Remember the old saw that Democrats were good on economic issues but “soft on defense”? Well, times change. For the first time in a generation, President Obama’s bold, strategic foreign policy has garnered accolades all around.
While Obama’s the one that caught Osama bin Laden, he has not shrinked from making smart, tough decisions elsewhere. Just last week, he didn’t hesitate to take a risk and rescue two hostages from Somalia — the same country that had bedeviled President Clinton (remember Blackhawk Down?).
In Asia, Obama has positioned the US as a counterweight to China. In the process, he has strengthened American ties with the world’s largest democracy (India) and has effectively nudged Burma’s military-dominated regime to release Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and begin the transition to democracy.
Meanwhile, Obama gracefully steered the stirrings of democracy in Northern Africa. In Libya, he forged an international coalition to topple dictator Moammar Qaddafi, who had resorted to killing his own people. In Egypt, he played a key role in convincing President-for-Life Hosni Mubarak give up power.
The one place where Obama must put in more effort is in the Middle East. But given its complexities, that might have to wait until after the Presidential election.
Which brings me to my final point. Because Obama has enjoyed considerable foreign-policy success, the Republicans have to hope that the economy doesn’t continue to improve.
Otherwise, Obama will continue to kick butt not only on foreign policy, but on November 6, 2012.
– Gautam Dutta




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