Week Thirty-Six

National Scene 10/13/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

A Nobel Prize for a Noble President

“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee

October 9, 2009

Highlights of Obama’s Foreign Diplomacy:

• President Outlines End of Iraq War (2/27/09) Fulfilling a promise he made during his campaign, the President outlined a plan for troop withdrawal from Iraq.
• The President’s First Foreign Trip (2/29/09) President Obama took his first foreign trip as President to Ottawa, Canada. After a successful meeting and press conference with the Prime Minister, the President visited a local store, cheered on by the throngs of Canadians who had come out to greet him.
• Obama Greets President of Brazil (3/14/09) President Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed the economy, energy and the environment. Silva, who spoke through a translator, stressed “the importance of President Obama's election, what it represents to the world and especially to Latin America.”

· Obama Signals New Beginning to Iran (3/20/09) President Obama released a video message, subtitled in Farsi, for all those celebrating “Nowruz” or the beginning of the New Year for millions in Iran and other communities around the world. Acknowledging the strain in US—Iranian relations over the last few decades, he stated, “At this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together, we have serious differences that have grown over time.” Stressing the need to move forward Obama continued, “My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran, and the international community.”

· Obama’s Worldwide Op-Ed and Televised News Conference (3/24/09) The President published a rare “simultaneous op-ed” in thirty papers around the world, calling for “a collective effort” to address the economic peril found in all corners of the globe. “The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose,” he writes.

· New strategy for Afghanistan (3/27/09) Describing our purpose in Afghanistan as increasingly dangerous and unstable, the President stated, “let me be clear: al Qaeda and its allies—the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks—are in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he continued. “Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan.” Obama also lobbied Congress for more aid to Pakistan to help stabilize the region.

· President Begins London Visit With Morning Meetings (4/1/09) President Obama met with world leaders including—British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Chinese President Hu Jintao. The Prime Minister told President Obama, “Your first 70 days in office have changed America, and you've changed America's relationship with the world.”

· The Obama’s meet the Queen (4/1/09) President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were greeted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Afterward, the royal couple held a reception for all the world leaders and the Queen made headlines by extending her arm in a “hug” of Michelle Obama who reciprocated. It was a rare expression of affection from the royal highness.

· Lifting Restrictions on Cubans (4/09) President Obama signaled an increased flow of information and humanitarian items to the Cuban people.

· The Obama’s Host Seder Dinner (4/9/09) The Obama family hosted a Seder dinner in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House in recognition of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is believed to be the first time the White House has had a Seder hosted by a U.S. President.

· Obama Approves Use of Force against Somali Pirates (4/14/09) In what is being called his first national security test, President Obama directed the use of necessary military force in the rescue of American Captain Richard Phillips.

· Obama at the G-20 (4/2/09) The President, who said he was there “to listen and learn” took a leadership role at the summit and later held a press conference in which he stated the next steps, include creating a united international front to create jobs and stimulate the global economy, helping emerging economies stay afloat, and encouraging trade. Obama also insisted there be an international effort to reform financial regulatory systems.

· First Lady Makes Surprise Visit to London School (4/2/09) In an emotional visit to students in a poorer part of London, Mrs. Obama inspired female students at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School. She encouraged the appreciative girls to follow their own dreams.

· On to France and Germany (4/3/09) President Obama told thousands of students gathered in a town hall in the Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg, France: “This is our generation. This is our time. And I am confident that we can meet any challenge as long as we are together.”

• 20,000 in Prague to See Obama (4/6/09) Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of over 20,000 that gathered outside a castle in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, President Obama acknowledged, “Few people would have predicted that someone like me would one day become the President of the United States. Few people would have predicted that an American President would one day be permitted to speak to an audience like this in Prague.”
• The President Visits Turkey (4/6/09) Obama visited the country of Turkey, which he calls a “critical ally” in addressing the problems in that part of the world. Obama spoke to the majority-Muslim population in a speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly and acknowledged the positive contributions of Muslims in America and worldwide. Many Turks lined the streets in support of the new American President.
• President Obama Surprises Troops in Iraq (4/7/09) Obama an unannounced visit to Iraq. The President told hundreds of cheering soldiers: “You have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. That is an extraordinary

· Obama in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (4/16/09) Signaling a change in approach from past administrations, the President told the leaders they faced a clear choice: “We can overcome our shared challenges with a sense of common purpose, or we can stay mired in the old debates of the past. For the sake of all our people, we must choose the future.” In an op-ed column by the President that appeared in 15 newspapers across the Americas, Obama stated his intention to increase U.S. partnerships with Latin America and the Caribbean.

· Obama meets King Abdullah of Jordan (4/21/09) The President held a one-on-one meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan. The first Arab leader to meet Obama in the White House offered “warm thanks on behalf of many Arabs and Muslims who really had an outstanding response to the President's outreach to the Muslim Arab world.”

· Bringing Pakistan and Afghanistan to the Table (5/6/09) The President signaled the importance by saying, “We meet today as three sovereign nations joined by a common goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan…to achieve that goal, we must deny them the space to threaten the Pakistani, Afghan, or American people.”

· President Meets with Israeli Prime Minister (5/18/09) The President met for over two hours with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, discussing the need to get back to the negotiating table and restart Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. The leaders also discussed Iran’s nuclear program and the Administration’s diplomatic outreach to the country, with the president declaring the United States wanted to bring Iran into the world community, however: “We're not going to have talks forever.”

· Palestinian President at the White House (5/28/09) Determined to negotiate a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East, President Obama pressed both sides for action. While meeting at the White House with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama told him, “The Palestinians must find a way to halt the incitement of anti-Israeli sentiments that are sometimes expressed in schools, mosques, and public arenas. All those things are impediments to peace.”

· Obama Speaks to Muslim World from Cairo, Egypt (6/4/09) In a major speech, addressed to Muslims around the world, President Obama signaled a new beginning of relations between the US and Muslim countries. Muslims from around the world praised the speech and the respect showed to their culture. The crowd at Cairo University gave the President cheers and a standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech.

· Obama Visits Buchenwald Concentration Camp (6/5/09) Obama described the significance of the visit saying, “We are here today because we know this work is not yet finished. To this day, there are those who insist that the Holocaust never happened -- a denial of fact and truth that is baseless and ignorant and hateful. This place is the ultimate rebuke to such thoughts; a reminder of our duty to confront those who would tell lies about our history.”

· The Obama in Russia (7/6/09) President Obama described his meetings with Russian leaders as a chance to push ‘the reset’ button in U.S.-Russian relations. Obama summed up their meeting by saying, “President Medvedev and I agreed that the relationship between Russia and the United States has suffered from a sense of drift. We resolved to reset U.S.-Russian relations, so that we can cooperate more effectively in areas of common interest.” As a result of the meeting, President Obama and the Russian leader agreed in principle to reduce their permitted nuclear arsenals by nearly a third to try to ease tensions between the former Cold War rival nations.

· President Attends G-8 in Italy (7/9/09) President Barack Obama arrived in Italy for a summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations. Obama presided over a side meeting of the major economies with a focus on global climate issues.

· Obama Has Audience with Pope (7/10/09) In a break from tradition; Pope Benedict had sent Obama a personal note of congratulations the day after his election and rearranged his schedule to meet with the President following the current G-8 Summit.

· Obama Reminds Ghana “Yes We Can!” (7/11/09) Stating, “I have the blood of Africa within me,” President Obama addressed the Ghanaian parliament and President John Atta Mills in Accra, Ghana. Obama, who was warmly greeted by masses of people in Ghana, stated, “Despite the progress across Africa that has been made in the latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st, much of Africa’s promise has not been fulfilled.”

· Full Circle -- Obama Stands at “Door of No Return” (7/11/09) Following his speech in Accra, the President and first family traveled to Ghana’s Atlantic coast to visit the fort in which men, women, and children were housed in barbaric conditions before being sent on a treacherous journey into slavery. The Obama’s toured the castle including the infamous “Door of No Return” which was the last stop for Africans as they left their home continent. The President implied the fort should be a source of hope as well as repository of painful memories saying, “It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it’s always possible to overcome.”

· Obama Meets with Prime Minister of Iraq (7/22/09) The President described the transition in which all U.S. troops withdrew from Iraqi cities, and transferred power to Iraq’s security forces. Saying the action was “an important step forward,” Obama stressed the importance of the endeavor.

· U.S. – China Blueprint for the Future (7/27/09) President Obama addressed the opening session of the first U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The President, in his trademark manner, presented his vision for the future by first looking at the historical context of the relationship between America and China.

· President Travels to Mexico for North American Summit (8/10/09) President Obama traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to meet with fellow North American Leaders--Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The President described North America as “defined not simply by our borders, but by our bonds.”

· Obamas Support Chicago for 2016 Olympics (9/16/09) The President and First Lady took time out from their busy schedules to lobby on behalf of their country, and home city – Chicago – to host the 2016 Olympics.

· President Addresses United Nations (9/23/09) President Obama gave a speech to the United Nations General Assembly where he spoke of, “The four pillars fundamental to the future that we want for our children: 1.) non-proliferation and disarmament; 2.) the promotion of peace and security; 3.) the preservation of our planet; and 4.) a global economy that advances opportunity for all people.” He concluded by defining “a new era of engagement with the world.”

· Obama Chairs UN Security Council (9/23/09) Barack Obama became the first United States President to chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. The President spoke of the need to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize (10/9/09) The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy