Spotlight on Obama's Foreign Policy - Essay Example

Spotlight on Obama's Foreign Policy The election of Barak Obama as the United s' 42nd President was one of the most politically shifting eventsin the last 50 years of American history. There were sharp contrasts between the outgoing Republican George Bush and Democrat Barak Obama on health care, taxation, economic policy, and energy. There was also a great expectation of a major change in US foreign policy. However, career diplomats, treaties, and trade agreements have helped to add stability to our foreign policy across time and presidents.

US foreign policy is slow to change, as its deliberate process sometimes demands the involvement of numerous departments as well as the US Congress. However, the implementation and temperament of Obama's style will greatly impact the ways in which we negotiate with the global community. The policies of Barak Obama have fundamentally changed the ways in which we confront our adversaries in the Middle East and elsewhere around the globe. A key to Obama's strategy for engaging countries that are hostile towards the US, and present a threat to our national security, is the elimination of Bush's failed policy that mandated the need for preconditions during the negotiating process.

Iran is an example where the Bush administration demanded that Tehran suspend its nuclear enrichment program before agreeing to any talks. This became a roadblock to negotiations, as the Iranians refused to give up what they perceived as a sovereign right (Anderson, 2008, p. A08). In addition, this policy has been blamed for the election of the right-wing reactionary Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005, partially as a response to the US's hard line foreign policy (Zahedi and Memarian, 2007, M2). Obama's willingness to talk should bring about a thawing of relations and empower the more moderate Iranians that held power until the election of Bush (Iran moderate elected speaker, 2000).

Barak Obama will further benefit from the goodwill that he has amassed from the governments and people around the world. According to Kralev (2008), "current and former US diplomats see a new chance to advance American interests" as the new President is "buoyed by a groundswell of global good feeling after the election". This will give the administration a significant advantage, as they need to gain the cooperation of countries around the globe to effectively wage the war against terrorism. In addition, this goodwill will pave the way to more constructive negotiations on trade, human rights, and the environment.

Critics will contend that any negotiations without pre-conditions are tantamount to capitulation. They will also refuse to talk to any individual or group that is labeled a terrorist by the State Department. However, it is precisely these people that we should be talking to, as merely talking to our allies will not produce the desired results. Talking to hostile governments can reduce the tension that has built up from years of foreign policy neglect. The US does not have to give any ground or concede our principles.

It is merely a solid first step on the long road to the understanding and consideration of a hostile organization in a dangerous world.In conclusion, Obama's policy of taking a softer line in regards to pre-conditions for negotiations will have a beneficial effect on our foreign and international relations. Our willingness to talk will signal moderate political parties in countries such as Iran and empower them to begin to thaw our decades old standoff. In talking to our enemy, we do not have to surrender anything, and we should not set our expectations unreasonably high.

The US must have the political courage to reach out and take advantage of the international goodwill that has been afforded Barak Obama and his new administration. ReferencesAnderson, J. W. (2008, June 24). E.U. backs sanctions on Iran, freezes bank assets. The Washington Post, p. A08. Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062300491.htmlIran moderate elected speaker (2000, May 30). Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.

uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/769320.stmKralev, N. (2008, November 21). Diplomats: Good will up since Obama win. The Washington Times. Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/14/diplomats-see-boon-of-good-will-since-obama-win/Zahedi, D., & Memarian, O. (2007, January 21). The clock may be ticking on Iran's fiery president [Editorial]. The Los Angeles Times, p. M2. Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/21/opinion/op-zahedi21