Hitting the Ground Running
The times require action -- and with nearly 3 months to plan (and keep one's mouth shut) -- Barack Obama seems ready to move forward boldly and quickly.
Word is that he will get the foreign policy team up and running quickly.
Steps include:
Word is that he will get the foreign policy team up and running quickly.
Steps include:
- appointing George Mitchell as Middle East Envoy. It is a good move. Mitchell has experience mediating crises and has been an envoy to the Middle East. I've heard him speak on these issues and know him to be knowledgeable. That this is being done as a first order of business suggests that Barack Obama plans to engage this issue from day one and not wait until six months before the end of his second term. With the Israeli-Gaza conflict in a fragile cease fire mode, we can hope for good things going forward.
- Getting Hillary Clinton approved by the Senate today
- Calling his National Security Council together tomorrow to begin officially reassessing Iraq and Afghanistan -- and consulting his military commanders to begin work on withdrawing combat troops from Iraq.
- Issuing an executive order closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center and dealing with the 250 people in custody there.
I understand as well that he will issue orders banning torture.
All of this is good news for day 1.
All of this is good news for day 1.
Comments
Hillary Clinton will not be confirmed today, perhaps tomorrow - still some congressional wrangling to complete.
Appointing a Middle East Envoy would be a good step, but to have credibility it will have to be someone who is not seen as partial to Israel - or else we will just have more of the same - distrust and war.
There are also the lingering issues with Iran and North Korea which will need attention, and, if your agenda parallels the president's those issues look they are going to get placed on the bottom of the pile. But a sincere overture to Tehran might open some doors, and lead the way toward a raproachment. Success on the Iranian front will have dividends on the Korean front.
Pakistan is a mess, and its only going to become more unstable. It is an absolute priority that we develop a viable policy toward Pakistan, one which addresses Pakistan's security issues and bolsters is failing democracy. Until Pakistan is put in order, the much vaunted return to Afghanistan will be very bloody and ultimately unsuccessful.
While torture will once again be outlawed, Gitmo will remain open for awhile (a year?), the presidential order closing it notwithstanding. We still need to develop a plan for dealing with some very unsavory folks, folks whose circumstances prevent prosecution in any conventional court. They have to be housed and they have to be provided with whatever due process rights they may have - and it must be done in a transparent manner - the world and the nation need to know that the US has reclaimed a moral highground in this matter.
The economy is going to be a mess for awhile as well, as it absorbs the positive and negative consequences of all of the federal government actions play themselves out. The question most people want to know is whether the job market will turn around (we can't all build bridges?).
I dare say Obama has hit the ground running (he spent yesterday to community service projects?!?!). He clearly has set the tone for his administration, a tone of effectiveness and competence and of staying on message.
John