Since no one seems to have mentioned it........

[circmand]

I'm an outsider here, and I'm not going to weigh in on his policies or successes and failures, but you have to admit that the fact that most non-Americans don't assume every single thing that the US is doing is automatically selfish, fear-driven, and opportunistic, for the first time in the better part of a decade, has to be worth something as far as political currency.."

Frankly until the rest of the world starts contributing their fair share of money, troops, UN costs etc I really couldn't give a Flying Fig about what they think, say, or do. The US should start heading to a reall self interest program and leave the rest of the world to do for them selves for a while so they can learn to appreciate what we do and not sit back watch us and then bitch that we didnt use our charity money the way they want us to.

In either case, to go back to the wisdom of Douglas Adams, "Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."

I agree too many of our presidents have been elected because they wanted the job not because they were capable of doing it. And they were from both parties.

I have no problem helping my fellow man. From Darfur to Haiti. However, when my govt decides to take my money and donate it to their favorite charity to promote their agenda that is when I have a problem. Or when the people I help start bitching that I do not give enough or that what I gave is not what they wanted that is the last dollar they get from me. I feel once I earned the money it should be my decision where it is spent. I will not say how you should spend your money dont presume to tell me how I should spend mine.

[Marlin]

Frankly until the rest of the world starts contributing their fair share of money, troops, UN costs etc I really couldn't give a Flying Fig about what they think, say, or do. The US should start heading to a reall self interest program and leave the rest of the world to do for them selves for a while so they can learn to appreciate what we do and not sit back watch us and then bitch that we didnt use our charity money the way they want us to.

It is weird that we are the most generous country in the world, yet our president has gone around apologizing and kissing the asses of other useless world leaders, take that political respect and shove it straight up their arse.

[Stephen Biko]

It is weird that we are the most generous country in the world, yet our president has gone around apologizing and kissing the asses of other useless world leaders, take that political respect and shove it straight up their arse.

Because strong-arming is really effective at getting cooperation. It isn't about 'kissing asss' or 'acting tough' its about manipulating other countries to act in our best interest. It costs us nothing to play nice with the other kids on the playground - but it can yield enormous dividends, like Russia's change with respect to Iran as one simple example.

[circmand]

Because strong-arming is really effective at getting cooperation. It isn't about 'kissing asss' or 'acting tough' its about manipulating other countries to act in our best interest. It costs us nothing to play nice with the other kids on the playground - but it can yield enormous dividends, like Russia's change with respect to Iran as one simple example.

Being nice hasnt gotten the USA anything but contempt from other countries and bowing and apologizing has gotten us nothing but contempt either. All your morally bankrupt countries run by dictators are like their leaders they only respect one thing strength. Despite hollywoods attempt at brainwashing the masses that gathering in a circle and singing Kum Bay Yah will solve everything and treating your kids like friends will raise great adults its untrue. Every country has been invaded the USA is the only one that gives the country back and taxes its citizens to rebuild the defeated country leaving them better off than they were when they started.

[Stephen Biko]

Being nice hasnt gotten the USA anything but contempt from other countries

I'm surprised you say that when I've already given an example where diplomacy has been successful. It is no isolated incident either - for example even France has strongly endorsed the new "surge" in afghanistan with NATO troop counts expected to reach at least 47,000.

I'm not saying diplomacy is 100% effective, but I'm confident it is a whole lot more effective than trying to boss everybody around. And, its not like we have to act tough to scare anyone - everybody knows we've got the biggest stick in the world and have used it more than enough times since the end of WWII. Why do you think Iran wants nukes in the first place? We showed them what we will do to a country that we don't like who doesn't have nukes.

Every country has been invaded the USA is the only one that gives the country back and taxes its citizens to rebuild the defeated country leaving them better off than they were when they started.

Perhaps you can name an example where beating on a country that was down, or just leaving it to rot, ended up as a net positive for the USA in the long run? Or at least a case where rebuilding ended up as a net loss?

The kind of treatment you seem to be advocating really backfired with respect to the Weimar Republic. Yet rebuilding paid huge dividends with Germany and Japan after WWII. Maybe I've just got a big blind spot, but I can't think of a single case where determined rebuilding of a defeated country was not a massive net benefit for the USA in the long run.

[Marlin]

I'm surprised you say that when I've already given an example where diplomacy has been successful. It is no isolated incident either - for example even France has strongly endorsed the new "surge" in afghanistan with NATO troop counts expected to reach at least 47,000.

Do you honestly believe that countries are being nice to Obama because of his apologetic demeanor? How would it look if a country was "mean" to the first black president? They would immediately be marked as racist, and no politician wants that on their head, regardless what country they are from. No, the world is acting nice, and just like children, as soon as we turn our back/let our guard down, they will do whatever they can to hurt us or each other either financially, politically or other. We are the teacher on the playground, and the teacher is NOT friends with her students.

[Y33TREKker]

Do you honestly believe that countries are being nice....

Then again, when you a-s-s-u-m-e the worst, that's generally what you end up with.

There's not much a person can do about past mistakes other than realize they were made, admit they were made, try to correct them, and move on. Doesn't it show more character, being able to do that, than it would to ignore them and expect others to do the same?

It's all a matter of perspective of course, but some may say that attempting to open or maintain a dialogue as equals, regardless of financial/political or other levels of power, is the true indicator of strength.

It also seems curious that some are of the opinion that Obama won the election just because he was/is a good public speaker. I mean, I personally do think that he is, although I was also of the opinion that at times during his campaign his speeches had almost started to sound like they were being delivered by a tele-evangelist. But regardless of his public speaking skills, it was what he was saying (and more to the point...doing) that had me leaning more in his direction. (And I should at this time say that Obama didn't eventually get my vote, in case anyone is starting to think I'm saying what I am to justify any decision I made after the fact).

What he did was actually put into practice what most people said they wanted a candidate to do; have the ability to focus on the issues while NOT falling prey to the tactic of making the campaign process a big mud-slinging contest...(similar to what's happening now with current opinion polls). That fact alone showed that the man had character, and that he could maintain a more mature level of discourse even when it may have been easier to simply fight fire with fire.

In my opinion, it's all still a matter of having realistic expectations. It seems that the majority of people wanted change, it's just turning out that the only change that will be considered acceptable is the type of change that doesn't require the people who wanted change...to change.

[Stephen Biko]

Do you honestly believe that countries are being nice to Obama because of his apologetic demeanor? How would it look if a country was "mean" to the first black president? They would immediately be marked as racist, and no politician wants that on their head, regardless what country they are from.

I have no response for that. To believe that the leaders of multiple countries are simply unable to say "no" in a diplomatic fashion because they are afraid of appearing racist is not debatable. Either one believes it fervently, or one laughs at the face of it.

No, the world is acting nice, and just like children, as soon as we turn our back/let our guard down, they will do whatever they can to hurt us or each other either financially, politically or other.

Which is absolutely no different from the situation engendered by diplomacy through force. That's simply the nature of international relations.

[Scott Harness]

Maybe I've just got a big blind spot, but I can't think of a single case where determined rebuilding of a defeated country was not a massive net benefit for the USA in the long run.

When we rebuild countries,we usually,conveniently build huge air bases and occupy them for then on! We still have bases in Japan and Germany.
If you look at the middle east,we have it totally encircled by bases.
We have our hand firmly on the oil spigot!! If it comes push to shove