March 27, 2009 12:00 AM
Rebooting America’s Global Image
Not Going Well
Maybe instead of a reboot,
we’re just getting the boot.
By Mona Charen
One of President Obama’s
signature boasts was that his election would, to use his term,
“reboot” America’s image in the world. Addressing thousands of Germans
last summer, Obama said, “In Europe, the view that America is part of
what has gone wrong in the world rather than a force to help make it
right has become all too common.” His election, he promised, would
transform America’s global image.
How’s that project going? On the occasion of the Persian New Year,
President Obama delivered a video message to the Iranian people and
government, advisedly using the term “the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The U.S., declared the president, desired a “new beginning” in
relations with Iran, and would no longer engage in “threats” but seek
engagement that is “honest” and based upon “mutual respect.” While
cautioning that Iran could not assume its “rightful place in the
community of nations” through “terror or arms,” the president’s
message was otherwise strewn with rose petals.Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s response was, well, a little less than
enthusiastic. While the crowd chanted “Death to America” Khamenei
demanded: “Have you released Iranian assets? Have you lifted
oppressive sanctions? Have you given up mudslinging and making
accusations against the great Iranian nation and its officials? Do you
give up your unconditional support of the Zionist regime?” Besides,
the SL continued, “we don’t know who is making decisions in America —
is it the president, the Congress, or some unknown people who pull the
strings?” Khamenei further suggested that some American leaders have
“demanded that our great and honorable nation be wiped out.” President
Obama might want to begin this “honest” dialogue by pointing out that
it was Khamenei who spoke to a crowd chanting “Death to America.” We
don’t do that sort of thing. In fact, they chant “Death to America”
when their national soccer team scores a goal or when they’ve
particularly enjoyed a concert. Their kids learn it in school — rather
as ours learn the Pledge of Allegiance. No American leader has ever
called for Iran to be wiped out. But Iran’s president has a little
list of nations he threatens with genocide on a regular basis. The
list consists of Israel, with the U.S. getting honorable mention from
time to time.
President Obama wasn’t fazed by Khamenei’s response. At his news
conference on March 24, he cited the Iranian reaction as a reason to
be “persistent.”
The new dawn for relations with Europe is slow to materialize too.
There was that unfortunate business with the prime minister of Great
Britain, in which the president’s team seemed unaware that Britain
enjoys special status as primo inter pares of American
allies. After British officials expressed dismay about the cool
reception their leader received by the White House (and the tacky gift
of DVDs), an unnamed administration official reportedly chided the
British, saying: “There’s nothing special about Britain. You’re just
the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn’t expect
special treatment.”
Nor is the new administration making a hit with the current president
of the European Union. Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek told the
European Parliament that President Obama’s economic policies represent
“the road to Hell. . . . Americans will need liquidity to finance all
their measures and they will balance this with the sale of their
bonds, but this will undermine the liquidity of the global financial
market. . . . We need to read the history books and the lessons of
history, and the biggest success of the EU is the refusal to go this
way.” Other European leaders have pointedly declined President Obama’s
invitation to bankrupt their treasuries with deficit spending.
Secretary of State Clinton presented a cutesy “reset” button to the
Russian ambassador. But apparently the State Department had gotten the
Russian word wrong. Instead of “reset” it said “overcharge.”
The North Koreans seem ready to launch a new long-range missile. And
the Chinese, according to the Washington Post, have “the most
active land-based ballistic and cruise missile program in the world.”
Recession notwithstanding, China is very aggressively increasing its
military spending. Even by China’s acknowledged account, military
spending has increased 18 percent in the past year. But the Pentagon
estimates that China spent twice as much — between $105 and
$150-billion on its military in 2008. In addition to missiles, China
is pouring money into cyber warfare, a fleet of attack submarines, R
and D on aircraft carriers, and a naval base on the southern island of
Hainan which would give the Chinese Navy “direct access to vital
international sea lanes,” all while speculating about replacing the
dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
Perhaps we misunderstood Obama. Maybe instead of a reboot, we’re just
getting the boot.
— Mona Charen is a nationally syndicated
columnist.
© 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
|
|