By Abdallah El-Ashaal By now, we know enough of Obama's thinking to venture into outlining what I will call the Obama Doctrine. The first trait of that doctrine is that no single superpower can run the world alone. This is a marked departure from the imperious views of President Bush who thought that Washington was the centre of the universe and could not be opposed or given advice. Bush's attitude caused much trouble for America and lost it many friends abroad. The second trait is that military power needs a political context. This, too, is a reversal of Bush's policy of pre-emptive strikes. For Obama, diplomacy takes precedence over military action, which means that a major power should cultivate friends and use a carrot and stick policy with its enemies. Unfortunately, Bush has left behind a sad legacy, one that Obama will have trouble overturning. The third trait is a focus on disarmament. Obama is making nuclear weapons disarmament a primary goal. He was the first US president to head a summit of UN Security Council members and urges reduction of their nuclear arsenals while continuing to preach strict non-proliferation. In April, during a NATO meeting in Prague, Obama made it clear that disarmament would remain a top priority for his administration. The fourth trait is the rehabilitation of the UN's role in international politics. By reversing the policies of President Bush, who routinely thumbed his nose at the UN, Obama seeks to reassure the world that multilateralism is back again. The fifth trait is respect for international law. Whereas his predecessor avoided any mention of international law, Obama seems to cherish the term. His policies so far completely contradict those of the Bush administration, which took pride in deriding international law. There may be more to the Obama Doctrine than the five traits mentioned above. But so far, the new president seems to be consistent in reassuring the world that his country is no longer a bully, but is a partner in policy and an advocate of legality. This week's Soapbox speaker is former assistant to the Egyptian foreign minister.
