Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Handshake Diplomacy

I was pleased to find this article about Obama's presidential style, describing how he deals politely with other national leaders including those whose interests typically diverge from America's interests.

Handshake Diplomacy
It's been so long since we've had a president disposed to diplomacy that many observers don't know what to think when they see one.

Take President Barack Obama's recent trip to the Summit of the Americas. At his April 19 press conferenceat Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, he delivered—spontaneously, in response to a question—an eloquent summary of what an "Obama doctrine" might be, a succinct appraisal of the nature of power and foreign policy in the post-Cold War world.

And yet the media for the most part ignored this display of strategic acumen and focused on a moment, two days earlier, at the summit's opening ceremony, when Obama, approached by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, smiled and shook his hand.


I like having a President who can be civil with opponents, or preferably, turn them into neutral or allied parties. Diplomacy is less costly than war in many ways.
Tags: politics
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  • 3 comments
estaratshirai

estaratshirai

April 22 2009, 18:13:38 UTC 12 years ago

I find it dismaying that there are people who don't see why he should behave that way. What, do they want him to walk up to foreign powers and punch them in the face? Do they live in a world where that's considered more appropriate behavior? Gah!
akaihyo

akaihyo

April 22 2009, 22:26:23 UTC 12 years ago

As Churchill said, "jaw-jaw is better than war-war."
jolantru

jolantru

April 23 2009, 01:18:26 UTC 12 years ago

Ditto!