In a New Yorker piece, Ryan Lizza describes how President Obama has adjusted his foreign policy to deal with the reality in the Middle East. The last paragraph, describing the president’s Libya policy, deserves attention:
Nonetheless, Obama may be moving toward something resembling a doctrine. One of his advisers described the President’s actions in Libya as “leading from behind.” That’s not a slogan designed for signs at the 2012 Democratic Convention, but it does accurately describe the balance that Obama now seems to be finding. It’s a different definition of leadership than America is known for, and it comes from two unspoken beliefs: that the relative power of the U.S. is declining, as rivals like China rise, and that the U.S. is reviled in many parts of the world. Pursuing our interests and spreading our ideals thus requires stealth and modesty as well as military strength. “It’s so at odds with the John Wayne expectation for what America is in the world,” the adviser said. “But it’s necessary for shepherding us through this phase.”
I’m trying to think of another example when someone claimed to be a leader by hiding his/her views in fear of how others might react. It’s difficult to call that leadership.
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