NPR reported this afternoon that Barack Obama made a positive impression when he visited the U.S. State Department. Reportedly, Obama was well-received by the State Department staffers who were invited to hear him speak — and further that he lingered to chat with other staffers. The clear implication of the NPR report is that the State Department believes that Obama will be relying more on diplomacy, whereas the Bush administration had placed relatively more importance on military power.
Obama named George Mitchell as a special envoy to move the Middle East peace process forward. At a press conference where he was flanked by Obama and Secetary of State Hillary Clinton, Mitchell said in part:
There is no such thing as a conflict that can’t be ended. Conflicts are created, conducted, and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings.
If taken out of context, these words could be interpreted as an indictment of the Bush administration’s foreign policy. Instead of taking them out of context, I will assert that these words strike me as a clear departure from the Bush administration’s saber-rattling postures and policies. And the BBC Web site said much the same thing:
With Thursday’s announcements, Mr Obama has signalled that American diplomacy is under new management, says the BBC’s Kevin Connolly in Washington.
I’m hoping today’s news represents a new trend for the U.S. — a trend of relying on diplomacy as the primary means for furthering the country’s foreign policy.
January 23, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Mitchell’s words are very encouraging.
January 23, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Helen Cobban discusses this:
http://justworldnews.org/archives/003346.html
Unfortunately, it appears that Obama is determined to wreck any hopes for MIddle East Peace right from the start by playing Israel’s and W’s old game of refusing to talk to ‘enemies’ – in this case, Hamas:
“I should add that the Arab peace initiative contains constructive elements that could help advance these efforts. Now is the time for Arab states to act on the initiative’s promise by supporting the Palestinian government under President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, taking steps towards normalizing relations with Israel, and by standing up to extremism that threatens us all.”
January 23, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I like what Mitchell said. It’s quotable! 🙂
January 24, 2009 at 3:37 pm
It’s a damn good foundation for Obama’s foreign policy, if he sticks to it.
I don’t know, though. His moves on torture and gitmo are good, but blessing Israel’s Gaza attack and renewing the Bush administration policy of attacking Waziristan – not encouraging.
January 29, 2009 at 2:52 am
philip @ 2 & 4 — Yes, we’re still waiting to find out the exact direction Obama’s administration will take in many areas of foreign policy. Yes, there are signs that are not encouraging. But still and all, it looks like the Obama administration will place more of an emphasis on diplomacy (as opposed to military power), and that is a distinct improvement.
Grey @ 3 and philip @ 1 — Mitchell’s words are pretty good. Let’s hope they are followed by equally good action.