True International Leadership Needed

President Barack Obama has told the BBC he believes the United States can help to get serious Middle East peace negotiations back on track. On Iran, he said he hoped to see progress by the end of the year, through tough, direct diplomacy. But he also said, rather than imposing its values on other countries, the US should act as a role model.

President Obama said he believed “the US was going to be able to get serious negotiations back on track between Israel and the Palestinians. Diplomacy is always a matter of a long hard slog. It's never a matter of quick results Not only is it in the interest of the Palestinian people to have a state, it's in the interest of the Israeli people to stabilize the situation there.”

I could not agree more with those sentiments. I truly hope for all our sakes that this is not just rhetoric. In its position as the wealthiest country on earth, the only true superpower, and the driving force in much of western foreign policy, America not only has the opportunity to help shape lasting peace in conflict areas, but has a moral duty to do so.

For too long we have not been the role model the rest of the world needed. We have meddled in other countries’ affairs even when our strategic interests were not being affected unduly. We have seen it as our right to do so, and this is utterly and incomprehensibly wrong. For example, to be a true world friend, our support of Israel (which is completely justified) must be tempered with the rights and needs of their Palestinian neighbors. We cannot blindly let Israel do what it likes without censure.

Similarly, the price or availability of oil should not dictate foreign policy and determine whether another country is deemed friend or foe. Difference in opinions does not make someone an enemy. There will always be conflict between different cultures, religions and viewpoints. However, a great leader, speaking softly but carrying a big stick (as my father used to say), can use their influence to benefit many. Because the U.S. is a world leader in almost every sphere of influence, this country must learn to leave national interests behind and look for global interests that benefit all people, wherever possible.