Obama's Uninspiring National Security Team

Pardon the metaphor, but Obama is trying to put lipstick on the pig that is US foreign policy. His national security team looks no less hawkish than the team assembled during Bush's second term. If I may ask, how is Hillary Clinton signing a communiqué or Robert Gates asking for more defense funding a "new dawn" exactly?

Ah, but the buck stops not with them but with Obama. The 3am call is his, not Clinton's, to make (even though one can almost hear her rehearsing Alexander Haig's famous "I'm in charge now" line in her head). Still, Obama's familiar-looking team of national security fixer-uppers does not inspire confidence. Nor do his vague answers to detailed questions on specific policies. "We're going to have to bring the full force of our power, not only military but also diplomatic, economic and political, to deal with those threats not only to keep America safe, but also to ensure that peace and prosperity will exist around the world," he told reporters. Obama seems to think he can wish away the world's evils with his eloquence and charm.

But his statements to date, whenever issues of substance are involved, have been lacking in specifics -- the kind of fluff that goes good with peanut butter but not with issues of war and peace. To wit: He says he will close Guantanamo. Great, a symbolic blow to terrorism recruiters' kneecaps, but what about Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which is even larger (with over 1,000 detainees), more secretive, and even houses juveniles? Obama promises to send more troops to Afghanistan but to what end: What are our goals there? And more troops will do nothing to improve the aid-distribution mess there or rid Kabul of corruption.

On terrorism in South Asia, he is similarly opaque. I am getting calls from Indian reporters asking if their country should be allowed to bomb terrorist targets in Pakistan. Their rationale? Obama seems to back the idea. OK, that's fine and well when the targets are FARC rebels in Ecuador or PKK militants in Iraqi Kurdistan. But India and Pakistan are both nuclear states. I am curious what Obama would advise his Indian counterpart in the wake of the recent attacks. Just saying there is "delicate diplomacy" going on falls short of an answer. How do you strong-arm Pakistan to control militants on its territory, short of bombing them (which incidentally is what Bush is currently doing to little avail)?

Let's shift to Europe. Obama has made no decision on the missile shield in Moscow's backyard, rammed down the throats of the Russians by the Bushies when there wasn't a threat. Now there actually may be one because Moscow has installed missiles in Kaliningrad, which juts into Europe like an extended middle finger. Obama seems to support NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine, even as evidence has emerged that Kiev may have supplied Tbilisi with illegal arms during its war with Moscow.

On the Middle East, his staff (including Clinton) has strong pro-Israel credentials, which is not a bad thing but it may jeopardize Washington's efforts to be seen as an honest peace broker in the region, much less scotch any "vigorous debate" in the White House when the subject of Israel arises (at least he has brought back into the fold some advisers, including Robert Malley and Samantha Power, whose views might sit better in Arab capitals).

I hate to say it, but in terms of U.S. foreign policy, I don't see a whole lot changing under Obama, especially with the national security team he has assembled. The biggest thing I fear is that when Obama gets that 3am phone call, his voice will sound an awful lot like Bush's.

Comments

[FCBarca]

Can't disagree with this article, at all, sadly

[BarackstarObama]

Actually, his team has instilled tons of confidence.

[eqactor2]

Good lord, Beehner! Obama isn't even privy to all the information he would need to make those decisions yet. Would you just relax? Don't get your panties in a wad just yet.
could you maybe wait until he's actually President and has the authority to DO something?

[LightSword]

I hope he sounds more hawkish than Bush when answering the phone at 3AM to be honest.

[dontomas]

The problems with the economy are so great at this point that putting a cabinet together requires people who can hit the ground running. Obama is entering his presidency as a war time president and taking over the responsibily of an economy that is in such bad shape that it could easily tip into a full scale depression. He does not have the time to ease into planning and shaping he needs people who are already vetted and ready to go. It was not until the latter part of his campaign that we realized what a mess the economy was in, the housing loan collapse, failed banks, the auto industry etc. Would the critics of his cabinet and policies feel better if inexperieced and unvetted left wing liberals were the extent of the cabinet in these perilous times? He is not a John McCain bringing in a right wing nut from Alaska just to please the conservative Repug base.

[Ipanemagirl]

wait a minute!!! He is not even in charge yet, what do you expect him to do? Give him a chance to prove himself once he is in charge, dont presume to know what he has in mind when we have no clue yet!
Why dont you complain about the lame duck still on our payroll which is sleeping all day (Bush).whi­le we are in a deep financial crisis which he himself is responsible for! Why are you sleeping on that one???
!
Obama will have too much on his plate when he gets started...­I think we need to help him by giving him some space and time to sort his way out without too much negative criticisms­.....who else could do better? MCCain? Palin? Hucklebee? So lets be happy and supportive we have a capable guy like Obama that shows he's willing to fix things. He cannot do all at once and not everything will be successful, but any improvement will be better than what we have now.
Just because we are using experienced people from a past leader, does not mean they will be doing the same work. Times have changed and they will have to resort to new solutions to adapt to the current problems, and will be under the management of a new leader. BY being young I think Obama is more likely to have fresh and more creative ideas than our predecessors.
I doubt very much it will be "more of the same!"

[gatogato]

I am glad Obama is not paying too much attention to the left or right and is putting experience over ideology.
But I suppose, since you are such an expert on International affairs and diplomacy, he should listen to you.

[jshubbub]

Just one more naysayer lining up to boo Obama before he actually has a chance to govern. Clearly, the pivotal role on Obama's national security team is his own.

(Warning: Approaching sports metaphor!)

Dress football players up in pads and helmets, and they look more or less the same other than the jerseys. The coach makes the calls, and that accounts for the difference. The sport itself doesn't change. Sometimes, the players don't change. Strategy and execution do.

[shorterpost]

Beehner, Obama isn't even in office yet! The world isn't static. As Obama said on the CBS 60 Minutes interview, change will come from him as the commander in chief, and that will resonate through his staff.

[Herekitty]

As an Obama supporter from the beginning, I must say that anyone who believes campaing promises is a fool.

[Dustee]

Lionel Beehner, it's nice to know that you have figured out EVERYTHING with out even setting foot into one of Obama meetings.

You saw some familiar faces...no­w you know everything you need to know about what's happening around Obama.

I believe that's why he got around everybody to the point where he is now...Mr. President Elect Barack Hussein Obama.

People kept counting him out and he kept saying..."­yes I can".

[SoD1]

You know, Dear Mr. Lionel Beehner, I totally and in full agree with your critic and your questioning intentions and motives of parts of our new leadership here. And believe me, to my recollection, these has hardly happen much within the last 8 years, me agreeing fully any American's view of political events or the World.
I am starting to wonder if the ultimate "shark" of Deceptions has landed, a Trojan horse, a cuckoo's egg placed in our Nest by the same as before and he was just clothes in Intellect and "different" . But on the other side, then these would mean American solely had the choice between "Worse" and even more "worse"?
I found all these "Secretive" of the Obama Admin already disturbing and dumb as well. Disclosing

I doubt, I question - even myself and my thoughts - and then, I ask the Questions. For this is the Path of Reality, the path for progression, the only way to "change" the future written down by few mad men for us all. It is called Participation in Life changing/i­nfluencing events and, KNOWING!

Nevertheless, I am giving Obama the Question of a doubt as well, until otherwise proven differently!
Best Regards!
SoD1

[SoD1]

** I found all these "secretiveness" of the Obama Admin now already quite disturbing and dumb as well. Full Disclosure and Informing the public about the 'where-to” from here are important part of Democracy as even more so in these times afer Bushism.

[Vixter]

I cannot believe all the nay-sayers in this post. The man hasn't even taken the oath of office yet, and he is already being vilified by the 'public'. Are you sure that Rush isn't writing on this post? Why would he take any of the heat for something that he didn't start (but hopefully will end)?

As for Lionel's assertion that strong-arming Pakistan to control militants is only do-able by bombing - that's totally absurd. Don't we give the Pakistani's large amounts of $$? And I thought that diplomacy was a strong point in this upcoming term (NOT present term - the man isn't POTUS yet). Y'all need to go back to the Republican Hatequarters for at least another couple months.

Here I thought that America's problems were so many, so diverse & so far-flung that the first 100 days was way too short...co­me to find out that P-E Obama is being judged on the last days of Bush's Reign of Terror. I would expect this kind of vitriol on what dubya is trying to push through re: safety issues, ecology, abortion, mining or a myriad of other REAL TIME happenings, not what if sometime down the road.

[SoD1]

Hmm.. Questioning and "Doubting" at the right "Momentum" BEFORE things happens, are essential, even of Planet survival in these case and in this situation we are all been tricked into. It is the source of all knowledge!
The Lack of both, not alone by the American Populace but the entire World populace -, not only in the last 8 years- IS another piece of the puzzle why we are were we are today and where Lionel Beehner rightfully has EVERY right to Question and to be doubtful, knowing the facts he knows about all the Appointees.
"Hope" alone is a very DANGEROUS "Illusion", it can blind the minds of the "average" Peasants, WHICH is why it has ever been utilize as a political tool ever since the creation of institutionalized and ruled "Societies, hmm.
In other Words, Questions are always good “as” there are no wrong Questiong and they all must be “delegated” to answer those Question! Obama is - not President 'yet' or not - not to be excluded in these fast more severe becoming times from Answering serious Questions, on which our All Future and our Children's ect. deeply depends on.

In fact, it is the ONLY reason he was "elected" into Office to EXACTLY do that, answerer the Question no one before him answered US, the People. And for nothing else!.
Someone needs to tell all of them that straight in to their faces, If s/he meets them all,.

Best Regards!
SoD1

[Fordham03]

Vixter: Thanks for your comments; you are right on. The man isn't even in office and he's being vilified. C'mon America, we are made of better stuff I hope. Give the guy a chance. At least he's going to hit the ground running the first day of office. We finally have a man with a smart, logical brain in the presidency, one who reads, and listens. Now, that's change.

Even right up to the last, Bush is carrying out his policies of ruin, and in the interview with Charlie Gibson, is in total denial about the mess we are in, and his part in it. Go back to Texas, Mr. President. We will be repairing the damage done by your administration for years to come.

[Bonobo]

Being critical is not the same as vilifying someone. Also, Mr. Obama purports to believe in grassroots democracy, which implies that we SHOULD express our disagreements, rather than wait for him to reveal his secret plans. And, as below, now is the time to do so, not after.

[mjc]

Since when does an incoming president, weeks before inauguration spell out very specific foreign policy plans? Only one point of agreement with you, Mr. Beehner: the whole concept of Afghanistan as one of the United States' goals for a region where peace and stability reign because of our foreign policy. Afghanistan wasn't really a country before 9/11 and it struggles even with American help to be one presently. Bin Laden launched his program for attacking the US from there because there was no chance of being stopped. The Taliban or other tribal groups have ruled the area for centuries. We probably have no reason to be there, even though I would hope that the few years of American experience would change the attitudes there, especially toward women, I don't think their people will buy most of the "American way".

[Vixter]

Just as they didn't buy the "Russian way" quite a few yrs back. I'm wondering why their "Afghanistan way" isn't good enough for us - it seems to be good enough for them (& they DO live there).

[ddanimal]

Looks more and more like the "change we can believe in" is nothing of the sort. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Oh well, at what point do I just forget about the democratic party being a vehicle for changing anything? I guess I will just vote green from now on.

This country can go to hell. It has thrown away its blood and treasure chasing fantasies of global domination. I predict that Obama will turn out to be just as much of a worthless clown as Clinton. Clinton didnt change anything.

Nothing will change in the US until there is an unimaginable level of economic pain and a near-total economic collapse. At that point, the US will be unable to afford its addition to militarism.

[SolarPowerGuy]

"I predict that Obama will turn out to be just as much of a worthless clown as Clinton. Clinton didnt change anything."

That was my prediction too, even before the Democratic primaries had ended. I didn't know who was going to win, but I knew that the candidates you could actually count on to change things would be relegated to the second tier.

[joan az]

If those of you who have known all along what the outcome would be, why haven't you taken the initiative to create something better. You've had plenty of time to be innovative, offer solutions--maybe even run for an office. I'm so sick of listening to this negativity. I hope you'll all be around to seek out optimism with the majority of the people who believe change is possible. Something tells me the Whining Team will be on the winning team to say "I knew things could get better-it takes time to implement change. But then again, how would you know about change if YOU can't change your thinking.

[gameball]

ddanimal,,,,my o my, you are one definition of sour grapes.