Recently, two English-speaking democracies held their presidential elections. In both, the candidate whose name was synonymous with change won. Each of these two men had compelling personal narratives, and were victorious in elections of immense historical significance. Both will have to cope with exceedingly high expectations from the voting populace, as well as a laundry list of major problems their two nations face. Yet these two men, President-elect Barack Obama and the newly inaugurated president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, could not be more different.
President Nasheed, having spent many years in jail as a political prisoner for his bold criticism of the dictatorial regime of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, came to power in the first legitimate election his nation has held in three decades. His definition of change is one that emphasizes weakening the government and returning liberty to the people. This includes plans to privatize many industries presently under government control, such as health care, education, and mass transit. After seeing the success of capitalism in turning the Maldives from an impoverished chain of fishing islands into Asia’s premier luxury destination, he wants to allow the market to correct the remaining deficiencies caused by poorly-run government programs. So great is this desire to enhance the quality of life for his nation that President Nasheed is turning his presidential palace into the nation’s first, and thus far only, university.
More impressive still is the shrewdness with which the new government appears poised to handle national security and foreign relations issues. Though interested in building a more solid economic link to China, President Nasheed has been quick to declare that Beijing’s influence will not extend beyond bilateral commerce. At the same time, he is taking great pains to improve already strong relations with the pro-Western, democratic neighboring state of India. This is of particular consequence because of his plan to create a backup nation. A mere one-meter rise in water level would sink most of the islands that are a part of the Maldives. In anticipation of this problem, his government is conducting negotiations with India and Sri Lanka to acquire land inside those nations where he can move his people, should the need arise. Thus, the Maldivian population will not be left without a nation or in a perpetual refugee situation.
On the other hand, our nation has recently opted to elect Barack Obama. His most significant achievement to date has been writing two autobiographies singing his own praises. And, while he too is a champion of change, he seeks primarily to implement policies that have proven elsewhere throughout history to fail. These include raising the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans, which will most certainly reduce actual income for the government, since many will opt to exploit legal loopholes rather than pay exorbitant rates. He’d also like to move us progressively toward a national health care system, which we’ve seen turn out quite poorly in Canada and the United Kingdom.
But, as inept as President-elect Obama may be on domestic affairs, his foreign and security policies are even more alarming. I am not speaking merely of his choice of Joe Biden, America’s least correct foreign policy “expert” in recent memory, for vice president. Nor am I speaking of his poor choices of advisers throughout his campaign, including two Carter stooges and a woman who argued that the U.S. should threaten war with our most important Middle East ally (Israel). Rather, I am more concerned with the way he has opted to conduct himself since Nov. 4.
Numerous world leaders called to congratulate President-elect Obama on his win. And generally, he has made a point of not only returning most of those calls, but starting to build warm relations with these foreign leaders. The problem is that he’s forgotten about some key U.S. allies. In particular, I am speaking of the Philippines. While President Gloria Arroyo was among the first to call and offer kind words, staying up until 3 a.m. so as to speak with Obama at a time convenient for him, her call was not taken. She was told that she would be among the first to have her call returned. As of yet, she has not been contacted by Obama. This is particularly noteworthy since he has returned calls to nations with whom our relations are in decline but who do not pose a threat to us, such as Spain. Given that the Philippines is a key ally in the War on Terror, this is unacceptable. Their mainstream press has already noticed, prompting angry lead stories in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that call for a shift away from close relations between our two countries.
I realize, of course, that neither of the two leaders about whom I’m speaking have had time yet to prove themselves. It may be that President Nasheed is far less of a force for good than I expect him to be. And it could well be that, once properly educated on foreign policy, President-elect Obama will be less of a national disgrace. However, judging by the evidence presently available to us, it looks like it is we who made the incorrect change.
