December 7th, 2009 by Zack

James Rubin, adjunct professor of International Affairs at Columbia University and former assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton Administration, has written an article for Newsweek that takes exception with President Obama’s decision to exclude the America’s moral obligation to Afghanistan in his West Point speech.  Rubin sees this omission as part a larger trend in which the administration has set aside principles of democracy promotion in favor of realist foreign policy.

Rubin highlights the administration’s decision not to meet with the Dalai Llama, to continue support for China as a most-favored-nation, and to shore up relations with Egypt despite human rights abuses.  Of all of these decisions, the most “wrenching” is the decision to avoid engaging the Iran opposition movement. Rubin argues, “our power and our values cannot be separated. More than any other country on earth, America has been committed to principles in foreign affairs.”  Ultimately, he calls for an immediate course correction, beginning with Iran, China, and Afghanistan, that balances calculation and inspiration.

Posted in Afghanistan, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Human Rights, Iran, US foreign policy |