In final drive, Obama seeks better relations with US foes

[webfact]

In final drive, Obama seeks better relations with US foes
By JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — In his final stretch as president, Barack Obama is driving the United States toward friendlier relations with longstanding adversaries, working to consign bitter enmities with Vietnam, Iran, Cuba and Myanmar to the history books.

Though the reconciliations have been years in the making, Obama hopes he can prove the benefits of his softer approach before he hands control to an uncertain successor in January. Defiant cries of naiveté by his opponents have only strengthened his conviction that the U.S. must release itself from an us-versus-them mentality forged during wars that ended decades ago.

The quest for resolution was on display this week in Hanoi, where Obama lifted an arms sales embargo that had stood as one of the last remnants of the Vietnam War and the deep freeze that persisted until the two nations restored relations in 1995.

Obama's next gesture will come Friday in Hiroshima, Japan, where he'll become the first sitting president to visit the site where the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb — helping end World War II but sowing resentments. Seven decades later, those have mostly fallen away. Though his move has rankled some U.S. veterans and some Japanese, Obama's visit will be a powerful reminder of the intimate alliance between two nations that now view China more warily than they do each other.

Speaking to the Vietnamese people Tuesday, Obama dismissed calls for keeping the communist-run country at a distance, the stance of those fecklessly nursing long-forgotten rivalries. He noted that he's the first president to come of age after the war, telling his young audience that his own daughters had grown up knowing only peace between the U.S. and Vietnam.

"When the last U.S. forces left Vietnam, I was just 13 years old," Obama said. "So I come here mindful of the past, mindful of our difficult history, but focused on the future: the prosperity, security and human dignity that we can advance together."

For Obama, the belief that his youth uniquely positions him to turn the page took root long before he was elected president. In his 2006 book "The Audacity of Hope," Obama wrote that American politics suffered from a case of arrested development, or what he dismissively referred to as "the psychodrama of the baby boom generation — a tale rooted in old grudges and revenge plots hatched on a handful of college campuses long ago."

Elsewhere, in recent years few countries have seen as dramatic a shift in U.S. relations as Myanmar, also known as Burma. With the country's transition away from decades of oppressive military control, the administration rewarded Myanmar for reforms by easing sanctions against state-run companies and banks earlier this year while continuing to call for more economic and political changes.

Though the party of longtime opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi swept into power in Myanmar in March, Suu Kyi herself is still barred from formally holding the presidency due to a constitutional rule believed to have been written specifically for her. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser and an architect of his Myanmar policy, said the rapprochement reflected dual goals of acknowledging history but not becoming imprisoned by it.

"That's kind of central to the president's whole view of the world," Rhodes said. "That we can move beyond difficult and complicated histories and find these areas of common interest."

The sprint toward warmer relations with erstwhile foes reflects Obama's hope that by locking in tangible progress, he can make his approach seem inevitable and even irreversible. While likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton largely supports Obama's detente with Cuba, Iran and Myanmar, Republican Donald Trump is a wild card whose election could augur a sharp return to the more belligerent U.S. stance of the past.

Yet Obama's critics argue that in his efforts to make peace, Obama has erroneously lumped together countries like Myanmar and Vietnam, which have gradually moved toward U.S. values, with others like Iran and Cuba, which they say have not.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., one of the harshest critics of Obama's foreign policy, says the outreach to Cuba and Iran demonstrates "the folly of the president's rush to appease adversaries who don't change their behavior."

"The United States should always be open to trying to turn adversaries or former adversaries into allies, but it has to be based on their conduct," Cotton said in an interview.

The president's diplomatic successes in a handful of countries are tempered by backsliding elsewhere, such as in Iraq and Syria, where Obama concedes the U.S. will be fighting the Islamic State group long after he's out of office. In Russia, where Obama held out early hope for a new era of cooperation, ties have frayed amid U.S. denunciation of Moscow's aggression in Ukraine and support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Anthony Cordesman, a former State Department consultant and now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says Obama has simply seized timely opportunities presented, for example, by the weakening of the Castro government in Cuba and growing Vietnamese concerns about China.

"The truth of the matter is we haven't put anything behind us," Cordesman said. "The legacy a president can leave another president is never binding, and particularly in international affairs it's always a more than one-person game."


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-05-25

[ezzra]

As it emerges now, he fooled and hoodwinked the world into and agreements with Iran, his efforts in Cuba

are non preforming and he's still being vilified by Fidel Castro, the VN and Burma might be seen to welcome

his initiatives for normalizations of relations, but they're are in it for themselves, particularly the VN,

so Mr. Obama, a great statesman and a memorable president you're not, you have done enough damage

already, the sooner you go home the better, and will be a lot easier for the next president to clean

up after you......

[mamypoko]

It bugs me that he waited so long to do this. However, I do

get that he's had the angry, old, white men of the GOP to

contend with. So very pleased to see that party ripping itself

apart with their circus-like antics, of late.

[Calach]

The world doesn't know yet how much it's going to miss that guy.

Sure he is far from perfect and probably underachieved, but we should remember what preceded him, and be conscious that what will follow can only be worse.

[sanukjim]

Should not this YOYO seek better relations with the American people first ? Not just the millions on special free handout programs but the ones paying for his socialist type expenses..

Edited May 25, 2016 by sanukjim

[Thaidream]

Actually Mr Obama is well liked by the American people. His foreign policy has been excellent as he is not getting America involved in any wars other than what he inherited. He is misinformed regarding Thailand but his outreach to Burma and Vietnam is the right move at the right time. Everything will center around Asia from now on. Europe is a declining continent and way to focused on Russia. Obama's failings have been in domestic policy. The poor have increased under his administration and he has lacked the fortitude to go after the insurance companies and Big Pharma who are destroying the American economy with their greed as well as the military industrial complex that continues to bloat the defense budget at the expense of the average American.Compared to what we had prior and what we are going to get next- he will be

remembered for his positive influence on the World. Any of the others would have us fighting in Syria and possibly Iran with planes loaded with body bags headed back to the US.

[SOTIRIOS]

....'sightseeing' by any other name....

...as for the utter destruction world-wide left in his wake.....

[wabothai]

when most of the world is at each other's throat Obama seeks better relations with foes, to sellsome planes and get some business.

he just took up space in the white house and has done nothing of importance in his 8 years.

The worst president ever.

[Thaidream]

Hardly- the worst President ever is George Bush- the one who sent Americans to die in Iraq for absolutely no reason; botched the 9/11 investigation; catered to the wealthy and business interests; almost bankrupted the United States through fiscal mismanagement and ran up the largest deficit in history. History will judge his presidency as incompetence, inept and rate him below even Andrew Johnson as the worst of the worst. He shouldn't have even been President as he did not receive the most votes. A complete disaster for the American people.

[geriatrickid]

Should not this YOYO seek better relations with the American people first ? Not just the millions on special free handout programs but the ones paying for his socialist type expenses..

These millions on the special free handouts, do you mean the hundreds of thousands of people who enlisted in the military, but never saw direct service, never sustained battle related injuries, but use the VA hospital system depriving actual injured veterans of medical care? Or do you mean the millions of US citizens who go nuts whenever the Pentagon tries to close redundant US military bases? Or do you mean the millions of who come from GOP dominated Congressional districts who have benefited from unnecessary capital expenditures?

When you refer to socialist type expenses, do you mean those multi million dollar subsidy programs for large commercial farms at the expense of smaller farms? Or do you mean the paying of infrastructure that benefits property developers? Or do you mean the writing of the tax code so that it benefits only those who can take advantage of the convoluted tax loopholes? Or do you mean industries such as the pharma sector who benefit from the GOP dominated Congress refusal to allow Medicaid/Medicare/VA admin to negotiate better prices for the drugs the programs pay for?

Please share some more details because I don't think those socialists were the ones hiding their millions offshore were they? They aren't the ones who create paper business losses to facilitate the nonpayment of income taxes are they?

[geriatrickid]

Hardly- the worst President ever is George Bush- the one who sent Americans to die in Iraq for absolutely no reason; botched the 9/11 investigation; catered to the wealthy and business interests; almost bankrupted the United States through fiscal mismanagement and ran up the largest deficit in history. History will judge his presidency as incompetence, inept and rate him below even Andrew Johnson as the worst of the worst. He shouldn't have even been President as he did not receive the most votes. A complete disaster for the American people.

True, George has to take responsibility for the Iraq debacle, but it was something that had to be done sooner or later. It was only a matter of time before Iraq would have invaded someone else or dropped a nuke. The fact is, Bush was mislead and lied to. Cheney is the culprit and someone who has gotten off. The financial institutions who screwed over the public walked away with not one of the responsible parties going to jail. Those manipulative financiers were not just in the USA, but were located in Switzerland, the UK and Luxembourg. Not one of those European swindlers was held accountable. HSBC and its mainland Chinese backers did rather well too didn't they? Blaming Bush is a cop out.

[than]

Next travel North Korea ?

Edited May 25, 2016 by than

[Jingthing]

Next travel North Korea ?

No.

[Nasrullah]

The world doesn't know yet how much it's going to miss that guy.

Sure he is far from perfect and probably underachieved, but we should remember what preceded him, and be conscious that what will follow can only be worse.

So better the devil you know?.......an absurd notion....

[Nasrullah]

Actually Mr Obama is well liked by the American people. His foreign policy has been excellent as he is not getting America involved in any wars other than what he inherited. He is misinformed regarding Thailand but his outreach to Burma and Vietnam is the right move at the right time. Everything will center around Asia from now on. Europe is a declining continent and way to focused on Russia. Obama's failings have been in domestic policy. The poor have increased under his administration and he has lacked the fortitude to go after the insurance companies and Big Pharma who are destroying the American economy with their greed as well as the military industrial complex that continues to bloat the defense budget at the expense of the average American.Compared to what we had prior and what we are going to get next- he will be

remembered for his positive influence on the World. Any of the others would have us fighting in Syria and possibly Iran with planes loaded with body bags headed back to the US.

The US is already fighting in Syria....by proxy!.....There's enough body bags coming from iraq/afganistan don't you think

[Chicog]

Hardly- the worst President ever is George Bush- the one who sent Americans to die in Iraq for absolutely no reason; botched the 9/11 investigation; catered to the wealthy and business interests; almost bankrupted the United States through fiscal mismanagement and ran up the largest deficit in history. History will judge his presidency as incompetence, inept and rate him below even Andrew Johnson as the worst of the worst. He shouldn't have even been President as he did not receive the most votes. A complete disaster for the American people.

True, George has to take responsibility for the Iraq debacle, but it was something that had to be done sooner or later. It was only a matter of time before Iraq would have invaded someone else or dropped a nuke. The fact is, Bush was mislead and lied to. Cheney is the culprit and someone who has gotten off. The financial institutions who screwed over the public walked away with not one of the responsible parties going to jail. Those manipulative financiers were not just in the USA, but were located in Switzerland, the UK and Luxembourg. Not one of those European swindlers was held accountable. HSBC and its mainland Chinese backers did rather well too didn't they? Blaming Bush is a cop out.

My god how on earth can you believe this nonsense?

Saddam didn't have WMDs, he'd had his ar$e kicked and his military emasculated. How on earth was he going to invade anyone, let alone drop a nuke?

And don't tell me Bush didn't know, he was doing what Daddy and his friends told him to.

Same goes for his involvement in the global financial meltdowm, he was in bed with crooks, or have you forgotten Enron?!

[wabothai]

Hardly- the worst President ever is George Bush- the one who sent Americans to die in Iraq for absolutely no reason; botched the 9/11 investigation; catered to the wealthy and business interests; almost bankrupted the United States through fiscal mismanagement and ran up the largest deficit in history. History will judge his presidency as incompetence, inept and rate him below even Andrew Johnson as the worst of the worst. He shouldn't have even been President as he did not receive the most votes. A complete disaster for the American people.

OK almost the worst. Bush is a special case I prefer not to think about.

[up2u2]

Hopefully Hillary will continue Obama's legacy and set out to further ease the long standing animosity with other Nations that the US has. It is a real pity Obama cannot do another two terms without a Republican dominated Congress obstructing his every initiative. It has been a monumental struggle to undo the damage that Republicans and W Bush imposed upon America. In time Obama will be respected as the closest President to John F Kennedy to hold the office of President. Without question.

[up2u2]

Hardly- the worst President ever is George Bush- the one who sent Americans to die in Iraq for absolutely no reason; botched the 9/11 investigation; catered to the wealthy and business interests; almost bankrupted the United States through fiscal mismanagement and ran up the largest deficit in history. History will judge his presidency as incompetence, inept and rate him below even Andrew Johnson as the worst of the worst. He shouldn't have even been President as he did not receive the most votes. A complete disaster for the American people.

OK almost the worst. Bush is a special case I prefer not to think about.

You and the rest of the world trust me.

[Publicus]

Mindful of the past we focus on the future.

Two vital points: While the Chinese Century ended before it began, we are entering the next great American Century.

Obama’s Statecraft in East Asia

In the waning months of his presidency, Barack Obama seeks to redefine U.S. foreign policy, most recently in his embrace of one of the biggest phantoms of the Cold War battlefield: Vietnam.

President Obama is using the United States’ complicated history with Vietnam not as a crutch, but rather as a launching pad for a stronger alliance. In drawing upon that shared past while encouraging greater democratization, Obama is raising up Vietnam as a capable ally that will remain long after he leaves office.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/obamas-statecraft-in-east-asia/

Edited May 25, 2016 by Publicus

[keemapoot]

Mindful of the past we focus on the future.

Two vital points: While the Chinese Century ended before it began, we are entering the next great American Century.

Obama’s Statecraft in East Asia

In the waning months of his presidency, Barack Obama seeks to redefine U.S. foreign policy, most recently in his embrace of one of the biggest phantoms of the Cold War battlefield: Vietnam.

President Obama is using the United States’ complicated history with Vietnam not as a crutch, but rather as a launching pad for a stronger alliance. In drawing upon that shared past while encouraging greater democratization, Obama is raising up Vietnam as a capable ally that will remain long after he leaves office.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/obamas-statecraft-in-east-asia/

Another major shoe dropping in favor of Obama and the US is Myanmar. John Kerry dropped in and said hi to Aung San Suu Kyi, and her NLD government, another new bff of America. The changes are happening fast and furious there as I can personally attest to.

Kerry held a "Milestone Meeting" with the Nobel Prize winner a couple days ago before meeting up with his boss in Vietnam. And, for sure, the diplomatic normalization is happening at a more careful pace than the new industrialization of the country with lots of American companies doing deals, but it will come. I haven't been impressed with Obama over his eight years until this pivot or rebalance to Asia, and am very impressed with his performance on redefinition of America's role in Asia.

All of it will be scrapped if Trump is elected. What a waste that would be. Americans and US companies are looking for global leadership and engagement from their new President, not a local yokel real estate guy who wants to build walls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/world/asia/john-kerry-myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi.html

Mr Trump, however, has made it clear that he wants America to become more unpredictable. In his writings on business, he has extolled making extravagant demands or promises as an opening bid before compromising.

This might work well in real estate. But it is potentially a formula for disaster in international politics, where America's friends and foes should believe that the US says what it means, and means what it says. Anything else could prompt dangerous miscalculations by US rivals, leading to uncertainty, instability - and, ultimately, war.

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/donald-trumps-retreat-from-american-greatness

Edited May 25, 2016 by keemapoot