Author Archive for Samier Saeed
Obama’s Foreign Policy: Change?
Ever since he took office, President Barack Obama has been understandably preoccupied with attempting to mitigate the economic recession. With respect to foreign policy, Obama’s overused mantra of “Change” actually seemed to mean something concrete; he talked about ending torture, rebuilding America’s soft power and speaking to countries with whom America has no diplomatic relations. In examining Obama’s foreign policy thus far, especially in the Middle East, it is important to consider whether or not his decisions have meaningfully changed America’s course.
Diplomacy Talks: Moving Forward on Iran
As noted in last week’s article entitled “Re-evaluating the Iran Threat,” it is unlikely that Iran is building a nuclear weapon. However, even if it does, an Iranian nuke would not be the threat to international security that many politicians and analysts suspect. However, the majority in this country seems to feel the opposite way, including President-elect Obama, for whom Iran’s nuclear program is presumably a top priority.
Re-evaluating the Iran Threat
During the presidential campaigns, Iran’s nuclear program was one of the most important issues raised. It is widely accepted that Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear warhead would be doomsday, but the fear exhibited may be unwarranted. First off, Iran may not possess a nuclear weapons program, but even if it did, it would pose far less danger than it is claimed to be capable of.
The Pakistan Problem: Candidates Get it Wrong
It does not take a leap of faith to realize that the United States is not achieving its goals in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has little reach outside of Kabul and for the most part, life has not improved since 2001. The tacit protection the Taliban receives on the Pakistani side of the Durand Line has been the chief impediment to nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. The view that Pakistan is the weak link in the chain has gained strong ground in academic circles and is now widely held by Western policymakers.
