Student Roundtable in Turkey

Q: What actions will you take after you wrote your quote, peace at home and peace at the world, to -- (inaudible) -- and what do you think, as Turkish young men and women, how can we help you at this purpose you have?
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, some people say that maybe I'm being too idealistic. I made a speech in Prague about reducing and ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons, and some people said, ah, that will never happen. And some people have said, why are you discussing the Middle East when it's not going to be possible for the Israelis and the Palestinians to come together? Or, why are you reaching out to the Iranians, because the U.S. and Iran can never agree on anything?

As a student of history, I am happy to hear the current president say that he’s willing to try and be reasonable, and logical about bringing peace to the middle east. He sees, of course, that this is where he can make major foreign policy gains in an administration already beset by domestic issues. This idea is something I read in the New Yorker last week, in the article Syria Calling by Seymour M. Hersh. The effort by the administration to restart substantive peace talks in the region is a good move, I think - they are asserting themselves not only in domestic issues, but also in foreign policy issues. Most administrations are more focused on one area over the other - but it seems that the Obama administration will at least try and see if it can focus on both.

In the first paragraph of President Obama’s response, he alludes to his ideas for the Middle East not being grounded in logic and realism. To me, this seems to run against a theory of foreign policy called realpolitik. This theory was first practiced in a major way in modern times by Nixon and Kissinger. Realpolitik tends to abandon ideals and morals, and dealing with nations in a practical manner. As I read it, the statements by President Obama blend realpolitik with some moralism and idealism. The president mentioned this later in his response:

If we want to say to Iran, don't develop nuclear weapons because if you develop them then everybody in the region is going to want them and you'll have a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and that will be dangerous for everybody -- if we want to say that to Iranians, it helps if we are also saying, "and we will reduce our own," so that we have more moral authority in those claims.

I find it interesting, and heartening, that the president wants the United States to act with some moral authority in issues of foreign policy. To my memory, rarely does the US act with moral authority - we act in what we think is a moral manner, but our nation behaves differently. The president is saying he does not want the US to engage in hypocrisy. Other nations will take us and our ideas more seriously if we show that we actually believe what we say by living in accordance with what we want other nations to do.

My attitude is, is that all these things are hard. I mean, I'm not naïve. If it was easy, it would have already been done. Somebody else would have done it. But if we don't try, if we don't reach high, then we won't make any progress. And I think that there's a lot of progress that can be made.

I also find this paragraph of the president’s response to be a great synopsis for the term of President Obama thus far, as well as for the president’s foreign policy goals. Having high standards for yourself, as well as for others, is an excellent way to make sure you perform very well. I saw this when I taught, and I see it in my own life - as well as the life of my wife. Continually striving for something better, even if it seems impossible, will improve your situation - whatever it might be. I am happy to have a president that is constantly striving to improve his nation, as well as the world around him. The poet Robert Browning said is best when he said:

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?

- Jason Dean

If you would like to read the whole text of the president’s answer, you can do so here:
Student Roundtable in Turkey