Obama's Game Plan (Sept. 30, 2007)

"Politics is not a game, it's a mission for me ... the times are too serious and the stakes too big to continue with the current game plan", presidential candidate Barack Obama cautioned on September 20 before a crowd of approximately 5,000 at the World Congress Center, Atlanta.

 In yet another step to the White House, there were allusions to biblical Joshua and his rod of correction that echoed Obama's earlier remarks in March at the AME church in Selma, Alabama.   Again, he expressed his aversion for the present Washington political ethos in conducting the nation's business and urged the pursuit of a new order that was free of special interests politicking, and implicitly millennial.  Herein lies his unbridled optimism, reassuring hope, and enlightened perspective of the aspirations of Americans broadly writ. 

Obama reiterated his unswerving commitment to justice, integrity, and innovation.  His proposals and resolve reflect that.  For example, he criticized the "no child left behind" policy for inadequate funding.  Similarly, health care and insurance for all Americans is a cornerstone of his envisioned social policy.

 Obama steered clear of Reverend Jesse Jackson's alleged criticism, denounced violence, and appealed for equal justice in the Jena-6 case in Louisiana.  Yes, the junior Senator from Illinois drew a comparison between the possible penalty for the black teen-agers and that imposed on former Vice President's Cheney's aide Scooter Libby for obstruction of justice after having disclosed the remit of the CIA employee Valerie Plame.

 In the pragmatic world of day-to-day politics, leadership requires more than vision; effectiveness more than hope.  True grit is often the indispensable ingredient in the rough and tumble of the legislative process as well as the international political and economic environment.  Promoting U.S. interests and ensuring the security of the country are fundamental duties that Obama must handle in the context of a diminished US image abroad and in the face of unprecedented threats.

 So the current administration's game plan must be transformed.  And this requires taking risks that could even back fire.  But the dividends could be higher.  Therefore, as head of state, Obama cannot afford to rely only on intellect, instinct, and experience.  He needs capable advisers who can help him rescue the country from the precipice caused in part by reckless and expensive military expeditions that were orchestrated by officials who have none or scant military service. 

The enigma facing Obama is to find an equilibrium between the merits of tradition and the justification for change.  In his view, the administration's current game plan is disastrous both at home and abroad where current economic policy fosters the growing division between the rich and the poor, woeful social policies, and squandering of US prestige abroad. 

 Obama has not been afraid to admit his fallibility.  Clearly, he will be hard pressed to live up to his promises when he assumes office as president in January 2009.   But from all indications, he has the mettle, insight, and drive to find the equilibrium, put his plan into action, and manage change effectively.

Obama on Diplomacy (Dec. 4, 2008)

Solving world problems requires a calibrated use of the instruments of national power: diplomacy, military, information, and economics.

Presumptive Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama has been focusing on these instruments as evidenced by his statements during his recent visit to Afghanistan, Middle East, and Europe.

                                   

On his return to the US, he immediately consulted with his chief economic advisers seeking ways to improve capital formation and domestic production, promote trade, reduce oil dependency, and expand financial markets.   Resolving trade imbalance with China and other countries is uppermost in his mind as he will certainly face domestic protectionist pressure if he becomes president.

In a recent op-ed, Nicholas D. Kristof points to the paucity of funds and Foreign Service officers in comparison to the abundance of materiel and the proposed increase of military personnel for Afghanistan ostensibly to preserve our national security. 

Similarly, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has been calling for strengthening of our foreign service in order to handle the array of diplomatic challenges and engage in preventive diplomacy.  With adequate staffing, skilled US diplomats and their intelligence colleagues can probe and uncover indicators and flash points of unrest in foreign countries, notwithstanding the CNN factor.

 Diplomatic readiness and preventive diplomacy require the deployment of adequate personnel to our embassies, consulates, and other missions abroad.  In fact, these diplomatic missions are on the front line of our national security: vetting, denying  or issuing  visas; reporting on political and economic developments; promoting trade; explaining America; debunking falsehoods that are often propagated against the US; engaging in academic exchanges; and facilitating dialogue between our visiting officials and host country officials.  Showing the American flag and participating in representational events are also essential responsibilities.

 Our diplomatic effectiveness -- in an era where US prestige has fallen -- will improve in foreign lands by establishing reading rooms, showing films about the US, and promoting intellectual exchange across small communities.  By so doing, our diplomatic personnel will have a far reach and a sense of the pulse of the people as our perspectives are shared.

Senator Obama cites the JFK initiative of the Peace Corps as an example of the kind of voluntarism and selflessness that had a positive impact and effectively solidified relations between our volunteers and their interlocutors at the local level.  Trust and humility were key elements of the relationship.  Of course, this exchange was generally free of arrogance and didactics.

 Foreign influence makers and publics are keen observers of the US actions in world affairs so tangible results from US volunteer presence often went a long way.

 Obama's recent visit overseas confirms his facility at conveying the message of hope and respect for foreign countries.  His avowed admiration of the US military apparently struck a resonant chord. 

 However, in order to give credence to his rhetoric he must take active steps to promote our diplomatic corps so that they can utilize aptly the tools at their disposal to influence events by, for example, the use of incentives and disincentives as the situation warrants.  This will indeed mean speaking to adversaries from a position of strength based on expertise, with a strong military backing evident.

Calibrating the instruments of national power is critical, as is refinement of diplomatic training to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.  Without adequate funding by Congress diplomacy will suffer. 

Obama seems to understand this imperative. Therefore he must intensify his efforts in Congress for increased diplomatic funding and presence if his earnest appeal for diplomacy is to prevail in current conflicts. 

Crisis and International Intervention in SEE (April 5, 2009)

The course will focus primarily on recent political developments in the Balkans and international intervention in the region. These will be an assessment of the impact and outcome of the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia Herzegovina, military and humanitarian intervention in Kosovo, peacekeeping, and responsibility and perspectives of international judicial institutions.

Read More: http://www.eng.unibo.it/PortaleEn/Academic+programmes/Teachings/dettaglio.htm?AnnoAccademico=2008&IdComponenteAF=331698&CodDocente=041882&CodMateria=32226

Former diplomats visit, discuss foreign policy under Obama administration (Mar 20, 2009)

With only two months into the new term, foreign policy and its role in the Barack Obama administration has been a hot button issue across the country.

At a discussion sponsored by the School of Law's Dean Rusk Center, Earle and Barbara Scarlett, who together have 50 plus yeas of international diplomacy experience, discussed how President Obama's administration will shape foreign policy in the United States.

Read more: http://www.redandblack.com/news/former-diplomats-visit-discuss-foreign-policy-under-obama-administration/article_7876e83d-87ba-5d9b-8333-5772107ae10e.html?mode=jqm

Obama's Engine in Full Steam (April 22, 2007)

Each day more and more the Obama momentum seems unstoppable.  This impetus may be due in part to an uncanny historical nexus of a man with the times.

Senator Obama’s apparent  qualities of  statesman and his effervescence outstrip  other presidential candidates of his party and the Republican.   His  sincerity  is  palpable,  and his command of important  issues debunks his detractors’ criticism that there is no time for “on the job training” and the “folly of youth”. These statements  now  seem  vacuous  in  light of Obama’s  rapid political maturation and evident growing appeal to a wide cross section of America.

In essence, Obama  is good for America, and for the world that is yearning for an American leader with intellect and vision to handle the complexities of  globalization and collective security.

 I witnessed Senator Obama  enthrall audiences at both the AME Church in Selma a few weeks ago and the political rally on April 14 on the green at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.  The rally’s diverse gathering embraced his enthusiastic and empathic appeal, free of demagoguery, that was tastily peppered with fresh ideas  including  developing  meaningful  work programs for felons,  and  extricating  the  nation’s capital from  the prevailing climate of   “power trumping political change”.

 With domestic and international uneasiness over Iraq, endless political bickering in the nation’s capital, and growing disparity at home between the rich and others, Obama’s appeal for change rings a resonant chord, especially among the vast majority who live outside the Washington Beltway.  His refreshing refrain that “ordinary people can do extra-ordinary   things   if   given   a   chance” harkens back to the country’s historical innovative spirit, while evoking a sense of hope for the less fortunate and elderly, as well as the young and enterprising.  There  is  “something  stirring  in  the country”,  he  said, calling for a change from the current administration’s  ethos of “obstinacy”  to one that will satisfy the public’s yearnings,  and  not be separated from its own government.

As the Rev. Joseph Lowery said in Selma and Atlanta, “America is now facing the darkness of fear, doubt, and division”.

 Obama is astute.  As president he will be eminently capable of forging a “diplomatic surge” internationally.  And at home, he can to foster social harmony, economic growth and a climate of mutual responsibility among the citizenry.

It looks like Obama will have the chance to meet that challenge since nothing on the horizon seems likely to derail his campaign train that has gathered the steam and momentum needed to reach the White House.

Ratko Mladic’s capture could be problematic (May 28, 2011)

The quest for EU accession is a driving force today in the western Balkans. This enabled the eventual arrest, albeit belated, of the elusive indicted war criminal General Ratko Mladic. The capture will likely be characterised as a triumph of carrot and stick diplomacy, now also referred to as wine and vinegar.

Beyond Mladic's trial at the Hague Tribunal on Yugoslavia (ITFY), the prospects for civil society and stability are elusive in this region still plagued by uncertainties generated by latent nationalist sentiments, sectarian divisions, corruption, and uneven economic growth.

One would imagine that the capture of Mladic would be a welcome development in Serbia. But in the Balkans events often defy logic.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Ratko-Mladic-s-capture-could-be-problematic_8900083

Teetering and contagious Egypt: Obama's dilemma (February 06, 2011)

THE outcome of the crisis in Egypt can be disastrous or instructive. President Obama faces tough choices with this country reeling in unrest that could deteriorate into anarchy as antipathy between the demonstrators and pro-Mubarak supporters intensifies. As the situation worsens the US options narrow.

In Egypt and elsewhere, the immediate causes for this popular outburst are rooted in a longstanding desire for a responsive and inclusive system of governance. Civil society advocates in Egypt have realised that economic growth and political reform marching in tandem will enable durable democracy building that goes beyond mere elections and ephemeral constitutions. The caveat is -- economic growth must evolve to economic development to be fully appreciated by all communities throughout the country.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/Teetering-and-contagious-Egypt--Obama-s-dilemma_8332920

A CIVIL RIGHTS ODYSSEY (Oct 26, 2010)

It was a brisk autumnal morning Friday October 26th when we set off with two visiting friends from Germany and Jamaica on our odyssey to the shrines of the Civil Rights era in Alabama, snaking through the streets of Atlanta, a pregnant metropolis about to give birth to a new character. Our escape hatch to the I-85 Highway South was aptly named Freedom Parkway which straddles the verdant gardens of Nobel Laureate President Jimmy Carter Center. It was a day of great anticipation ... more like Great Expectations. 

The gaps would in both friends’ minds would be filled after their sojourn in the land replete with a sordid acts of inhumanity that have recently abated, but still remains divided along racial lines, albeit voluntary these days. 

A debate ensued on how best to organize our day. Time was of the essence and we needed to use every minute expeditiously. Barbara, who hails from the region, gave structure to the travel plan and we had our first respite at a funky petrol station about five miles from Tuskegee. As we alighted from our decrepit "rest rooms" - a euphemism for "toilet" - a hirsute white chap in overalls lurked nearby, reminding us of an unsavory historical local color.

Read more: http://www.ciancia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:a-civil-rights-odyssey&catid=17:travel&Itemid=79

Bin Laden, Obama, and the problematic aftermath (May 07, 2011)

The swirl of views posited by legal experts on how the US Navy SEAL should have handled the attack on international terrorist Osama Bin Laden is spellbinding. One can expect an interminable debate with no conclusion over the rectitude of this act. The prerogatives of national sovereignty, international law, morality, asymmetrical warfare, enemy combatants, and power are some of the ingredients.

In the wake of bin Laden's demise, the imperative now is to look ahead at potential consequences, strategy, and caveats. The captured treasure trove in Abbottabad will reveal much of Al Qaeda's plans. Already we learnt that CIA operatives had staked out a safe house in that town, located near to Pakistan military bases, surveilling bin Laden's fortified compound. And there is more to come.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Bin-Laden--Obama--and-the-problematic-aftermath_8765018

Abandon Sophistry, Dissembling, and Hyperbole in US Foreign Policy (Dec. 1, 2008)

The Presidential race has finally shifted to foreign policy and the three candidates Senators Obama, McCain, and Clinton are eager to burnish their credentials.  Words, deeds, and solutions, or a combination thereof, are their mantras.  Is this much ado about nothing or are there fundamental differences in their perspectives and policies?

 Herein lies the kernel.  Let's consider Senator Obama's claim and experience.  Sound judgment, as displayed by his firm opposition to the Iraq war, is the fulcrum of his appeal for change in foreign policy and an unconventional approach to national security.  His service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, life experience, and his "dignity doctrine" are arrows in his quiver, as are his expository skills. 

 For his part, Senator McCain's exemplary military service and steely endurance of incarceration in Vietnam, in addition to over two decades in the US Senate, underscore his penchant for realpolitik. 

 Senator Clinton cites her global travel as First Lady, international diplomatic initiatives, and experience as a two-time senator as examples for her assertion that she is well waxed on foreign policy and national security.

Going beyond these assertions, exaggerated in some instances, it is useful to identify fundamental requisites for conducting foreign policy competently.  Insightful analysis of foreign policy issues is critical but insufficient to claim expertise.

 Chas Freeman, a distinguished former career US ambassador, points out diplomacy is really applied social science that requires deep knowledge of historical antecedents and foreign societies, structures, publics and their aspirations.  Diplomats seek common ground and share their perspectives with statesmen who engage their counterparts in the quest for mutually beneficial state of relations.

 Realization that countries act in their perceived interests helps in understanding potential conflict and options.  Edward Peck, former US ambassador and our last Chief of Mission to Iraq before the war, has underscored repeatedly what has happened when we are muddled in our approach. 

Power, knowledge, and empathy are key ingredients of diplomatic discourse which occurs during both war and peace.  Since international relations is not a zero-sum enterprise, engagement and dialogue are critical in order to avert war.  However, the absence of war is not stability.  Statesmen understand this and are able to discern, intuitively or rationally, motives of their interlocutors and select options wisely.  Claiming to see into the soul of a leader makes headlines but sometimes falls flat in the face of subsequent evidence.

In recent days much has been reported of Senator Hillary Clinton's artful dodging of sniper fire during her 1996 visit to US military base in Tuzla, Bosnia.  As a member of the team of diplomats in the Office of the High Representative implementing the Dayton Peace Accords in the Tuzla region, I do not recall such attacks nor did I read or hear of her claim in any official dispatch.

  Of course the situation was tense even though the warring factions had reduced hostilities and were showing early signs of willingness to come to the table.  It was on April 3, 1996  that I attended the meetings in Tuzla between then Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and American businessmen, and former warring leaders before the fateful flight to Dubrovnik.

 After thirty years of practicing diplomacy in six geographic areas and teaching foreign policy, I am convinced that in the 21st century the US needs a leader who can build on earlier sacrifices, instill trust, and see beyond the horizon.  It is important to engage people's imagination rather than impose solutions based on narrowly defined deeds and prescriptions. 

Senator McCain's recent gaffes in Jordan on Iraq and Iran revealed a cognitive lapse, and even worse a potentially serious misunderstanding of the dynamics on the ground in the troublesome Middle East.

This new era demands far more than "business as usual".

By all accounts, Senator Barack Obama embodies the qualities that can restore America's credibility and stature in the world at this critical juncture in history.  His challenge of conventional wisdom mirrors the pragmatism of JFK and Ronald Reagan, and the empathy and magnetism of Bill Clinton.

It makes good sense to abandon sophistry, dissembling, and hyperbole for earnestness, transparency, and pragmatism Obama style.  Missing this opportunity would be unfortunate for the US and the international community.

Oh Sweet O'Bama: "All Things Are Possible" (September 10, 2007)

In Selma last Sunday, the bishop of the historic Brown Chapel: African Methodist Episcopal Church  exhorted from the pulpit – “show me a JFK and I’ll show you a Barack Obama.”  Here, the bishop asserted, is a man of  “character, courage, competence, and compassion”.  The church was bursting at the seams, the audience was energized, and his words resonated.
Can the zestful Senator Obama live up to this billing and translate his vision of the “audacity of hope” into political victory?   Can he transform the “possible” into the “probable”, and ultimately into reality?  The answer is simply, yes.
The caveat, of course, is he must remember that the road to the White House is full of obstacles, — some natural, and some fabricated and stealthily placed to trip him up.  And he is already aware that it is a marathon race that requires grit and tenacity to successfully traverse the politically rocky and sometimes virgin terrain.

- See more at: http://www.blackwomenforobama.com/oh-sweet-obama-all-things-are-possible/#sthash.66CANr88.dpuf

The Conduct of Foreign Policy under the Obama Administration (March 19, 2009)

Recently retired U.S. Foreign Service Officers Earle St. A. Scarlett and Barbara A.H. Scarlett, who have a combined 50-plus years of global diplomatic experience, shared their personal views on President Barack Obama's foreign policy plans. Their presentation took place on March 19, 2009 and was sponsored by the University of Georgia School of Law's Dean Rusk Center in cooperation with UGA’s Department of International Affairs and UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

For more: http://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/lectures_pre_arch_lectures_other/27/

Violence and democracy: an uneasy nexus in Jamaica (June 06, 2010)

Professor Orlando Patterson's titillating juxtaposition of emerging democracy and violence ("Jamaica's Bloody Democracy", published in the New York Times May 30) requires more analytical rigour and refinement. That's my impression after a recent visit to Jamaica, long-standing interest in developments in Trinidad and Tobago, and extensive involvement and ongoing teaching and interest in ex-Yugoslavia.

Increased violence in Jamaica may be more related to the quest of the urban impoverished to meet basic needs and for self-styled local "dons" to exploit the situation to acquire wealth -- apparently illegally -- in a depressed economy experiencing high unemployment and stark social inequality.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/Violence-and-democracy--an-uneasy-nexus-in-Jamaica_7679989#ixzz2pZQj7M8R

Egypt and foreign involvement (February 19, 2011)

NOW the incandescent issue is whether Egyptian democratic forces can win the future without foreign help.

The Egyptian people have set a new standard for collective courage. Intrepid, they dislodged a despot. In the next phase, will they exert the pressure required for the entrenched military and cronies to embrace emerging forces in the new political landscape? Will the authoritarian system be transformed to democracy in the short run?

These herculean tasks may require strategic external assistance, veiled or overt. Much needs to be done

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Egypt-and-foreign-involvement_8393002#ixzz2pZQEEPEe

Will the WikiLeaks release damage U.S. diplomacy? (Dec. 1, 2010)

Diplomacy is the second oldest legal profession but arguably the least understood. This reality has triggered disparate assessments of the impact of WikiLeaks’ release of thousands of U.S. confidential diplomatic dispatches. The consequences for the conduct of diplomacy are far-reaching and go beyond U.S. fundamental values of freedom of speech and transparency. Statecraft is stymied. National security is put at risk.

Diplomatic communications have changed, due largely to advancement of technology. But the essence of diplomacy remains intact. Beyond representing and explaining, diplomats have been engaged throughout history in private consultations with host country officials on an array of national and international matters. Trust and confidentially are the bedrock of diplomatic discourse, and reporting, analysis and recommendation its grist. In contrast, public diplomacy has a different mandate: to promote U.S. interests by engaging foreign publics and projecting a positive U.S. image.

Read More: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/opinion/will-the-wikileaks-release-damage-us-diplomacy/nQnXg/

Papal shift rumbles beyond the Vatican (March 12, 2013)

POPE Benedict XVI's sudden abdication of the papacy has far-reaching consequences for world affairs. They extend beyond theological divisions in the Church and thorny liturgical and eschatological issues to a potentially sharpened confessional rivalry between Islamic extremism and Christianity.

Pope Benedict laboured to diminish elements of the Second Vatican Council affirmed by Pope John Paul II, and restored the Church's mission to countering secularism, reviving traditional orthodoxy and a sense of Catholic identity. Its present 1.2 billion following worldwide is still growing, and Benedict's reputation appears intact to many Catholics as he leaves the Holy See.

Whether the next pontiff will emerge from the developing world will certainly be the focus of the conclave of 117 voting cardinals under 80 (four will turn 80 in March). The conclave will evaluate the papal candidates' admiration of Benedict's penchant for traditional orthodoxy and re-evangelisation, but aspects of the Second Vatican Council may regain ascendancy.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/mobile/columns/Papal-shift-rumbles-beyond-the-Vatican_13782553

Gadhafi's stupidity - Obama's Wisdom (October 26, 2011)

MOAMMAR Gadhafi's inevitable fall after NATO's seven-month air campaign is yet another warning to despots in Africa, Middle East and far-flung places that their days are numbered unless they heed their people's yearnings for inclusion. An organic and sustained revolt by courageous Libyan rebels finally enabled the humiliated dictator's downfall. This denouement is a harbinger of things to come wherever totalitarianism exists.

As mentioned in my article in the Jamaica Observer March 12, then it was imperative and timely that the international community support the rebels as they tried to depose the feudal chief Gadhafi, his satraps and followers. A forged international coalition was a blueprint for victory, and for democracy to take root. The ICC's condemnation of Gadhafi had placed him in an awkward position; perhaps a prime reason at the time for his refusal to engage in a dialogue with domestic and international interlocuters.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Gadhafi-s-stupidity---Obama-s-Wisdom_10007688#ixzz2pZNhjGZm

Egypt avoids the precipice (February 12, 2011)

PRESIDENT Hosni Mubarak's momentous decision to step down has enabled Egypt to avoid the precipice, staving off polarisation and a national disaster. History was made in the streets of Egypt, the most influential Arab country. This development underscored that a respectable political facade without legitimacy is always fragile.

The Higher Council of the Armed Forces will take over for a while. After the jubilation subsides the next chapter of the drama will begin when the new leadership will hopefully undertake reform. Savouring the moment is the order of the day and a revitalised free Egypt is hopefully in the offing.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Egypt-avoids-the-precipice_8349992#ixzz2pZNHW2ek

Libya: Internal war and foreign intervention (March 12, 2011)

Military hostilities in Libya border on genocide as Muammar Gaddafi tightens his authoritarian grip. Rather than stepping down, this snarling despot and his son Seif-Al-Islam have hunkered down, unleashing an invigorated offensive against the rebels. Still, it is unclear how long Gaddafi can hold on, notwithstanding the statement by US Intelligence director James Clapper that "in the longer term the regime will prevail". Much depends on the toughness of the international community.

This internal war has forced foreign powers with oil interests in Libya to fashion quickly policy options that include foreign military and humanitarian intervention. Already the US and NATO allies have convened, and the US has exhibited military readiness by deploying vessels in the Mediterranean and just repositioned ships. Assistance is being provided to refugees fleeing the turmoil to neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Libya--Internal-war-and-foreign-intervention_8490249#ixzz2pZMbJtOg

Republican Offensive - Democratic Response (Sept 19, 2012)

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney chastised the Barack Obama administration for failing to live up to his promises especially on improving the economy and reducing the alleged 23 million unemployed Americans. Romney attributed part of the problem to Obama's lack of business experience and accused  President Obama of promoting divisiveness and recriminations, while failing to admit to orchestrated Congressional Republican obstructionism. Without elaborating, Romney said he'd cut the budget, reduce the deficit and taxes on small business and the middle class.

On foreign policy, Romney called for active trade agreements, claimed the Obama administration had "thrown Israel under the bus", disappointed Poland on a strategic shield, exhibited too much flexibility with Russian president Vladimir Putin instead of showing more US "backbone, been too tentative in dealing with Iran's nuclear capability, and blamed the administration  for the US trillion-dollar debt to China.

 A hard look at the array of speakers at the Republican Convention revealed a GOP patina intended to convey inclusiveness, comprehensive platform, and visionary policy in the face of the party's underbelly driven by traditional and reactionary impulses of the Tea Party, "birthers", and ideological anti-government advocates. But it's questionable whether the organizers attained the symmetry they sought.  Disharmony in this fractured party was perceptible at the convention. This state of affairs could lessen the chances of unified party support behind Romney in the run-up to the elections.  At the same time the mettle of the Obama strategists will be tested as they try to exploit this apparent disarray

 Granular New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spearheaded the Republican offensive on behalf of urban and rural blue collar voters in a state with many problems. Secretary Condoleezza Rice, steering unsuccessfully away from politics, exhorted the US to lead rather than follow in world affairs, an implicit jab at the Obama administration, similar to ex-presidential candidate Senator John McCain's views on national security. And combative Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan focused on the nettlesome issues of Medicare, Obamacare, and the budget. They were intertwined with the Reaganesque folksy and gripping personal anecdotes of New Mexico governor Susana Martinez, and the captivating Ann Romney's publicly humanizing her spouse.

As expected, the convention was somewhat theatre but not only that. There were some revelations:  the GOP's  "critical election of our lifetime" as Speaker Newt Gingrich stated bluntly -- an apparent fear there will be no foreseeable chance of the GOP restoring the status quo ante; and a forecast that Latino voters will become more active in politics under the banner of  "todos juntos (all together) which the GOP  may use in the future to rally support from that heterogeneous community.

Generally well respected former governor of Florida Jeb Bush zeroed on the quality of primary and secondary education in that state along the lines articulated by Secretary Rice. All children should be given a chance to blossom and flourish regardless of race, ethnicity and family income, they pronounced.  Obviously union busting is an untold part of the story.

 So there is a general consensus that both political parties see "education as the civil rights of the future". Secretary of Education Arne Duncan of the Obama administration is on top of his game, according to education experts. But will the cuts envisaged by the Republicans threaten student opportunities and the needed infrastructure to accompany the rational educational reform needed to widen the universe of dedicated teachers and for students to compete in the national and global work force?

But beyond the state of the economy and unemployment the speakers misrepresented and  omitted many facts. For example, Secretary Rice uttered an elliptical swirl over Bush's misguided invasion of Iraq, refused to give the Obama administration credit for killing Bin Laden, denied the value of coalition-building in Afghanistan and Libya , and alleged the administration is solely responsible for the trade imbalances we have with rising China.  Similarly, there was a discrepancy between Ryan's voting record on critical issues dear to his heart such as taxes, debt, equity, and healthcare and his rhetorical claims at the convention.

No doubt the Democratic Convention will also have its share of theatre. The numerous accomplishments of the Obama administration, which its opponents have chosen to ignore, will be on full display.  But the task will be bigger. The Democrats will have to exhibit solidarity and resolve. They have an array of compelling speakers, among then President Bill Clinton and President Obama himself. However, their oratorical prowess must be matched by full command of the issues. They and others have the mettle and are waxed.

The post-convention competition for swing states is already the main order of business.  Both parties have skilled strategists and their mettle will be put to the test. Meanwhile in the vice presidential and presidential debates all four candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate full command of multiple subjects across the swath of voters.

 In that context, Congressman Ryan's penchant for specifics and his brash style will be pitted against Vice President Biden's sagacity. Even with his forensic skills, Governor Romney will be hard put to parry President Obama's ripostes and his full command of the issues.

The dire state of the economy will be difficult for President Obama to handle.  But if Romney makes it his singular issue it may be insufficient to unseat the President. The debates and the hustings afford ample opportunity to examine others.

A Tale of Two Conventions (Sept 9, 2012)

The Republican and Democratic conventions are over and an assessment of their revelations is in order.  After the fanfare and euphoria, reputable polls indicate the race between incumbent President Obama and aspirant Governor Mitt Romney are virtually tied, although a bump is expected for Obama after the Democratic convention.
Expanding the middle class was central to Obama's renewed promise to rescue the economy from the disaster he inherited, and creation of new manufacturing jobs imperative. In contrast, Romney highlighted debt reduction and a smaller government as critical for job growth, claiming superior abilty to deliver on those fronts
Both candidates and their surrogates failed to mention the simmering economic malaise in Europe and its contagious effects across the Atlantic. However, the Democrats touched on the US trade imbalance with China in the context of US jobs exports and the urgency of reviving domestic business confidence to generate jobs at home and reduce current US 8.1 percent unemployment.
The stark contrasts between the two parties go beyond fundamentally different visions for the future. The conventions evinced sharp distinctions such as inclusiveness-exclusiveness, forward-backward perspectives, and optimism-pessimism. The stage is now set for intensive and exciting presidential and congressional campaigns with far-reaching consequences.
The Democrats' picture of confidence and optimism, in spite of a troubled economy, is pitted against the Republicans' allegation that a Romney-Ryan ticket is better equipped to pull the country out of this economic and financial morass.Romney accused the Obama as not having business experience and resorting to divisiveness and recriminations.  But he failed to admit to the concerted Republican congressional obstructionism intended to prevent the President's reelection at all costs.

As the election fever heightens both parties have drawn the line in the sand on vision and values. But a chunk of the electorate are still undecided whether Barack Obama deserves another term or Mitt Romney should be the new President. The conventions gave a preview of what's to come on the road, especially in the swing states. Exhortations for "citizenship" and "we're all in this together" versus "I built it" and "financial acquisition" as the sole measure of success will be among the core themes of the torrid battle for votes.

 President Obama warned the same rules would apply to Wall Street, Main Street, and Washington DC and promised to create manufacturing jobs "made in America" and double US exports. There will be no more "corporate welfare", and emphasis will be placed on education as the gateway to middle class life as well as for students to fulfill their dreams to compete in the world. Romney echoed similar views on education, calling it the "civil rights of the time."

Displaying empathy, President Obama urged voters to be stakeholders in nation-building at home and to travel the rocky road with him to restore the American dream, reminiscent of San Antonio mayor Julian Castro's evocative imagery of his grandmother holding a mop and he now holding a microphone.

Former presidential aspirant John Kerry and Obama cast the Republicans as stuck in a "Cold War time warp" evidenced by Romney's calling Russia the main geopolitical foe of the US, or the "new to foreign policy Republicans" who have scant knowledge of the relationship between force and diplomacy. Romney's Olympics gaffe with the US " closest ally" revealed an ineptitude to engage, for example, Beijing diplomatically, Obama chided. Without mentioning her by name, the President parried Secretary Condoleezza Rice's unwillingness to give full credit to the Commander-in-Chief in the capture of Bin Laden, and the folly of engaging in a costly war in Iraq.

 The capture of Bin Laden and bailout of GM were signature Obama accomplishments brandished at the convention.  Kerry excoriated Romney for failing to mention US troops in his speech.  VP Biden's expounded on his close relationship and loyalty to the President and profound respect for Obama's qualities of leadership --  commitment, resolve, vision,  with a" backbone of steel". The President never backs down, he stressed.

As for Vice President nominee Paul Ryan's depiction of  the national debt, healthcare, and slow economic turn-around, President Bill Clinton's quintessential rebuttal  citing "arithmetic"  provided hard numbers, and emphasized that President Obama inherited the worse financial situation since President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  VP aspirant Ryan's voting record runs counter to his own rhetoric, Clinton intimated. Criticism resounded of new tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires and vouchers for medicare.

The array of brilliant speakers at the Democratic convention far outstripped the Republicans'.  However, oratory is important but harsh realities, even poverty, still prevail.

 Elections are not won at conventions. They are won in the trenches. The debates, both presidential and vice-presidential, will afford ample opportunity for the candidates to expound on social, economic, and national security and foreign policy issues.

 In the final analysis, it's the political strategy and tactics in the battleground states that will largely determine the outcome. Strategists of both parties will have uppermost in their maneuvers the requirement to capture the majority of the coveted electoral votes.

All said, President Obama seems poised to return to the White House, barring the unforeseen. That result will be good for the US and the world.

Haiti Labours On (July 21, 2012)

As a country of commanding landscape, beaches, fertile fields and hard-working people, Haiti has promise of self-sufficiency. Getting there challenges paradigms and frustrates Haitians and well-wishers. But Haiti, albeit enigmatic, is still there.

A Haitian intellectual remarked, "Unfortunately, Haiti is a peuplade, not a nation." Implicit in its history are lost opportunities and betrayal, dubious colonial legacy, corrosive class and colour cleavages, regionalism, and periodic foreign intervention. The variety of Haitian flags displayed in a museum across from the earthquake-wrecked palace in downtown Port-au-Prince are historic indicators of a persistent quest for national identity.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Haiti-labours-on_11987013#ixzz2pZEep58k

Photo taken July 4, 2012 at the U.S. Embassy, Port au Prince, Haiti