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Changing the way America went about its business domestically and globally was the dominant message of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. It struck a chord with a war-weary nation and young voters in particular turned out in large numbers to send Mr Obama to the White House. Since then, however, the difference between the leeway enjoyed by a candidate and the constraints under which the president must work has become all too stark.
Change has been slow in coming and some pledges, such as the commitment to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, remain unfulfilled to this day. But there have been successes too. Internationally Mr Obama has made an effort to reach out to the Muslim world to repair a relationship that suffered untold damage under George Bush. In much of the world, in fact, America's image has improved since Mr Obama came to office.
His international stock should rise further if the security strategy unveiled in Washington on Thursday becomes the cornerstone of US foreign policy, not just on paper but in practice. Opting for a more holistic approach to protecting US interests, Mr Obama parted ways with the 'Bush doctrine' under which fighting terrorism overshadowed all other objectives. Counter-terrorism, according to the Obama plan, “cannot define America's engagement with the world.” Though pre-emptive strikes have not been ruled out, these will be considered only after exhausting all other options.
In another marked departure from the Bush-era policy of unilateral action, Mr Obama announced that the US would “seek broad international support” if a pre-emptive strike becomes necessary. References were also made to recognising the reality of a multipolar world and the need to look beyond current conflicts to their long-term consequences. For the first time ever, the annual security strategy also admits that the Arab-Israeli conflict is a “source of tension.”
These are welcome moves, even if they do not deliver on all the promises Mr Obama made during his election campaign. And even though the security plan unveiled on Thursday is not binding, it represents a significant step in the right direction. At the same time, however, it is hoped that Mr Obama's desire to reduce his country's dependency on military might does not result in a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. That job must be taken to its logical conclusion.
