Obama in Spite of America
Published in Cumhuriyet Gazetesi
(Turkey) on 15 April 2015
by Ceyda Karan (link to original)
(Turkey) on 15 April 2015
by Ceyda Karan (link to original)
Translated from
by Kudret Demirkol.
Edited by Stephen Proctor.
We are not going to write stories like the hippies did about superpower America’s foreign policy and its leaders. However, one should acknowledge Barack Obama’s achievements despite the American government’s actions. Today, Obama stands to make history as the president who paved the way for peaceful Cuban and Iranian relations, which are the two most challenging issues in American political history. Obama’s motto is, “When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new.”
In 2009, one year after being elected and taking office, Obama was even compared to the unfortunate 1970s Democratic president, Jimmy Carter. Obama took over an America shaken by a global financial crisis and the wreckage of a foreign policy left by George W. Bush. Many argued that Obama was going to be a victim of the Carter Syndrome and was not going to win re-election. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. Obama's foreign policy goals included limiting America's expensive liabilities, reducing the costs and risks, making an example of American democracy without trying to impose it on others, working together with partners and avoiding conflict with other powers. Most of these goals have been achieved. Obama met with Raul Castro last week to conclude the ‘peace with Cuba’ matter, which was one of the two issues he pledged to solve during his presidency and has thus crowned himself the first president who was able to solve the issue after half a century. At the beginning of this month, a nuclear agreement with Iran was reached despite the efforts to block it by the powers that were drawing on the status quo. This event stands to qualify as a historical event.
Of course, there is no perfect solution to every problem. However, the differences Obama created make us see the shades of grey in a world full of black and white ideas. Otherwise, I have nothing logical to say to those people who expect the U.S. to surrender its interests in the Middle East region entirely. Obama infuriated those who view the world through the lens of absolute American hegemony, and he made remarkable achievements that we deemed impossible three to five years ago. For America, peace with Cuba is a reversal of history, a peace for which America sacrificed one of its presidents (John F. Kennedy) more than 50 years ago. Again, nothing that we expected to happen three to five years ago came true with any certainty. Obama has kept the U.S. away from the military involvements that would just have caused greater sorrow. (In his first term, he made every effort to reduce tensions, but in his second term, he bickered with Russia over Ukraine, and that is a subject for a different analysis.) The presidents who preceded Obama did not quarrel with Israel as much as Obama, although if they had done so, they probably wouldn’t have been able to stay in power very long.
However, Obama has surrendered his principles for Israel less than any other president. For six years, he has been making an effort to secure peace between Israel and Palestine. He substantially drew back U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. As if that were not enough, he has brought America nearly to a level where it has become a valuable and desired ally in the Middle East. Of course, it was costly for Obama to invest in “moderate political Islam” and in democracy while the Arab Spring was taking place. In my opinion, he is trying to make up for his mistakes in the region through strategic balancing and by investing in peace with Iran. We didn’t elect Obama, and of course, his real responsibility is to the U.S., which has a population of more than 300 million people. However, even though working for American self-interest comes first, he has also paved the way for the oppressed, minorities, the ones who fight for justice, and the ones who have different faith and sex preferences.
Obama’s accomplishments in his own country also give hope to others. Against Congressional opposition, he stubbornly worked on a health insurance plan for millions of Americans, worked for the inclusion of 12 million Latino immigrants, insisted on strategies that reduce dependency on fossil fuels and, currently insists on nature conservation, a policy which was embodied in his veto of the Keystone XL Project. These accomplishments, along with dialogue and reconciliation of social problems, are trademarks of the difference Obama has made.
He was blamed for being a socialist in his own country. It was also claimed that he was 'a secret Muslim,' and he was subjected to racist attacks openly in public and by the media. Despite all these attacks, he hasn’t filed a single lawsuit against anyone.
Problems do not end in society. When the leadership is in question, the important thing is to find a leader who can produce solutions and view the differences that exist in the 21st century in every society. He should have an inclusive perspective when applying solutions. Last but not least, it is important to find a leader with good manners who knows how to address the issues and who takes action not only on behalf of his own people, but also on behalf of all humanity. Otherwise, if you don’t require these criteria or demand much from a leader, it is not difficult to find someone to do the job ...
In 2009, one year after being elected and taking office, Obama was even compared to the unfortunate 1970s Democratic president, Jimmy Carter. Obama took over an America shaken by a global financial crisis and the wreckage of a foreign policy left by George W. Bush. Many argued that Obama was going to be a victim of the Carter Syndrome and was not going to win re-election. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. Obama's foreign policy goals included limiting America's expensive liabilities, reducing the costs and risks, making an example of American democracy without trying to impose it on others, working together with partners and avoiding conflict with other powers. Most of these goals have been achieved. Obama met with Raul Castro last week to conclude the ‘peace with Cuba’ matter, which was one of the two issues he pledged to solve during his presidency and has thus crowned himself the first president who was able to solve the issue after half a century. At the beginning of this month, a nuclear agreement with Iran was reached despite the efforts to block it by the powers that were drawing on the status quo. This event stands to qualify as a historical event.
Of course, there is no perfect solution to every problem. However, the differences Obama created make us see the shades of grey in a world full of black and white ideas. Otherwise, I have nothing logical to say to those people who expect the U.S. to surrender its interests in the Middle East region entirely. Obama infuriated those who view the world through the lens of absolute American hegemony, and he made remarkable achievements that we deemed impossible three to five years ago. For America, peace with Cuba is a reversal of history, a peace for which America sacrificed one of its presidents (John F. Kennedy) more than 50 years ago. Again, nothing that we expected to happen three to five years ago came true with any certainty. Obama has kept the U.S. away from the military involvements that would just have caused greater sorrow. (In his first term, he made every effort to reduce tensions, but in his second term, he bickered with Russia over Ukraine, and that is a subject for a different analysis.) The presidents who preceded Obama did not quarrel with Israel as much as Obama, although if they had done so, they probably wouldn’t have been able to stay in power very long.
However, Obama has surrendered his principles for Israel less than any other president. For six years, he has been making an effort to secure peace between Israel and Palestine. He substantially drew back U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. As if that were not enough, he has brought America nearly to a level where it has become a valuable and desired ally in the Middle East. Of course, it was costly for Obama to invest in “moderate political Islam” and in democracy while the Arab Spring was taking place. In my opinion, he is trying to make up for his mistakes in the region through strategic balancing and by investing in peace with Iran. We didn’t elect Obama, and of course, his real responsibility is to the U.S., which has a population of more than 300 million people. However, even though working for American self-interest comes first, he has also paved the way for the oppressed, minorities, the ones who fight for justice, and the ones who have different faith and sex preferences.
Obama’s accomplishments in his own country also give hope to others. Against Congressional opposition, he stubbornly worked on a health insurance plan for millions of Americans, worked for the inclusion of 12 million Latino immigrants, insisted on strategies that reduce dependency on fossil fuels and, currently insists on nature conservation, a policy which was embodied in his veto of the Keystone XL Project. These accomplishments, along with dialogue and reconciliation of social problems, are trademarks of the difference Obama has made.
He was blamed for being a socialist in his own country. It was also claimed that he was 'a secret Muslim,' and he was subjected to racist attacks openly in public and by the media. Despite all these attacks, he hasn’t filed a single lawsuit against anyone.
Problems do not end in society. When the leadership is in question, the important thing is to find a leader who can produce solutions and view the differences that exist in the 21st century in every society. He should have an inclusive perspective when applying solutions. Last but not least, it is important to find a leader with good manners who knows how to address the issues and who takes action not only on behalf of his own people, but also on behalf of all humanity. Otherwise, if you don’t require these criteria or demand much from a leader, it is not difficult to find someone to do the job ...
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