American Leadership

For a view on the what next few US Presidential terms may look like have a squiz at a set of essays published in Foreign Affairs magazine. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, running for the Democratic and Republican Presidential nominations respectively, write their thoughts on the future of American Foreign Policy.

Obama, whose visionary style I find quite inspirational, speaks in his article of the work required to regain the world's trust in American leadership. In discussing plans to resolve US involvement in Iraq, limiting nuclear proliferation, fixing the UN's increasingly soft hand (e.g. inaction in Darfur), etc – Barack invokes King and Kennedy, as is becoming his trademark

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich".

Particularly impressive is Obama's emphasis on increasing assistance to weaker states such as Pakistan, so that they don't turn to extremist groups for the source of their future prosperity.

Romney, whilst not the same oratorical league as Obama, states his case for renewing US military strength as the method of restoring America leadership in the world, using Reagan as his historical hero of choice "There have been four wars in my lifetime. None of them came about because the US was too strong." I would suggest Romney's approach to resolving the Islamic jihad threat as misguided. Whilst he commendably realises (unlike his President) that fighting terrorist cells is different to nation state wars, his answers are still based on a demonstration of strength, believing that "this will eventually bring them around to our way of thinking".

Disappointingly, they both remain committed to US dominance in the nuclear space – neither talk about getting rid of nukes, just limiting adoption by others. It's the great shortcoming in the present non-proliferation treaty – those who had exploded the bomb before as certain date are ok, everyone else is prohibited. And rapidly growing nation states like India are unlikely to remain quiet in their discontent in the years to come.