Condoleeza Rice at the Republican National Convention

I’ve been mulling over Secretary Rice’s comments from her speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) earlier this week.  Of all the prime time presenters, it was Condoleezza “Condi” Rice our former Secretary of State under President Bush, whom I was most interested in hearing.  I view her as an intelligent, thoughtful and moderate Republican so I was surprised when she criticized President Obama’s foreign policy. I fully expected criticism on the economy and how that compromises our strength in negotiations with countries like China but her rhetoric was more strident and had less to do with economics.

“…But we can only know that there is no choice, because one of two things will happen if we don’t lead. Either no one will lead and there will be chaos, or someone will fill the vacuum who does not share our values.  My fellow Americans, we do not have a choice.  We cannot be reluctant to lead and you cannot lead from behind.”

Obama’s foreign policy record looks pretty damn good to me

Four years ago the US was embroiled in two land wars in the Middle East and Asia, we were the subject of scorn and the butt of many jokes around the world.  Fast forward to today – both wars are either over or ending, America is well respected by its allies and men like Osama Bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi are dead. More over, Egypt (the Middle East’s most populous nation) had their first democratic election last year and the days are numbered for Assad (leader of Syria).  Assad’s imminent removal of power could be potentially catastrophic for Iran who will lose their longest standing and best ally in the region.

If there has been a bright spot in the past 4 years for Obama, it has been his foreign policy accomplishments.  In 2008 nobody expected Osama Bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi would be neutralized under Obama’s watch. Moreover, Obama with the help of Hillary Clinton has deftly repaired our relationship with key trade partners like Brazil, a country that plays an increasingly important role in this hemisphere as a rising economic power and geopolitical ally we can leverage against Chavez.