After I posted the ugly video of Congressman Dana Robacher (R-California) defending kidnapping and torture, I wanted to find something positive to post. On Monday Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) gave a major speech on foreign policy in Chicago. You can read the entire speech here.
Obama’s speech is a needed antidote to the video of John McCain (R-Arizona) singing about bombing Iran. In contrast to McCain, Obama brings a message of hope and peaceful engagement of the US in the world. Obama brings a new emphasis on alliances and global insitutions, which are disdained by the Bush administration and the US Republican Party:
"Today it’s become fashionable to disparage the United Nations, the World Bank, and other international organizations. In fact, reform of these bodies is urgently needed if they are to keep pace with the fast-moving threats we face. Such real reform will not come, however, by dismissing the value of these institutions, or by bullying other countries to ratify changes we have drafted in isolation. Real reform will come because we convince others that they too have a stake in change – that such reforms will make their world, and not just ours, more secure.
Our alliances also require constant management and revision if they are to remain effective and relevant. For example, over the last 15 years, NATO has made tremendous strides in transforming from a Cold War security structure to a dynamic partnership for peace.
Barack Obama’s speech was not covered in the German press. However, fellow blogger Dr. Dean was inspired by Obama’s soaring rhetoric to write his own speech.
