First off, congratulations are due to our President. But when I first heard Friday morning that Barack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize, which I thought was given for lifetime achievement, I was stunned. What has the President done to deserve such a prestigious award? He’s only been in office for nine months, with arguably very little to show, at least for a prize reserved for the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela.
During his inaugural speech, Obama declared, “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility.” This new era is one in which we do not turn back nor falter in the face of adversity, and work together for a better world.
As David Ignatius observed last week in The Washington Post, this theme of responsibility is developing into President Obama’s foreign policy doctrine. The Nobel Committee endorsed this doctrine by awarding the prize to Obama “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” But like the mantra of “change” during the 2008 campaign, the President’s diplomatic rhetoric has yet to yield results.
While this award may be a confirmation that Europe does love Barack Obama, I see it as neither an opportunity for condemnation nor for exorbitant praise. Rather, as the President said himself on Friday, I see this award as a “call to action.” Most importantly, this award reminds us of Obama’s leadership potential and the many challenges that come with his privileged position.
Unfortunately, the President has failed so far to turn his international celebrity into support for his policies. When he asked Europe for more troops in Afghanistan, they said no. When he requested other nations take some Guantanamo Bay prisoners, they declined. When he told Europe to push for their own economic stimulus packages, they did nothing. He has called on our allies to support tougher sanctions on Iran and North Korea, they so far have said no. You get the point: time and time again, President Obama has been unable to leverage his personal support into effectual political support on the international stage.
Yet, I refuse to be like Rush Limbaugh, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, or the many other Republicans who ridiculed Obama when he won the Nobel Peace Prize, and who applauded when Chicago lost their 2016 Olympic bid. The Left hated President Bush in everything he did, as now some on the Right hate President Obama in everything he does. In my opinion, such an unequviocal hatred was not patriotic under Bush, and it isn’t under Obama either.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing when Europe loves the American President. I want Europe to support our President and to support our country. I want America to be viewed as the military, economic, and moral leader of the world. I want the world to respect America and follow its lead.
Some steps have already been taken by the President to improve our image, such as banning torture, ordering the closure of Guantanamo Bay, encouraging resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and talking to Iran. While I may disagree with some of these actions, I realize that they have pleased our allies, which is a worthwhile accomplishment.
However, there is much more to be done, and real leadership does not always mean apologizing for America and doing only what Europe wants. That may make Americans popular in Paris, but it will never bring us respect. And only respect will elicit action from our allies.
President Obama’s doctrine of international responsibility is strengthening our position in the world, as evidenced by the Nobel Peace Prize awarded last week. While the award raises the already high expectations for Obama, I only hope that it will give the United States additional respect and leverage in pursuing its international goals of fighting terrorism, preventing Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons, restoring stability to global financial markets, and promoting freedom throughout the world. There is still more to be done, and the cooperation of many nations makes for far greater chances of success.
