U.S. ELECTIONS | Guide to the 2008 Election
27 August 2008
Democrats Stress Barack Obama’s Willingness to Work with Allies
Improving international relations essential, Obama campaign adviser says
Denver -- Party leaders and campaign surrogates for presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama stress the candidate’s multilateral approach to foreign policy, saying that the Illinois senator would improve America’s image in the world.
“Our standing in the world and influence in the world has diminished,” Joe Lockhart, a press secretary during President Bill Clinton’s administration, said during a State Department Foreign Press Center briefing August 26. “I think you’re going to see a different approach from the Democratic ticket and President Obama, which is, ‘We are leaders in the world but we do want to work with people.’
“We do believe that other countries are important, and that it is just as important to listen as to dictate. I think you’ll see a significant change and an openness around the world to a different kind of American leadership.”
Lockhart was not speaking on behalf of the Obama campaign, but those who were representing the Illinois senator offered similar statements.
According to Wendy Sherman, a foreign policy adviser to Obama, the Democratic candidate’s top goals are to withdraw American troops from Iraq, increase resources to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan, increase the security of nuclear weapons and improve energy security.
Stronger international alliances are essential to these and all of Obama’s international security plans. “We cannot get the job done alone,” Sherman said at a separate Foreign Press Center briefing on August 25.
Obama “is going to engage with the world. … with smart diplomacy, strong alliances and really bring America’s moral authority back into the world,” she said.
OVERVIEW OF OBAMA’S APPROACH TO FOREIGN POLICY
Sherman said Obama long has advocated withdrawing troops from Iraq and increasing troop levels in Afghanistan. However, Sherman said, a diplomatic effort is needed to ensure Iraq’s neighbors help the country maintain security and enhance economic development. “A strong Iraq and an economically strong government is probably the best antidote to Iranian involvement in Iraq,” she said.
Obama believes it is crucial to bring more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and to increase NATO engagement in the region, according to Sherman. He also wants to increase assistance to Pakistan by improving its health care system, infrastructure and security. “There is a wide array of steps that have to be taken here … to make sure that the Taliban … does not grab hold and al-Qaida is diminished,” Sherman said.
An Obama administration also would pay close attention to Iran. Sherman said Obama wants Iran to stop its support of terrorism and to embrace Israel, but says the United States needs to work with its allies and have a frank conversation about Iran.
In Asia, Sherman said, China not only is a growing power in the region, but in the world. Although the United States and China cooperate on many issues, “Senator Obama will not hesitate, as good friends do with each other, to speak directly about concerns Americans have about the direction China might take that we think might not be in the interests of freedom and the rights of human beings,” Sherman said.
As for the ongoing conflict between Russia and Georgia, Obama has been very clear that Russia’s actions were “completely wrong, inappropriate and not in the interest of Russia as a responsible ‘player’ in the international community,” Sherman said.
Obama believes the United States has to “evaluate this relationship day by day, depending on Russia’s behavior. … There is no question there are many things we have to work closely with Russia on,” such as dealing with Iran and North Korea and securing nuclear weapons, Sherman said, adding that the United States will continue to work with Russia on anything that is in the United States’ national interest. “But even in that context, Senator Obama has been very clear that we have to evaluate this relationship.”
In the Americas, a high priority for an Obama administration would be tackling organized crime, which “is very crucial not only to stopping drug wars, but to stopping civil wars,” Sherman said.
TRADE ISSUES
Even though Obama has spoken critically of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during his campaign for the nomination, “Democrats are for trade; they are for fair trade,” Sherman said.
“There is no doubt that in a globalized economy, not everyone has benefited from trade.” Obama wants to ensure the gap between rich and poor is addressed and a framework for all people to benefit from trade is established, she said. “Democrats believe in a fair playing field where all people can benefit and all people can experience prosperity.”
In Africa, Obama supports providing assistance to the region, especially to emerging democracies. Obama talks about the importance of trading with and providing support to Africa, said Sherman.
As another indication that foreign policy will be important to an Obama administration, Sherman predicted Obama would travel extensively as president.
For additional information, see also “Obama Emphasizes Multilateral U.S. Foreign Policymaking.”
