Obamas Views on Wars - Essay Example

Teacher’s 5th December Obama’s Views on Wars Barrack H. Obama is the 44th president of the United s, who was the first African American to gain presidential office on 20 January 2009. His presider, former President George W Bush has been known to complete two terms in office as a Republican elected president. Bush has been criticized for faulty course of action since the tragic incident of 9/11, which also became the cause for his downfall. President Obama was then selected as president from a Democratic party in opposition to John McCain, the Republican nominee for presidency. President Obama’s agendas have proved to be stronger and more viable over time. President Obama is a law graduate. President Obama’s years of public services has seen immense achievements. He mentioned numerous pointers, or tasks to be completed, in his Inaugural Speech on 20th January 2009. These included reviving the economy by creating jobs for people, developing renewable energy resources, increasing the educational standards, economic and infrastructure development, scientific research and lowering the healthcare costs, and to make federal budget spending transparent in front of masses. Most of these objectives the president has already achieved and continues to improve on. The inaugural speech also contained a specific emphasis on war on terrorism and how the worldwide contempt and hatred is to be tackled. This is the world’s biggest concern so far and, as United States of America is the most powerful country in the world, it also shoulders a certain responsibility regarding maintaining peace in the world. President Obama’s Inaugural speech received worldwide viewership and interest for his views and interests on the subject of war and terrorism. President Obama’s Inaugural speech contained specific references to the war-zones of that time. “We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we’ll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet” (Obama). It is evident in these words that President Obama, at the time of gaining office, aimed to establish worldwide peace. He intended to retrieve the United States’ army from Iraq which had been deployed during former president Bush’s reign following the 9/11 chaotic incident. Obama’s priorities also included establishing peace in Afghanistan which had also deteriorated into a war zone in search of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and in search of nuclear weapons which were sadly never discovered. President Obama stressed that he would go to any lengths to establish peace in the region by communicating beneficially with both friends and enemies. As a super power of the world, President Obama specifically felt the responsibility of peace and hence placed extra emphasis on it. President Obama’s other notions have been successfully completed or are in the process. 2.6 million Jobs were added to aid the recession-stricken nation of America and for the country’s economic growth. This would also influence the education sector positively as more people would be able to acquire education if personal financial conditions were satisfactory. President Obama’s efforts do not end here as he furthers his cause and plan till the completion of his tenure. President Obama seems to be carrying a huge impact of his law schooling. He is a strict disciplinary regarding corruption and its legal implications. Not only has he applied his legal educational background to federal budget spending by placing it online in plain view of all United States citizens, but the same is also reflected in his foreign policies and his course of action against terrorism. When talking about President Obama’s views on wars, it is imminent that his views before his presidency were hardly any different. “I am not opposed to all wars. I am opposed to dumb wars” (Obama). It is clear from his 2002 speech against the Iraq war that he had never been in favor of such an occupation of US army for “undetermined length, undetermined costs and undetermined consequences” (Obama). Though he agreed with the former president of Iraq’s brutality, he nevertheless regarded the Iraq war as a dumb war with no clear rationale or international support. Appreciably, President Obama has never seconded war on any platform. Yet again in 2006, current President Obama had delivered a speech before the then president Bush regarding the activities in Iraq and Afghanistan and the detainees in Guantanamo Bay. His speech reflected humanitarian perspective as he elaborated the need for captured alleged terrorists to be given a chance to be proven innocent. The norm at the time was capturing the rebels and transporting them to Guantanamo Bay, without giving the captured any chance for justifying themselves. This had numerous not guilty convicts unjustly spending their lifetimes in prison. Obama was perhaps the first Senator to voice out concerns about the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. President Obama has nurtured a humanitarian and caring personality, knowing all people to be humans regardless of the fortunate or unfortunate situations they may be in. Obama was consequently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize which was held on 10 December, 2009. President Obama had humbly and modestly received the prize. He compared his efforts to those who had previously received these awards, and with those who continue to struggle for peace and humanitarian view development, and concluded his efforts were rather insignificant in front of the two. He also recognized the wars United States of America is still indulged in, and hence accounted himself for the bloodshed and loss of lives that will occur as a part and parcel of war. Nevertheless, Obama’s efforts to communicate with all other countries and to develop mutually beneficial ties with them has been recognized and honored by all historians. Obama also emphasized on the United States agenda for a better living: “… govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, and restrict the most dangerous weapons” (Obama). In these agendas, it is also evident that President Obama has rather negative notions regarding waging wars. Also, it reinforces his continued attempts to establish national and international peace. Specifically on the topic of terrorism, President Obama sadly remarked, “Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale” (Obama). This proves to be a major reason behind President Obama’s objective of controlling and restricting the distribution and trading of dangerous weapons. It is not unknown to anyone the catastrophe terrorist activities have brought to the world in general and to United States in particular. President Obama had been specific about defending the US in case of threats to the American people. This said, it is important to acknowledge that though President Obama has consistently been against the ideology of war, he would invariably indulge in it if the security of America as a country and as a nation were at stake. However, President Obama proceeded to give a diplomatic statement for armed combats by saying, “… the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another – that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy” (Obama). This contradicts with President Obama’s earlier notions about being an anti-war protagonist, though appreciably, he also realizes and appreciates the fact that armed combat, irrespective of the noble or justified reasons it is fought for has severe consequences on human lives. Furthermore, President Obama continued to justify the basis and reasons for the wars America is fighting and has fought over the past few years. He also assured that some wars have been waged on humanitarian grounds to protect the nations of other countries. However, it is impossible for America to indulge in all the countries of the world for peace-keeping sake. Consequently, President Obama supported the existence and occupation of the NATO allied forces in certain countries of the world. In his post-presidential speeches, it is evident that President Obama has a moderate view regarding the wars. He is not in complete opposition of wars and in fact admits a certain amount of war is important to establish peace. He also admits the wars always have a tragic loss of lives attached with it. Nevertheless he justifies the wars America is currently involved in, even those that were not remotely invited by America like the threats of terrorism. In another speech centered on war, President Obama elaborated on his policies regarding the then currently engaged war in Afghanistan. Since his election, President Obama has maintained his notion regarding the retrieval of US armies from Afghanistan and the establishment of peace and democracy in the region. In this speech delivered on December 1, 2009, he elaborated on the policies drafted for the conclusion of war in Afghanistan and the expected implementation of the same. President Obama briefly indulged in the history of America’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also revived the tragic incident of 9/11 where the twin towers were bombed by hijacked planes in the heart of the city New York. He also talked about the attempt to bomb the White House in Washington DC. The blame for these multi-national and multi-religious assaults was taken by Al Qaeda, the black-listed Islam extremist organization. Since the post-war Afghanistan had progressed backwards, President Obama feels obliged to develop the region and establish a democratic rule in collaboration with the resident Talibans to form a society and a governmental system of their own. For this purpose, 30, 000 more troops were sanctioned to Afghanistan who are expected to return in the upcoming 18 months. In order for the region not to relapse into Islamic extremism and the Talibans unaccountable and irrational rule, President Obama has established the need for Afghani security forces and strong government-hold in order to suppress and control the tyranny of the Talibans. President Obama recognized the presence of this extremists’ threat in the regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan where the activities of such people has been at an uncontrollable level. In order to solve this issue, strategic planning and course of action needs to be employed to deal with the extremists with modern technological and physical weapons. It is worthy of mention that the most sought for person and the criminal mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was assassinated earlier this year on May 1, 2011. This is also another big achievement on behalf of the Obama administration. Osama bin Laden was allegedly shot down in Abottabad, Pakistan, by the NATO forces and his body disposed in the waters. No official pictorial releases have yet been unleashed into the media in support for such an occurrence, however, President Obama, shortly after the occurrence and news telecast about Osama’s death, had delivered a speech whereby he not only registered such an incident but also congratulated the involved personnel about the final victory against terrorism. President Obama maintained the worst was not over and that other influential Al Qaeda leaders were active, nevertheless the death of Osama was sure to weaken their strengths. Even in this scenario, it is clear that Obama’s administration did not seek war; instead, it seeks the culprit. The national residents of the area were specifically cordoned off during the operations no minimize unnecessary loss of innocent lives. The full-fledged wars America now deals with are rather a gift of the past presidency. This incident clearly reflects President Obama’s non-violence objectives achievement. President Obama has been in power for almost two years now. Appreciably, he has fulfilled many of his first speech promises for developing the country into a happy nation. President Obama has proved to be the need of time, and has also symbolized the end of discrimination and racial practices in the region. President Obama lives with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha. It is imperative to emphasize upon the president’s awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. This has proved that the current administration seeks peace in its truest sense. Works Cited Obama, Barrack H. “Inaugural Address”. obamaspeeches.com. Obama Speeches, 20 Jan. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. Obama, Barrack H. “2002 speech against Iraq war”. obamaspeeches.com. Obama Speeches, Oct. 2002. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. Obama, Barrack H. “Military Commission Legislation”. obamaspeeches.com. Obama Speeches, 28 Sept. 2006. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. Obama, Barrack H. “A Just and Lasting Peace”. pdf. 10 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. Obama, Barrack H. “The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan”. pdf. 1 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. Read More