Is there some benefit for President Obama to inheriting from George W. Bush the governance of a weakened nation? According to the Thomas von der Dunk of Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, this has given Obama the opportunity to slaughter some sacred cows that had to go:
“This is the interesting paradox: the fact that America is in visibly worse shape than before forces Obama to have the courage to take strong measures, not least on the domestic front where a number of sacred cows are dying, from health insurance and energy to the economic path in general. And on the foreign front, there’s simply no political room left for shortsighted lobbyists representing factions of the American electorate that manifest pro-Israel or anti-Cuba fetishism.”
By Thomas von der Dunk
Translated By Meta Mertens
August 12, 2009
The Netherlands – de Volkskrant – Original Article (Dutch)
If during his first six months in office Obama’s foreign policies differ markedly from his predecessor, it’s due to the inescapable realization that America’s international position has weakened.
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