I recently analyzed Mr Obama's inaugural address for some clues as to his foreign policy approach for the next four years. That will be flexible as he moves through his term. I have spoken to critics of my last post who claim that I may be overanalyzing soaring rhetoric. I may have erred a little. But I believe that anything that is remotely diplomatic in nature must be worded deliberately and carefully; I thus believe that the parts of Mr Obama's speech directed at foreign nations was worded quite deliberately and quite carefully.
Mr Bush's first inaugural address said,
"The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake: America remains engaged in the world by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. We WILL DEFEND our allies and OUR INTERESTS. We will show purpose without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with resolve and STRENGTH. And to all nations, we will SPEAK FOR THE VALUES that gave our nation birth."
Once again, key points are highlighted. I speak with the benefit of hindsight, but Mr Bush's inauguration deliberately abstains from using the word "restraint." Indeed, his rhetoric suggests unilateral action: the subject of "shaping a balance of power" is America and America alone. Little regard is given to the interests of other nations; an explicit caution is given to those who would trespass on American interests.
If I had analyzed this eight years ago, I would have payed little attention to the final sentence -- "to all nations, we will speak for the values that gave our nation birth." That sounds like high rhetoric. It probably was at the time. But it came to define the next eight years of Mr Bush's presidency.
Inaugural addresses are typically characterized with beautiful language. The domestic bits all sound the same. But the parts that address other nations fall under the heading of "diplomacy." It is therefore carefully crafted. Remember that the so-called Monroe Doctrine was declared at Mr Monroe's inaugural address. As your correspondent said before, Mr Obama will approach his foreign policy with a particular sympathy for restraint and multilateralism.
Mr Bush's first inaugural address said,
"The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake: America remains engaged in the world by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. We WILL DEFEND our allies and OUR INTERESTS. We will show purpose without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with resolve and STRENGTH. And to all nations, we will SPEAK FOR THE VALUES that gave our nation birth."
Once again, key points are highlighted. I speak with the benefit of hindsight, but Mr Bush's inauguration deliberately abstains from using the word "restraint." Indeed, his rhetoric suggests unilateral action: the subject of "shaping a balance of power" is America and America alone. Little regard is given to the interests of other nations; an explicit caution is given to those who would trespass on American interests.
If I had analyzed this eight years ago, I would have payed little attention to the final sentence -- "to all nations, we will speak for the values that gave our nation birth." That sounds like high rhetoric. It probably was at the time. But it came to define the next eight years of Mr Bush's presidency.
Inaugural addresses are typically characterized with beautiful language. The domestic bits all sound the same. But the parts that address other nations fall under the heading of "diplomacy." It is therefore carefully crafted. Remember that the so-called Monroe Doctrine was declared at Mr Monroe's inaugural address. As your correspondent said before, Mr Obama will approach his foreign policy with a particular sympathy for restraint and multilateralism.
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skewz
Chris MacDonald
Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
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