News Today

I‘m going to be introducing a new thing for the next couple weeks. Foreign Policy has been a big issue in my blog (and one of my passions as well) lately. I can’t speak for all of you, but after eight years of our now lame-duck administration I wonder what the world thinks about us.

Well there’s only one way to find out, right?

I’ve staged some interviews with other today.com users from different countries than the United States about just what the historic election of president-elect Barack Obama meant to other people in the world. Today will be the first of those interviews. The interview questions will be in bold, and the answers unbolded. So without further ado, Elisabeth Sowerbutts…

I’m a New Zealander currently living in Perth, Australia - been here about a year - before that we drove around Australia for 6 months and before I was living in NZ. My today blogs are http://travelover30s.today.com/ and http://australia.today.com/

Answers below I can cover both countries :-)

1.) How much does United States policies and whatnot affect people in New Zealand? How visible is this effect?

NZ is a small economy (4 million people) a long way away in the South Pacific - the major issue we have with the US is the anti-free trade stand of the previous administration: you block a lot of are farm products from your markets, and only because we are more efficient and cheaper and producing than your own farmers.

Our dollar floats freely and is known for its volatility against the US dollar -at the moment its dropped significantly against the US so imported good and oil are lot more expensive than they were. On the other hand our exports are cheaper. To be honest I think the US has less and less effect on NZ because we have got used to going on without you and now look to local markets such as Australia and Asia.

It used to be (20 odd years) ago that the US was seen as important for our defence - now, particularly after Iraq, we feel that being a friend of the US would just make you a target.

Your immigration policies are very restrictive and means that even if you are transiting the US to a third country (say Mexico or Canada or Europe) you still have to pass US immigration - this is a long-standing (pre-911) and idiotic approach that no other country in the country has ever done: they have “transit” where you are separated from other passengers and don’t enter the country. Since the new hysteria over airline security most people flying to Europe choose to go via Asia to avoid on this nonsense.

2.) The United States has seen its global influence decline recently. People in our country attribute a lot of this to the Bush Administrations hardline “you’re with us or against us” stance foreign policy. Is this how it’s viewed in your country as well?

Absolutely - I am not a big patriot but I am proud that New Zealand stood up to Bush’s bullying and did not send troops to Iraq - we differ significantly from Australia on this one as John Howard (the former Australian Prime Minister) was all over Bush - where as our (former) Prime Minister Helen Clark stood up to Bush. Australians seem to think that if they are nice to the US the US will save them (as they did in WW2) - New Zealanders are a bit more cynical - we know that we can’t vote in your Elections :-)

3.) Did the election of Barack Obama to the presidency help or hurt the U.S. reputation in your country? How and why?

Obama is being seen as the last best hope for the US and your reputation (apologies to Babylon 5) (editors insert- no need to apologize to me for Babylon 5 Ha! I watched that show religiously in grade school) He is seen as a huge improvement on the incumbent - there are huge expectations for Obama - mainly because of it his obvious intelligence.

4.) What is it that you want the U.S. to focus on or improve in the coming years?

Stop being so arrogant - having the biggest army in the world doesnt give you leadership at any level except as that of a bully. No one respects a bully.

5.) If you could say one thing to George W. Bush what would it be?

Retire and go quietly, an apology to the Iraqi people would be nice, though I won’t hold my breath.

6.) If you could say one thing to Barack Obama what would it be?

Watch your back, I hope you have the best security of any US President because your enemies aren’t Arabs - they are your own citizens. Don’t feel like you have to hide your intelligence - playing to the common denominator has made the previous administration the laughing stock of the world.

This was the first of these interviews, and most of the questions will be formatted pretty similarily. First off, is there any other questions that you guys would like me to ask in the future? And secondly (shameless plug warning), give my girl Elisabeth some love on her blogs, she’s a very skilled and accomplished writer. Elisabeth if you’re reading this then thank you once again so much for your time, your thoughtful answers, and your participation.

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