This story was from the February issue

It is no exaggeration to say that Barack Obama’s inauguration as President of the United States of America was greeted with as much hope and enthusiasm across Europe as it was in the States. In particular, European leaders will look to Obama to strengthen co-operation on solving the economic crisis, bringing peace in the Middle East and reaching worldwide agreement on climate change. And from the multilateralist tone of his speech, it seems Obama is equally enthused about that co-operation.

This particular part of his speech was undoubtedly music to the ears of European leaders:

“As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

“Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

“We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort – even greater co-operation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”

Conversis comments:

We can argue all we want about how much or how little Obama has achieved in his first year as President, but the fact is that the United States is once again held with a deep regard and respect that once looked, under George W. Bush, like it might be lost forever. And plus, I still get chills when I hear this speech. Give him time; he’s got eight years’ of mess to clean up.

References:
‘Music to Europe’s ears’, The Guardian, 21 January 2009.

‘Barack Obama’s inaugural speech’, The Financial Times, 20 January 2009.
© The Financial Times Limited 2009