The Mellow Doctrine - "foes of the United States have been disarmed by Obama’s no-drama diplomacy"

[jefferson_dem]

The Mellow Doctrine
By ROGER COHEN

WASHINGTON — Amazing what happens when you cast aside the testosterone.

I know bristling Dick Cheney believes America’s enemies now perceive “a weak president,” as do sundry Republican senators, but the truth is that foes of the United States have been disarmed by Barack Obama’s no-drama diplomacy.

Call it the mellow doctrine. Neither idealistic nor classic realpolitik, it involves finding strength through unconventional means: acknowledgment of the limits of American power; frankness about U.S. failings; careful listening; fear reduction; adroit deployment of the wide appeal of brand Barack Hussein Obama; and jujitsu engagement.

Already the mellow doctrine has brought some remarkable shifts, even if more time is needed to see its results.

The Castro brothers in Cuba are squabbling over the meaning of Obama’s overtures. Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez has gone gooey-eyed over the Yanqui president. Turkey relented on a major NATO dispute, persuaded of the importance of Obama’s conciliatory message to Muslims.

From Damascus to Tehran, new debate rages over possible rapprochement with Washington. In Israel, I understand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about to drag his Likud party kicking and screaming to acceptance of the idea of a two-state solution because he knows the cost of an early confrontation with Obama.

Not bad for 105 days.

The fact is the United States spent most of the eight years before last January making things easy for its enemies. It was in the ammunition-supply business.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/opinion/04iht-edcohen.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

[drm604]

1. Damn!

Everyone read that article. It's so nice to see common sense in international affairs, and seeing this approach actually working is fantastic. :)

[Triana]

2. How about that. Diplomacy works.

Neanderthal chest-beating and pre-emptive war, not so much.

[Clio the Leo]

3. That's because REAL men know when to......

.... hug it out.



(well, or at least shake the other guy's hand and slap him on the arm while smiling really big.)

[lame54]

4. he can calm the"evil dictators" of the world but...

the repugs still fight him tooth and nail

[gordianot]

5. The real threat to world peace has been the Republican Party in the United States.

Obama has made it very difficult to be an enemy of the United States. Radicals every where take note to the potential of adult leadership.