When Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, many people rejoiced for many reasons. There was the obvious end of the Bush era, the election of the first African-American leader as well as a hopeful shift in America’s foreign policies. The United States, it was thought, was re-engaging with the world from its arrogant unilateralism.
Behind all of the above, there was the general feeling that a reasonable U.S. leadership on the world’s stage was returning. Although the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) were rising, there was recognition that the United States was still the dominant force in international relations and that having a responsible leader was in everyone’s interest.
Barack Obama is being heavily criticized for his actions concerning the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While part of the criticism may be well-founded because of his lack of immediate response as well as failure to communicate compassion, he is the focal point for anger and frustration at the environmental damage over which he has little control. Even if he sent the entire U.S. armed forces, the oil would continue gushing.
But not only is President Obama unable to stop the oil spill, he is also unable to stop Israel from boarding ships on the high seas and killing peace activists. He is also unable to stop North Korea from sinking a South Korean ship. He is also unable to stop Iran from developing its nuclear program. He is also unable to stop the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan and suicide bombings in Pakistan and Iraq.
Should we blame of all this on Barack Obama? Should we conclude that the United States is in decline? Or should we say that the world is extremely complex, and that even the President of the most powerful country in the world cannot control all that happens. While we certainly should not pity Mr. Obama and recognize that several of the world’s situations are related to U.S. policies, we should recognize that a little humility goes a long way, and that power in the 21st century cannot be localized in one man’s hands.
Mr. Obama has his responsibilities, perhaps more than he realized when he took office, and the time of his seeming in control and pushing his agenda seems to be fading. Health care reform and financial regulation are being swept away on the beaches of Louisiana and Florida.
We are well past the euphoria of his Cairo speech one year ago. The audacity of hope seems more and more audacious, and less and less hopeful.
June 5, 2010
