Strength on Display: The President in Cairo
Last week in Cairo, the President of the United States gave one of the single-most important foreign policy speeches since President Eisenhower’s “Chance for Peace” speech in 1953.
In remarks lasting nearly one hour, Obama framed the foreign policy of his administration in terms of mutual respect and understanding while never ceding any ground on vital U.S. national security interests. It was a remarkable performance and demonstrated the stark difference between his leadership style and that of his predecessor.
Obama is politically fearless. He lays out his view as well as those of his critics, and then explains why he arrived at his position. It’s a stunning example of leadership that drives toward shared interests, and it is so foreign from our experience with the “Decider” from 2001 to 2009 that it is breathtaking.
You can see the President’s speech–if you missed it–here.
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My colleague Bernard Finel–who has studied trends in Islamic terrorism as closely as anyone over the last several years–published a thoughtful critique of the speech in the Baltimore Sun on the same day it was given. His critical argument was that we could expect Obama’s words to be stirring–but that deeds speak louder than words. And in fact, President Obama has not veered as dramatically as some expected from the national security policies of the Bush administration.
The “words” vs. “deeds” critique is a traditionally valid criticism leveled by scores of experts in public diplomacy. C.D. Jackson–President Eisenhower’s special assistant for political warfare once said, “There’s no such thing as effective public diplomacy in the absence of sound policy.” More colloquially, it’s the “you can’t put lipstick on a pig” perspective.
I tend to agree with that analysis–as far as it goes. But in Obama, we have found a transformational president who proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that words do matter–as does tone.
President Obama’s speech was so effective because it was an American President, displaying an appreciation of Arab and Islamic contributions to global history, acknowledging American faults with humility, and seeking to improve the collective well-being of all.
Eugene Robinson, writing in this morning’s Washington Post captures the effectiveness of Obama’s approach. After recalling the moment when an audience member in Cairo called out, “We love you!” to the American President, Robinson observes, “that the last memorable presidential appearance in the Arab world was the news conference in Iraq at which George W. Bush dodged two shoes hurled at his head.”
More importantly, Robinson notes:
Perhaps the best indication of how Obama played in Cairo is the reaction of his competitors for the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. The Associated Press reported Sunday that the Iranian-backed, Lebanon-based guerrilla group Hezbollah, an influential radical Saudi cleric and the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood all warned followers not to be taken in by Obama’s seductive words — which suggests a fear that Obama had been dangerously effective. A Web site that often reflects the thinking of al-Qaeda referred to the president after the speech as a “wise enemy.”
Despite all this, there are still those who believe that Obama’s speech was “weak.”
I’m left scratching my head. For all the “strength” of the George W. Bush presidency, Iran accelerated its nuclear program, the Iraq war bled on, Middle East peace remained elusive, and terrorist incidents, as ASP’s own research continues to show, sky-rocketed.
Let’s end, once and for all, the false machismo that suggests that talking softly and admitting your own faults is not a sign of strength. Forget about the fate of nations. Think about your own lives and the people you know who demonstrate strength on a daily basis–whether that strength is physical or spiritual or emotional or financial.
In my experience, the people who are strongest are the most humble, the quietest, and the least brash. They exude a quiet confidence that communicates strength with greater authority than any amount of bluster or belligerence.
The President in Cairo showed just how strong America is.
My colleague Bernard is right: a lot of work remains to be done. But it’s not a choice between “words” or “deeds.” Effective leadership requires both, and President Obama’s speech was a magnificent first step.
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