Dr. Maccoby participates in a Weekly Forum on Washington Post.com called "On Leadership". I am compiling all of his responses to the weekly questions here.
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DATE: April 7, 2009 Obama Abroad: All Soft, No Power? In his overseas trip, President Obama was determined to show that he was the un-Bush, compromising and conciliatory, drawing no lines in the sand. As a new leader who is being closely watched and tested, should he have grabbed an opportunity during that same trip to demonstrate his toughness, showing his saber as well as his smile? |
A Strategic Mind at Work
Both the admirers and critics of President Obama's performance in Europe miss its full significance. Yes, he improved America's image. No, he did not get the full support he wanted for the war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. What he showed was a strategic mind at work, plowing the ground to grow a stronger, healthier future.
President Obama demonstrates the qualities of strategic intelligence that I have observed in the most effective business and political leaders. These include foresight, partnering, visioning with systems thinking and motivating people to realize the vision. Both in his domestic and international strategies, he has focused on the future, even at the cost of quick immediate results. At home, his vision of a strong economy requires a more educated, healthier and technologically advanced society. In Europe, he painted a vision of partnership to control and eventually abolish nuclear weapons.
From a strategic point of view, his developing relationship with Dimitry Medvedev is potentially the most significant achievement of his trip. He suggested a deal exchanging the anti-missile defenses on Russia's border with collaboration in keeping Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He deserves our appreciation for proposing a vision of a saner world and taking the first steps to create it.
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