President Barack Obama: What Changes Are Coming? by Chargé d’Affaires Daniel Shields (February 18, 2009)
Speeches
President Barack Obama: What Changes Are Coming? by Chargé d’Affaires Daniel Shields
Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thank you very much for that kind introduction.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be here with you this evening and it is a great honor to have the opportunity to speak about our new President.
Tonight we stand just four weeks into the new Administration. In this short time we have seen several major shifts in U.S. policy, but we are still in the early days and we must be patient to see what the future will bring. This evening I would like to say a few words about the most pressing challenges Obama administration leaders face and what messages they have sent about the new path they plan to take, particularly with regards to the United States’ relations with the Muslim world.
Southeast Asia
During the Presidential transition and President Obama’s first month in office, the question that Singaporeans have asked me most often is “What impact will the election of President Obama have on relations with Singapore and Southeast Asia?” I tell them that in most areas U.S. interests did not change on January 20, and so in most areas U.S. policy probably won’t change either. The United States is still appreciative of Singapore’s contributions to our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We still value our strong trading relationship under our Free Trade Agreement. We look forward to a year of productive talks as Singapore hosts APEC, and we are working toward President Obama’s first visit to Singapore in November for the APEC Leaders’ Meeting. The United States and Singapore have long enjoyed close relations and we expect this relationship to continue.
Aside from President Obama’s personal connection to Asia from his years growing up in Indonesia, the United States has a growing appreciation of Asia’s increasingly important role in the world. One significant demonstration of this recognition is the fact that the Secretary of State chose to make her first foreign trip to Japan, Korea, China and Indonesia, breaking from the tradition of first visiting Europe or the Middle East. This is a sign of the level of commitment both President Obama and Secretary Clinton accord to our relationships with friends and allies in Asia. We can expect that the Obama Administration will continue the United States’ active engagement with Asia.
Economy
The second issue that seems to be on the top of everyone’s mind is the economy. As President Obama said in his Inaugural Address, “we are in the midst of crisis.” Here in Singapore we know too well that the world economy is facing turmoil that threatens the prosperity we have enjoyed for decades. President Obama believes that if we do not act quickly, this recession could linger for years – and America could lose the competitive edge that has served not only as the foundation for our strength and standing in the world, but as one of the engines for global economic growth.
In order to address the recession, President Obama has made the economy the top priority for the beginning of his term. He worked with the Democrats and Republicans in Congress to pass a stimulus package that will get the American economy moving again.
One note for those of you who are more familiar with parliamentary systems -- the U.S. Government is built on the principle of checks and balances where power is divided among the different branches of the government. Under our system it is the Congress that has the power to pass laws and then the President can either sign or veto them. This means that while President Obama provided leadership on the stimulus package, the end result is a negotiated agreement that has the support of the Congress.
This division of power is important to remember when we consider some of the more controversial aspects of the stimulus package, such as the proposed “Buy America” provision that has been covered so extensively in the press. Members of Congress are ultimately accountable to the voters of their home States who elect them. Different parts of the country face different problems, so the Representatives and Senators each face different pressures. President Obama said earlier this month that it would be a mistake to take actions that would be a source of trade friction at a time when trade is contracting. The Senate responded by amending its version of this legislation to make domestic stimulus measures consistent with World Trade Organization agreements.
President Obama has also warned that the road to economic recovery will not be easy and that our problems will not be resolved quickly. President Obama will work closely with leaders in Asia and partners in the G-20 to lift us out from under the current economic malaise.
U.S.-Muslim Relations
Aside from the economy, during his first few weeks in office President Obama has also placed a major focus on U.S. relations with the Muslim world. In his Inaugural Address he said, “To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” He continued in this vein when he chose to give his first Presidential interview with foreign press to al-Arabiya on January 26, yet another early step in what will be a sustained process to engage the Muslim world. He has also promised to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital early in his presidency.
This engagement flows from his desire to start a dialogue with Muslim audiences about the relationship between the Muslim world and the United States. The President believes Americans and Muslims can enjoy a close relationship working toward common goals, such as a more peaceful Middle East, better education for the world’s children, and creating more opportunities for all. President Obama acknowledges that there may be disagreements, but he believes they can be handled through respectful dialogue. This Administration will seek your ideas and those from other regional countries as it begins this dialogue.
These overtures have been received with cautious approval across the globe, but President Obama knows that many will reserve judgment to see what actions he will take. In the first week of his Administration, President Obama set a new course for the United States by signing Executive Orders to address two issues that have created tension with the Muslim community. First, he ordered that the Department of Defense promptly close its detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Second, he ordered that individuals in the custody of the United States shall not be subjected to any interrogation technique that is not authorized by the Army Field Manual.
President Obama is still firm in his resolve to fight terrorism, but in his Inaugural Address he rejected “the choice between our safety and our ideals.” He has since said that “the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism … but in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals.” This will involve responsibly ending the war in Iraq, focusing on the war in Afghanistan, defeating Al-Qaida’s hateful ideology, and partnering with moderates in the Islamic world.
With regard to the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict, President Obama committed on the first day of his Presidency to make a sustained push to achieve the goal of two states – a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state – living side by side in peace and security.
One step that the President has taken towards this goal is the appointment of George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. Special Envoy Mitchell will not only work to consolidate and extend the recent ceasefire, but he will also vigorously pursue solutions that can bring lasting peace and stability to the region. As Special Envoy Mitchell said, “the decision by President Obama to dispatch me to the region less than one week after his inauguration is clear and tangible evidence of our commitment.”
In recognition of the critical post-conflict humanitarian needs in Gaza following the recent violence, President Obama recently authorized the use of 20.3 million dollars from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund. This brings the total U.S. Government support for humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees and conflict victims to nearly 120 million dollars in fiscal year 2009. This includes nearly 60 million dollars for Gaza.
President Obama is under no illusion that the conflicts of the Middle East will be resolved in a matter of months. However, as he stated in his interview with al-Arabiya, he is confident that the United States – working in tandem with the European Union, Russia and all the Arab states in the region – can make significant progress.
Conclusion
Tonight I have focused on a few key priorities of the Obama Administration, but that is not to say that there are not many, many, more. For example, protecting the environment is another key goal. President Obama has already taken steps to allow California and other states to set new, higher emissions standards for cars. Aid to developing countries is also a priority. President Obama has issued a memorandum reversing the so-called “Mexico City Policy” which prevented Federal aid money from going to non-governmental organizations that provide advice, counseling or information about abortion.
President Obama campaigned for president under the slogan of “Change.” The first few weeks of his administration have indeed seen several major policy shifts and we should expect further changes in the coming months as the Democratic-controlled Congress passes new legislation. I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to speak to you tonight and I look forward to hearing the panelist's views on the new Administration.