Feb 06 2009
Changes in foreign policy beginning to take place
How the United States foreign policy will change with President Barack Obama’s administration has yet to be seen. As a result of the good ole “You’re with us or with the terrorists - Stick a Texas sized cowboy boot up your ass” policies of the last eight years, Obama’s administration is faced with… let’s just say some pretty sticky situations.
During the campaign Obama hinted at sweeping changes in our foreign policy. Getting our boys home from Iraq, cleaning up our mess in Afghanistan, working towards a nuclear free world, and open diplomacy with all countries, whether friend or foe.
Some of these ideas are already taking place. If you listen to Glenn Beck or Bill O’Reilly you’ll hear about how you need to be scared. These are “frightening times” - that the U.S. is acting foolishly. Dick Cheney (If you want to see this man get a prison sentence rather than TV airtime to promote more fear, click here please) recently hinted that the U.S. should be wary of a terrorist attack if the same policies that were in place before aren’t kept - Sorry Dick, but they aren’t going to be kept.
And I beg to differ. These are exciting times. The Obama administration is rewriting the rulebook for how the United States behaves as a leader in the free world. We do have many challenges ahead of us, both foreign and abroad, but we also have an administration with one goal in mind - progress. This to me isn’t nearly as scary as when the shit hit the fan in the tail end of the Bush administration.
Anyways, with progress in mind, l want to point out one thing that caught my attention on Friday. Russia agreed to grant the U.S. transit rights to military supplies going to Afghanistan.
The same day Kyrgyzstan announced the closure of Manas air base. Kyrgyzstan is a former U.S.S.R. territory that still relies heavily on Russia. Russian officials have long complained about our presence in South Asia and it is likely it was closed due to Russian pressure.
While this does put U.S. officials in a bit of a bind, there is also a loud and clear message being sent to Obama - The rift that grew between the two countries, especially in the later months of the Bush administration, is not irreparable.
In his inauguration Obama held out an open hand to the world in peace. This could be Russia’s way of answering.
He really is bringing hope to us all. I personally am in an impending doom position and might be homeless next month and in a foregin country. I hope I can survive the next few weeks. I wish that every one can live a decent life with a roof over their head.
Yes. He must talk with everyone. The US is hated throughout the world thanks to Bush. Serious changes are required. Start helping and co-operating but stop interfering!
Only bad point I have seen for Obama is that he claimed to be a friend of Tony Blair. I hope he does not listen to that evil twisted man.
“The US is hated throughout the world thanks to Bush.”
Actually, the US was hated throughout the world long before Bush came into office, thanks to our long-standing policy of meddlesome interventions in foreign countries for our own interests.
http://politicalanimal.today.com/
my bad, i saw what you’re talking about, true, they are “helping on their terms” with the military transit. and it does have that feel of an open hand, not a hug, but a respectable manly handshake.