Day: April 19, 2009

President Obama has changed the whole attitude within and outside American borders as to the role of foreign policy, and in a very revolutionary way.

Recognizing the horrible image America has had, particularly in the past eight years,and determined to open up new possibilities for our relations with the outside world, Obama has written to Iran’s President Ahmadinejad of the need for a new start in relations, allowed an opening of travel and money transfers to Cuban Americans who want to return to their homeland for a visit, shook the hand of and accepted a book from Venezuelan President Chavez, accepted partial responsiblity for the drug wars in Mexico being due to insatiable desire for drugs in the United States, admitted that the US has made mistakes in its dealings with Latin America over the past century, accepted the idea that we can learn from other countries in many areas, made clear that we must learn to respect and honor other nations’ ideas and culture,  tried to promote a new attitude in dealing with the Russian leadership, and accepted the concept that the worldwide recession is partially due to lack of proper regulatory mechanisms in the United States.

Anyone who has studied the foreign policy of the United States since World War II, the beginning of American supremacy, has to admit, if he or she is being honest, that America has often gone down the wrong path.  This has caused us to create what President Eisenhower called in his Farewell Address in 1961 the "military-industrial complex".  Obama seems determined to give us a refreshing change in our dealings with the world, and that should be applauded and backed in every possible way by the American people!

This week, there will be an international conference on Racism in Geneva, Switzerland, and President Obama rightfully will not be attending it, nor will anyone in the administration.

This boycott is perfectly justified as it is an obvious attempt to denounce Israel  and the Jewish people, and it is ironic that many of those leaders and nations which will attend are infamous for their own violations of human rights, and for their own hopes for the extinction of the state of Israel, the one true democracy in the Middle East.

This decision by Obama is to be applauded, and should calm the worries of American Jews as to the concept that Israel’s security and American backing might be compromised.  It is the first time that the United States has boycotted a United Nations conference, and it demonstrates the courage that Obama possesses, as he certainly generally wants to work with the United Nations on many international problems.  However, once again, this will not be done at the expense of American backing of Israel!

A surprising moment at the Summit of the Americas in the past few days was Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez greeting President Obama very warmly, stating he wanted to be his friend,  and presenting him with a book that discusses US exploitation of Latin America.

While it is always hoped that relations with all nations can be improved, it is important for our President NOT to be overwhelmed by this gesture, as I consider it basically just political theater.  Chavez has been a heavy handed, autocratic leader and he associates with the Iranian President Ahmadinejad  and with the Castro brothers in Cuba, as well as making deals with China. 

There is no way to see Chavez as someone who could become a genuine partner with the United States.  He cannot be judged as sincere, based on his outrageous behavior at the United Nations when he called President Bush a devil.    He has gained a reputation as a troublemaker in the Western Hemisphere, who uses his oil supply as a weapon in international affairs.

So my advice to President Obama:  Don’t set out to reject any possibility of good relations with Venezuela,  but also don’t get bamboozled by charm and gifts from someone who leaves the impression of being deceitful and untrustworthy.