Obama's Study Abroad

McCain's experience is of little value because his experience has led him to incorrect conclusions. He is of the 'Unilateral' school of thought that the US can do whatever the hell we want to because nobody can stop us.

Obama will move this country into the world community as an equal member rather than as the 900 pound gorilla.

With Obama in charge, the world will again respect us rather than fear us.

Friightenly, Obama has the "new world order" and "one world government" look to me.

It is curious that some think we are merely an "equal member" of the international community. Our 13.8 trillion dollar economy and our military prowess are beyond peer. And despite some criticism from such quarters as Spain, Italy and Russia, our relations with Britain, France, Germany and the emerging states of Eastern Europe are as good as ever. The fact is that if we don't lead, someone else will. And such a change would work to the detriment of U.S. interests and global stability.

As for unilateralism, does ConJob--and others of her view, for that matter--remember the Kosovo conflict? There was a President by the name of Clinton in power at that time. Though he is a Democrat, and presumably as wedded to multilateralism as ConJob, one would be most mistaken in thinking that his administration employed multilateral diplomacy in Kosovo. So as to minimize Russian involvement in a conflict that involved its long-time ally Serbia, the Clinton administration pursued the conflict as a NATO led operation, thus avoiding the diplomatic complications of UN involvement. Whatever you want to say about the pre-Iraq war intelligence issue, the Bush administration devoted much time and effort to getting the UN on board. Compared to Clinton, that looks a lot like multilateralism.

Listening to some of the callers today, I was struck by the fact that many did not seem to understand what a huge world power the US is and what strong and mixed feelings people around the world have about this country. The US elections are being followed everywhere. The electoral process is viewed with a mixture of bemusement (why does it last so long? what's this about voting by state?) and with admiration (can a woman or an African-American really become president of the US???). The fact that we actually have a major party candidate who is Black seems revolutionary to people around the world who have ALL heard about the sufferings of Blacks here and about American racism. The fact that Obama is young and speaks so well just adds to the sense of wonder and, for some, hope that the world's super power can use its power more constructively. Best, Joanna