On his first trip overseas as president, Obama travels to London Tuesday for the Group of 20 economic summit. In the wake of W's foreign policy catastrophe, together with the deepening global recession, Obama would be wise to go with humility - prepared to listen carefully and thoughtfully because our nation's role on the global stage is deeply in flux.
More on the flip.
The New York Times reported today that Obama:
seems unlikely to return home with any more to show for his attempts to open a dialogue with Iran’s leaders, who have, so far, responded with tough words, albeit not tough enough to persuade Russia to support the United States in tougher sanctions against Tehran. And he will be tested in face-to-face meetings by the leaders of China and Russia, who have been pondering the degree to which the power of the United States to dominate global affairs may be ebbing.
The piece elaborates on Obama's realistic expectations, and adds a strong caution:
"There is a direct challenge under way to the paradigms that America has been trying to sell to the rest of the world," said Eswar S. Prasad, a former China division chief at the International Monetary Fund. The American banking collapse, which precipitated the global meltdown, has led to a fundamental rethinking of the American way as a model for the rest of the world. Yet even as his presence stirs opposition to particular American policies, Mr. Obama is being welcomed by many Europeans as an embodiment of American ideals.
Those American ideals will be required for the US to safely navigate and adapt to the evolving new global paradigm. We collectively as a nation must take a more responsible and humble role on the global stage. And that begins with our actions at home. In taking such a role, we can unleash what makes this nation great, our ingenuity - the necessary ingredient to aid global efforts to address climate change, famine, and the petrol/religious wars. The days of hubris are behind us - Mr. President, may you go to London and wow them with your humility.