President Obama, The UN And The US Role In The World

President Obama, The UN And The US Role In The World

President Barack Obama speaks at the U.N. General Assembly following a wave of anti-American protests in the Muslim world. Governor Mitt Romney argues the U.S. should do more to shape events abroad. Please join us to discuss different perspectives on the U.S. role in the world.

The world's leaders are in New York this week. It's the opening of the UN General Assembly. Both U.S. friends and U.S foes are represented there, plus some in between: Egypt's new president, Mohammed Morsi, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. President Barack Obama addressed the assembly yesterday, calling on leaders to continue the "painstaking work of reform" and defending American values. But Mitt Romney thinks the country needs a more forceful leader, one better able to protect our interests. Please join us for a conversation on President Obama at the U.N. and differing perspectives on America’s role in the world.

Guests

Jessica Mathews

president, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Susan Glasser

editor-in-chief, Foreign Policy magazine

Jackson Diehl

deputy editorial page editor, Washington Post

Comments

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Sure Romney would shape events in the middle east and around the world with the blood of other people's children. His sons will never be found on the front line in any conflict.

Believe it or not, it is high time that the U. S. should ask the world for forgiveness beacuse of the dogged support for some of the despots of the past. During the cold war, we supported some very awful people who ruled their countries with iron fists as long as they weren't communists. We ought to be ashamed for that.

We cannot dictate to any nation who it should elect to its government. Look at how well the demand for free and fair elections in the West Bank and Gaza. We didn't like who they elected, but they followed our demand. It is time for us to get over ourselves and realize that we cannot rule the world.

September 26, 2012 - 10:17 am

Isn't it dissapointing that even on NPR, on the best radio show available, there can be such MYOPIC panelists that obviously do not recall how harmful American intervention in the "shaping" of regions has been to this country.
We finally have a president that is truly has in mind all things that have to be considered in order to grow real friendships with the intl. community, avoid unecessary wars, etc, etc. and the panelists are looking to hear what is impossible to predict with ANY accuracy.
PLEASE recall El Salvador, Granada, Nicaragua, Colombia, Iraq, IRAN!!!!!
I expect smarter conversation than what I'm hearing today. Diane could be served better while she enjoys a little time off. STEP UP!!!!!!!!

September 26, 2012 - 10:26 am

jlynwood wrote: "Sure Romney would shape events in the middle east and around the world with the blood of other people's children."

Since Obama's surge
"1,275 of the 1,844 U.S. troops killed in the Afghanistan conflict have been killed since Jan. 20, 2009, when Barack Obama was inaugurated as president."

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-s-watch-39-months-69-percent-afgha...

September 26, 2012 - 10:36 am

Our single greatest policy failure is to count Israel as an ally and continue to let Israel dictate American policy. Israel cannot continue to take Arab lands without even paying for it and dictate to its neighbors what weapons they can have. Israel is anti democratic and as expansionist as any empire ever was. We bury our own democratic, freedom of religion and concept of private property when we continue to support Israel.

September 26, 2012 - 10:38 am

It seems to me that the first part of this program was devoted to bashing Obama. I think there should some recognition of how far we have come since Bush days. Also, Obama inherited some problems in the world that cannot be solved easily. I give him an A for his work. Yes, he is pragmatic and does not "slap backs" easily but I think I prefer pragmatism.

September 26, 2012 - 10:42 am

@Partisan
Your point????
Why should we get into another conflict while we are already up to our eyes in one already.

Nonetheless, all the Romney saber rattling will not make us any safer nor will it ensure that the people we want in power will be elected in a free and fair election. I'm sure you wouldn't suggest that we depose another government, or would you?

I suggest that if the israelis want to attack Iran, let them with the caviat, if you start it, you had better be able to finish it. No U. S. soldier will die for your insisting on another war in the middle east.

September 26, 2012 - 10:47 am

jlynwood and Felipe Correa:
Thank you for your insights... As a neutral (foreign) observer, the decades long support of dictatorships all over the world in the name of democracy and the foreign policy of the Bush/Cheney administration seemed incomprehensible... Obama's foreign policy vision seems like a breath of fresh air, thoughtful realism, and pragmatism...

September 26, 2012 - 10:49 am

jlynwood wrote: Your point???? "I'm sure you wouldn't suggest that we depose another government, or would you?"

You mean like Obama did in Libya. You seem to think a weak foreign policy will bring less death and destruction. Appeasement never works and in the end more will die and more money will be spent.

September 26, 2012 - 10:50 am

It has been said that individuals should learn from their mistakes, so as not to repeat them.

There are nations that should take the same advice. Anytime a nation tries to insert itself into the affairs of another nation, that nation will resist.

America has gone down this road several times since World War II. Most of the time we have run into a dead-end. About all we have to show for it is tremendous debt and a very high body count.

The idea of defending ourselves by striking first has been, for the most part, a failure. There are those who will argue otherwise, but they have no proof to back-up their arguments.

I can recall, many years ago, a fellow who stated the opinion that America had won its last war (this was after World War II). I don't recall the fellows name, but he appears to be correct.

September 26, 2012 - 10:54 am

@partisan
I suppose he should have come down on the side of the despot like we have done so many times in our past. I suppose we should bolster the tyrant in Syria against his own people. And... how many U. S. soldiers died in Lybia? You and your ilk will claim that we cannot afford to tend to our own, but we can get involved around the world in things that are truly not our business.

Maybe you have children that you can sacrifice to the altar of another war that will not benefit us, but only drain the resources we have.

September 26, 2012 - 10:58 am

partisan politics wrote:

"You mean like Obama did in Libya. You seem to think a weak foreign policy will bring less death and destruction. Appeasement never works and in the end more will die and more money will be spent."

I fail to see what weakness you are alluding to? Does letting your allies do the work they once let the US do suggest weakness? Doesn't it rather show welcome diplomatic skill and strategic thoughtfulness. Doing someone else's bidding... Does that make you feel really powerful?

September 26, 2012 - 11:00 am

jlynwood wrote: "I suppose he should have come down on the side of the despot"

You are going to have to make up your mind about wars of choice, there was no national security interest for the U.S. in Libya. I thought "you and your ilk" were concerned about all human life?

"5,849–10,605 opposition fighters and supporters killed, 2,716–2,835 missing"

September 26, 2012 - 11:11 am

Ferdnam wrote: "I fail to see what weakness you are alluding to?"

Yes you fail to see.

September 26, 2012 - 11:14 am

pp,
You are talking to a bunch of stumps.
Though they are undeniable, there are a few things many participants on this board will never understand or admit:
1) There are people in this world that hate us, and I don't just mean militant Muslims. Rationally, or irrationally, they hate us.
2) One evidence of that was displayed for the world to see in September of 2001. (Of course the "truthers" and the "it's our own faulters" will jump in here)
3) The world has become very small.
These are points that no thinking person can deny. When the world was bigger 250 years ago, we could afford to be laissez-faire. No longer. In a small world, is it better to be feared or loved when the latter will never happen?

September 26, 2012 - 11:23 am

partisan politics wrote:

Ferdnam wrote: "I fail to see what weakness you are alluding to?"

Yes you fail to see.

Why don't you elaborate... I am willing to read and think about the validity of your position...

Let me just share this... Over the years, "intelligent people" all over the world have always relied on the US to take care of the various crises that developed in their regions... I recall how often allied government officials justified their non-intervention (with a smile and a wink) by saying "the "Amis" will take care of it, sooner or later."

Obama's approach is smarter...
PS: "the Amis" is how the Germans call Americans...

September 26, 2012 - 11:29 am

"partisan politics wrote:

jlynwood wrote: "Sure Romney would shape events in the middle east and around the world with the blood of other people's children."

Since Obama's surge
"1,275 of the 1,844 U.S. troops killed in the Afghanistan conflict have been killed since Jan. 20, 2009, when Barack Obama was inaugurated as president."

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-s-watch-39-months-69-percent-afgha...
September 26, 2012 - 10:36 am"

So what's your point, you deranged Moron, Obama started neither of the infamous Bush "Wars" and is trying to disengage as best he can from the Decade long Reagan/Bush abomination in Afghanistan!!

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

September 26, 2012 - 2:27 pm

"ecgberht wrote:

pp,
You are talking to a bunch of stumps.
Though they are undeniable, there are a few things many participants on this board will never understand or admit:
1) There are people in this world that hate us, and I don't just mean militant Muslims. Rationally, or irrationally, they hate us.
2) One evidence of that was displayed for the world to see in September of 2001. (Of course the "truthers" and the "it's our own faulters" will jump in here)
3) The world has become very small.
These are points that no thinking person can deny. When the world was bigger 250 years ago, we could afford to be laissez-faire. No longer. In a small world, is it better to be feared or loved when the latter will never happen?
September 26, 2012 - 11:23 am"

As usual, far, far, far out in Right Field.

After WWII, Americans were admired and respected over the whole World, even by our former Enemies!!!

But the Bush/CIA/Mossad/FBI/NeoCon/GOP/Jew Media/Military/NRA/Hoover Institution/NPR/Bloomberg News/MI5-MI6 Kabal's half a Century of Treachery, Treason and Terrorism has cost us dearly.

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

September 26, 2012 - 3:26 pm

I see by many comments here that your general opinion is that President Obama has had a "hands off" or "laid back" approach to world affairs and you have fooled yourselves into thinking that this is working? This is just not so. He would like to take credit for every good thing that happens abroad (and domestically) but he can't do that without acknowledging his part in the bad as well. The liberal media, and it appears some of you as well are guilty of whitewashing and doing the same for him. Some of his blunders in the financial market and in international affairs will be talked about for decades because they are so blatantly wrong and hurtful.
There are sins of "Commission" and sins of "Omission". He is guilty of both.
Examples:
Commission- An active vocal support for Arab Spring. And please don't lecture me on how good this is working for the middle East. I have spent my share of time abroad and communicate regularly with friends & citizens there. Their opinion of what is happening in thier lives and what the left media spins on what is happening is diametrically different. They are scared and are losing hope for any kind of democracy and peace in the near future.
Omission - Allowing Iran to amass nuclear weapons capability.
- turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the recent
attacks, murders and attrocities against Americans
abroad at our embasies and elsewhere.

Obama wants to take credit for killing Osama Bin Laden, but does everything he can to distance himself from accepting any blame for the thousands of deaths abroad that are partially due to his influence (or lack thereof.) He plays on both sides of the street. Regardless if by his own hand or by the hand of others he has influenced, Obama stands responsible for the deaths and harm he has caused. Please give back your Nobel Peace Prize mister President. We need leadership now, not showmanship.

September 26, 2012 - 3:52 pm

climatewiz1 wrote:
"He would like to take credit for every good thing that happens abroad (and domestically) but he can't do that without acknowledging his part in the bad as well."

Ummm ... I believe the latter part ... you know ... the bad ... is Bush's fault. In fact, I heard Jay Carney say it yesterday.

September 26, 2012 - 4:25 pm

mchaun wrote:
"After WWII, Americans were admired and respected over the whole World, even by our former Enemies!!!
But the Bush/CIA/Mossad/FBI/NeoCon/GOP/Jew Media/Military/NRA/Hoover Institution/NPR/Bloomberg News/MI5-MI6 Kabal's half a Century of Treachery, Treason and Terrorism has cost us dearly."
This is why Reagan said, "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so."
Russia's been lovin' on us since WWII. Oh yeah! So has N. Korea since the 50s. And China - they love, love, love us ever since WWII.
Then ... begin reading American/Israeli 20th century history starting with the Balfour Declaration right on through UN Resolution 181 after WWII. The resolution was ratified in 1947 and the Israeli state declared on 14 May, 1948 with U.S. backing. On 15 May, 1948, neighboring Arab countries invaded. Yeah, we were "admired and respected" for one whole day! I'm sure Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria were lovin' on some America that day! Or when Iran took hostages in 1979. They were lovin' on us then, weren't they? How about OPEC? They've been lovin' on us for decades too. Love, love, love. We just can't get enough Arab love!
Then read this:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+37%3A1-14&version=NIV
Ezekiel prophesied what would happen on the Sinai pennisula while the Jews were in captivity to Assyria more than 2600 years earlier. Note this, mchaun. Never in human history before or since has a people - who were no longer a people, but completely dispersed amongst the world population as the Jews were, come together into their original homeland to be a people once again - and this was foretold 2600 years before it happened.
I don't expect you to understand or believe this. But you can never say that you don't know about it.

September 26, 2012 - 4:32 pm

@ecgberht

Yeah, I heard that too...(every time Carney speaks) It's the tantric mantra you know.

September 26, 2012 - 4:32 pm

Wow, what an esteemed Panel, Jackson Diehl, deputy editorial page editor, Washington Post, Susan Glasser, editor-in-chief, Foreign Policy magazine (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post), Hair on Fire Gjelten, NPR, (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post), which in addition to blocking me from commenting on their Tripe, are now blocking me from even reading their Tripe.

Diehl, rather Matronly today, writes some of the most disgusting Anti Obama filth around. After Obamas Convention Speech, the Post listed 6 Links to comments on the speech.

Five were really snarky headlines and the Sixth sounded kind of neutral but belonged to Krauthammer!!!

Jessica Mathews, president, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a very refreshing change from the usual Fare of the so-called Carnegie Institutions. Am I crazy or does Diane usually choose the most smooth-talking, but bellicose Reps at The Carnegies?

Anyhow, qualified Thanks for a bit of restraint, Jessica.

(Cont)

September 26, 2012 - 4:35 pm

(Cont)

Ahmadinejad, not an intellectual, despicable??? What a spectacle, watching the ____ (Zionists) at 60 Minutes (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post) tip toe around, terrified of giving him a chance to refute the damnable lies repeated by the ____ and their Fellow Travelers, ad infinitum.

His years of refusal to negotiate, indeed!!! The Bushes, the Israeli ___ and the Crypto ____ Secretary believe that the item to be negotiated are made Preconditions-- IRAN IS IN PERFECT COMPLIANCE WITH THE NPT!!!!

I noticed also that you ____ did not mention the IAEA AS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE SOURCE OF INTEL ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.

The Israeli ____ believe, like the Runt Bush, that Iraqi knowledge of Nuclear Weapons Technology is illegal. Meaning kill all their Scientists and burn their Libraries, which seems to be well under way.

Recently, Ahmadinejad complained that Siemens was damaging their enriching program and the ___ and Fellow Travelers Hahahaed and Siemens said they haven't supplied

(Cont)

September 26, 2012 - 4:37 pm

(Cont)

Of course, Siemens was the only group that could possibly have planted Stuxnet in the Iranian control system that Siemens supplied and when the Stuxnet Tale was exposed, they undertook a 24/7 advertising blitz that reminded us half-hourly what a great Company they were and apparently not even German anymore.

I would like to remind you ____ ,that we have prosecuted and deported Holocaust Deniers and Hellfired American Citizens for mere Speech.

Obama embarassed by the Security failure at the Station in Benghazi (A wholly owned subsidiary of the School of the Americas)??

I remember Carter asking the Kabal if it would be OK the take in the Shah for medical treatment, asking the Kabal if the Embassy could be defended, asking the Kabal if the Hostages could be rescued, what is Veep Bush doing in Paris???

We all know the answers that President Carter received and how the Bush Treason was effected, don't we??

Well, Suppertime.

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

September 26, 2012 - 4:38 pm

mchaun wrote: "Obama started neither of the infamous Bush "Wars""

Obama is the one who called Afghanistan the "Right war" he decided to up troop levels by tens of thousands, it's his policy in Afghanistan that has failed and has gotten our soldiers killed. You seem to forget Clinton was offered Osama bin Laden on a silver platter and also chose not to take him out two other times when he had the chance. You could say 9/11 happened because of another weak democrat.

"On Tape, Clinton Admits Passing Up bin Laden Capture"

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/9/10/181819.shtml

September 26, 2012 - 7:37 pm

I am a white Baptist minister's son in Alabama. My county will go 80 percent red in the Presidential election. Lot of the Baptist preachers I speak to in North Alabama when asked about Obama's faith say they not only think Obama is a Muslim, they "know" he is.
First Sunday in March a Muslim international friend and I marched across the Selma Bridge. I have a posted a link to this program at his facebook site.
NPR's Here and Now last Spring had on air a woman from Arab Spring in Cairo talk about what an inspiration Rosa Parks is to her.
Condi Rice is co chair of the Birmingham 63 50th Anniversary of the Childrens March in Alabama.
I am hoping Bama Coach Nick Saban's wife, a devout Catholic, joins me and the Freedom Fighter from Cairo and Condi Rice on the streets of Birmingham, Alabama this coming April.

September 26, 2012 - 7:41 pm

One other note, UVA Proff Charles Marsh's bio of Dietrich Bonhoeffer should be published this coming Spring. In it he discusses Bonhoeffer's trip through Alabama on Old US HWY 11 in April 1931, the time of the first Scottsboro Boys Trial. Former Duke Chaplain Will Willimon, most recently the 7 year United Methodist Bishop of North Alabama spotlights Marsh's preview on Bonhoeffer in Bama in Willimon's book The Bishop. In some places it is scorching about his stay here in the state.
I hope drshow has Marsh on early 2013. He has a remarkable story to tell.

September 26, 2012 - 7:46 pm

"partisan politics wrote:

mchaun wrote: "Obama started neither of the infamous Bush "Wars""

Obama is the one who called Afghanistan the "Right war" he decided to up troop levels by tens of thousands, it's his policy in Afghanistan that has failed and has gotten our soldiers killed. You seem to forget Clinton was offered Osama bin Laden on a silver platter and also chose not to take him out two other times when he had the chance. You could say 9/11 happened because of another weak democrat.

"On Tape, Clinton Admits Passing Up bin Laden Capture"

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/9/10/181819.shtml
September 26, 2012 - 7:37 pm"

Poor, pathetic, Pee pee. Desperate inventor of irelavant Straw Man blather to obfuscate the Truth.

I repeat, you Moron, "Obama started neither of the infamous Bush "Wars".

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

September 26, 2012 - 7:57 pm

"partisan politics wrote:

mchaun wrote: "Obama started neither of the infamous Bush "Wars""

Obama is the one who called Afghanistan the "Right war" he decided to up troop levels by tens of thousands, it's his policy in Afghanistan that has failed and has gotten our soldiers killed. You seem to forget Clinton was offered Osama bin Laden on a silver platter and also chose not to take him out two other times when he had the chance. You could say 9/11 happened because of another weak democrat.

"On Tape, Clinton Admits Passing Up bin Laden Capture"

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/9/10/181819.shtml
September 26, 2012 - 7:37 pm"

Poor, pathetic, Pee pee. Desperate inventor of irelevant Straw Man blather to obfuscate the Truth.

You pointed out that the majority of the American Casualties was after the Surge. The Surge that your Kolleague of the Kollege of Komical Klaptrap, eggie said was literally forced on Obama by the Military against his will.

In fact, Clinton was also handed A Milk Factory, a Shepherd's tent city and several other wild goose chases on a Silver Platter by you Cretins.

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

September 26, 2012 - 8:09 pm

"Keener2 wrote:

I am a white Baptist minister's son in Alabama. My county will go 80 percent red in the Presidential election. Lot of the Baptist preachers I speak to in North Alabama when asked about Obama's faith say they not only think Obama is a Muslim, they "know" he is.
First Sunday in March a Muslim international friend and I marched across the Selma Bridge. I have a posted a link to this program at his facebook site.
NPR's Here and Now last Spring had on air a woman from Arab Spring in Cairo talk about what an inspiration Rosa Parks is to her.
Condi Rice is co chair of the Birmingham 63 50th Anniversary of the Childrens March in Alabama.
I am hoping Bama Coach Nick Saban's wife, a devout Catholic, joins me and the Freedom Fighter from Cairo and Condi Rice on the streets of Birmingham, Alabama this coming April.
September 26, 2012 - 7:41 pm"

I don't mean to seem disrespectful, but why don't you invite Angela Davis? She did as much for Racial Justice as did Condi.

And why not the FBI Agent who looked way back in his desk drawer one day, and Holy Crap, there was a Tape of a Phone Tap in which the plans to bomb the kids were being discussed?

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

September 26, 2012 - 8:19 pm

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