The Obama Doctrine: Part II

This is going to be a multi-post topic. See previous post here.

This speech was often discussed and I am not quoting all that applies to the Obama Doctrine for Foreign Policy, particularly as it relates to the Middle East and North Africa, but most of this speech was politicized beyond the ability for most Americans to actually read it, think about it, and understand how America was changing policy from the Bush administration to the Obama administration regarding how America would confront the challenges of the long war against violent Islamic extremism.

The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.

I know -- I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other.

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas; they are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere.

Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments -- provided they govern with respect for all their people.

This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power: You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.

President Barack Obama, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2024

More than any President since Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama emphasizes the values of America, specifically freedoms, in virtually every foreign policy speech. Even in Cairo when discussing democracy, he emphasizes the values that form the foundation of a healthy democracy.

The United States cannot defeat violent extremist movements in the Islamic world with military power, it can only contain it, restrict it, and deny those movements sanctuary. Strategic victory over violent extremism will only be obtained when Islamic nations integrate values counter to violent extremist beliefs into Islamic culture. The Cairo speech was specifically crafted to communicate that message - read it again if you haven't since 2009 and think about it.

Long-term security requires Arab states committed to internal modernization and liberalization, aggressive pursuit of extremist Islamic terrorists and those that support them, and peaceful co-existence between Islamic nations and Israel. The values required for a stable and healthy democracy align with the requirements for long-term security in the Middle East and North Africa.

The Obama Doctrine would, in theory, seek out and support the people in states legitimately seeking democracy from internal uprising - the same kind of internal uprisings we are seeing in the Arab Spring movement. President Obama would support those movements he believed were seeking legitimate democracy despite the US being in two wars, and equally true President Obama would support those movements because the nation is in two wars.

The Obama Doctrine was developed on the theory that only through internal popular change by people legitimately seeking values counter to violent extremism will genuine strategic progress towards long-term security be achieved in the long war against violent extremism.