarity with the U.S. to world leaders refusing to shake Dubya's hand. Things have certainly changed. Conversely, in condemning North Korea's rocket launch, and authorizing the use of force against pirates, President Obama has not hestated to condemn or take action against those who actually do take action against U.S. interests.

I have to say it is nice that America's foreign policy seems a bit more cohesive, and less hypocritical. What I wonder is whether it will all work? The economy has gone south and there is a great temptation to engage in a xenophobic foreign policy. Plus, don't Americans need a foreign boogy man?

[MadMaddie]

1. The irony is that the previous administration spoke of not

becoming "Isolationists", but in fact that is exactly what they did with "You are either with us or against us" cowboy rhetoric.

President Obama is never without a plan, some may work better than others but the are always there.

[Median Democrat]

3. Jonah Goldberg Was Suprisingly Candid In An Interview in Conservatize Me

He said that the left was too caught up and indignant over hypocrisy. Sure, Republicans would be happy to point out the hypocrisy of Democrats, but personally Republicans had no problem complaining about Democrats and blaming them for deficits, while running up deficits when they ran all three branches of government. Likewise, they had no problem preaching democracy and freedom, while ignoring both in dealing with China and Saudi Arabia. Finally, they have no problem calling liberals fascists, while they engage in fascist type tactics, or denouncing the liberal press, while using Fox News a propaganda arm.

The problem is that while Republicans and Fox News have no problem ignoring their own hypocrisy, everyone else is not so forgiving, and this immunity to hypocrisy ultimately destroyed the credibility of Republicans. Even now, with the tea bad protests, Republicans and Corporations callously used their resources to convince many middle class supporters to oppose a tax cut to the middle class, and increased taxes on the richest 5%.

I think Obama's approach is both consistent and pragmatic. He understands that we can't preach on human rights while torturing at home. He also understands that we can't condemn countries for being undemocratic when our biggest trading partners include China and Saudi Arabia. Obama's foreign policy may not be perfect, but at least it is dropping some of the biggest examples of hypocrisy. What the Republicans could not understand, and have been conditioned not to understand, is that hypocrisy destroys your credibility.

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, it will work. Besides, could it have gotten worse?

We need to talk to everyone in this shrinking world, not isolate them or declare war on them.

[Vidar]

4. He's doing well in that role.