After making a statement to the press in a recent conference, President Barack Obama was questioned by a reporter on foreign policy. The reporter had stated how the Republican candidates had questioned Obama on his approach to foreign policy, especially with middle east countries due to recent events, and had accused Obama of using Appeasement.
Obama had instantly responded, "Ask Osama Bin Laden and the top 22 out of 30 Al-Qaeda leaders who have been taken off the field, whether I engage in appeasement . . . or whoever's left out there."
By definition according to Wikipedia, appeasement is commonly understood to refer to a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to another power. Referring back to Obama's previous statement, to me it sounds like he is a little pro-war and is not afraid to take action in foreign affairs. He had taken action in both Libya and Pakistan, but his actions in Pakistan were more acknowledged due to the fact that he had ordered a Operation, known as Operation Neptune Spear, to invade Bin Laden's hideout in Abbottobad, Pakistan, and kill him.
After watching this video, I'm a little skeptical on this aspect of Obama's foreign policy. It sounds like he is possibly going to just go around taking out various threats in countries all over the world, in terms of his foreign policy. What are your thoughts on the subject? Is this a good idea regarding foreign policy? How do you think it would affect the U.S current and future reputation?
To me, I believe that using this kind of tactic would ultimately worsen the United States reputation around the world and wouldn't be very effective at all.
6 comments:
I don’t think Obama's actually appeasing the Middle Eastern countries, just take a look at the US` support for the Libyan Rebels and Obama's stance on Mubarak in Egypt. Sure Obama is avoiding an all out war with the countries but it's not as if the US has come close. The War is with Terrorists and Obama isn’t appeasing them by killing their leaders. In terms of foreign policy, the whole point of his Middle East tour was to gain support not isolate the US.
Aleksandar Medan wrote:
I agree with Will. The Stuxnet virus and US drones taking out militants every day shows that the US isn't appeasing our enemies, instead we're going after them.
It's not like this is effecting our reputation a whole lot because sadly we already have a history of killing citizens in other countries. But when it comes to taking out Bin Laden in
Pakistan, I personally could care less about their sovereignty because we give them billions in military aid to begin with or we used to anyway and Bin Laden was still hiding under the Pakistani government's nose.
I agree with Alex, the US defiantly has its skeletons in the closet. I think breaking the sovereignty of Pakistan did make the US look like more of a power hungry country. The US is already not the most loved country in the world, and by doing what they did, it made it worst. In the case of appeasing our enemies, I don't think the US is appeasing its enemies if its breaking the sovereignty of another country to catch one man.
I don't think Obama is guilty of appeasement. I think, like Sammy said, that the history of the US in that region is just catching up with us now, and most of the appeasement done before is only coming to light now. And, seeing how Obama is willing to transgress for something he said he will do, I do not see that as appeasement.
I find it funny that Obama's campaign was based on taking the troops out but now that the military has made significant progress in anti-terrorism he is all for the war. He is holding himself to a double standard and is showing himself to be preoccupied with his reelection. I'm sure that a lot of people who voted for Obama because of his promise to withdraw troops are pissed off at his remark. By the way that he answered the question, it is evident that Obama will milk the death of Bin Laden during his election campaign.
I read in the Washington post and I'm sure it comes as a good thing that Congress finalized the withdrawal of troops from Iraq just a couple of days ago. Although, it does seem like Obama has a rather pro-war take on foreign policy with his various threats to China and controversial move of troops into Libya. Sometimes it is necessary to show a little force, but in quantity may be unappreciated by the global community as direct acts of insult. I think Obama can make the correct decision, and ironically did win the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisions.
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