There is a major shift occurring in how President Obama is engaging foreign leaders. He is not afraid to admit to mistakes that America has undergone in the past; this reconciliation is wiping the slate clean for new relationships to be forged. If listening and engaging in an open dialogue will elicit trust he will do so; if bowing acknowledges a sign of respect he will do so; if smiling and shaking the hand of an enemy will diffuse misunderstandings he will do so. President Obama is leaving behind bravado, bluster, and posturing to reclaim America's standing on the world stage.
Obama's strength is his ability to listen, be open, secure, and confident in his ability to build bridges. Will this new form of relationship building diplomacy be tested? Most certainly, Obama will have to back up open dialogue and engagement with firm conditions, parameters, and lines drawn in the sand. In 400 BC Sun-tzu a Chinese general & military strategist said, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
As wise as this advice is the GOP or Grand Old Party is having trouble with seeing the strength of this new form of diplomacy. Take for example the recent comments of Newt Gingrich and Dick Cheney - they see relationship building as soft, and fear that it makes America look weak. Gingrich said on Fox News Channel. "I think there is something fundamentally wrong with weakness in America, and then playing to placate dictators." "This does look a lot like Jimmy Carter," Gingrich added. "Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead." Dick Cheney, accused Obama of making America less safe with foreign policy reversals. He also said that while he understands blaming the previous administration, he's concerned that the new president is appearing weak. On excerpts released by Fox News Cheney said, "What I find disturbing is the extent to which he has gone to Europe, for example, and seemed to apologize profusely in Europe, and then to Mexico, and apologize there, and so forth."
America has everything to gain in reaching out in confidence to build new relationships with the world's nations. President Obama sees that the path to reclaiming American respect in the world is paved with understanding world leaders. This will take building relationships forged on trust and common goals, which cannot be achieved by being in fear or succumbing to weakness.
Goodbye to relationship building as seen as a sign of weakness.
Hello to relationship building as seen of a sign of strength.
Goodbye to the old thinking that says you cannot find common ground.
Hello to new thinking that looks for common ground.
Goodbye to diplomacy based on fear of extending a hand.
Hello to diplomacy based on the courage to extend a hand.