A poor template for global diplomacy

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Scott Wilson's Nov. 2 article on the Obama administration's foreign-policy outlook ["Shared interests define Obama's world"] raised serious questions with the first sentence: "President Obama is applying the same tools to international diplomacy that he once used as a community organizer on Chicago's South Side, constructing appeals to shared interests and attempting to bring the government's conduct in line with its ideals."

I don't know how successful Mr. Obama's community-organizing work in Chicago was; the media (except for some conservative bloggers) never took a critical look at that. But even if it was a great success, how could it provide a template for international diplomacy?

Community groups petitioning for redress of grievances or agitating for change -- I guess one could call that "speaking truth to power." Having the power of a great nation and trying to influence another power -- that's a different matter. If Mr. Obama and his advisers see themselves as "community organizers" on a world scale, we're in more trouble than I thought.

Peter Kenny, Glenn Dale