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The Day Obama Fell to Earth
Jason Reed / Reuters
All is not quite what is being claimed for London summit, says Andrew Neil. In fact, the president didn’t get what he came for.
President Obama hailed yesterday's G-20 accord in London as "historic"—and in the sense that the world's major economies have agreed on joint action to tackle the global recession caused by last year's financial meltdown, it is. But, on the morning after the night before, it's time for a reality check. All is not quite what is being claimed.
For a start, the president did not get what, for him, was the original purpose of this G-20 summit: a coordinated global fiscal stimulus. The British media may still fawn before the Obamas the way the U.S. media used to, the first lady can even touch the Queen in Buck House without being sent to the Tower of London; but the Obama charisma and character could not get an extra cent out of the world community. Not even a sou (actually, especially not a sou since it was the French—along with the Germans—who scuppered the whole idea of a stimulus).
He is the first superstar president since JFK, but at the G-20 summit, America was just one country among many.
This was a wake-up call for the White House: The rest of the world outside America is still pretty much a one-party state for the president, but he cannot sweep all before him. He is the first superstar president since JFK, but at the G-20 summit, America was just one country among many. The only superpower, to be sure, and economically still the most important. But not dominant: indeed incapable of getting its way on some important issues.
For the president, his first foray into international summitry has brought him down to earth with a bump. He will hit the ground again today at the NATO meeting in Strasbourg, France, where the rhetoric of solidarity will be strong but the president will fail to get any major commitments of new troop deployments to back his planned "surge" in Afghanistan. Only the British, once again, are likely to oblige.
Americans need to get used to this diminished status. The rise of the European Union, India, and China is turning it from superpower to first among equals. The U.S. used to account for more than one-third of the global economy; now it is under a quarter and falling. And for all the Obama talk of a new multilateral era of cooperation and consent, there will still be times when America will have to act, as in Afghanistan, with or without its allies.
America's newspapers and networks don't quite get it this morning. They have been mesmerised by all the talk of trillions at the G-20 and have gone along with the British spin, which says London was a triumph. “This is the day that the world came together to fight the global recession, not with words but with a plan,” said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the American media nods its head. But unlike those of us who've covered Mr. Brown for decades, U.S. journalists are unaware that there is no one better at dressing up old money as new. The man is a master of statistical illusion, able to conjure up billions, even trillions, of new money, apparently out of thin air. So let’s have a closer look at the "historic" London "triumph".
Brown put a price tag of $5 trillion on what was agreed yesterday, the largest global accord "the world has ever seen" amounting to a "program of support to restore credit, growth, and jobs in the world economy." Impressive—except that it contains all the tried and tested Brownies of statistical inflation, repeat announcements and double counting.
It turns out, as an embarrassed British Treasury official was forced to admit later, the $5 trillion figure relates to the cumulative increase in government borrowing across the G-20 between 2008 and 2010, compared with 2007. All of it was in the pipeline long before the London summit and not an extra penny was added to it by the G-20 yesterday.
Even the extra $1 trillion for the IMF needs to carry a health warning. True, almost half is new money to allow the IMF to extend financial help to the many countries which will come knocking on its door this year, begging bowl in hand, starting with Mexico and with most of Eastern Europe forming an orderly queue behind it. But most of it was announced before the G-20 summit. Japan gave $100 billion last November, while the E.U. pledged the same last month.
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connie47
Of course he didn't get everything he wanted. Only we Americans think we should at all times get everything we want. (1) Europe has not felt the recession/depression as deeply as the US has .... yet. If and when it does, they will change some of their strategies and probably fall more in line with Obama's thinking. (2) He won the respect and friendship of people all over the world, which may in the long view be more important than achieving all his goals.
tarryh
Yup, the Big O is a total failure. Isn't it great that he got smacked down. France rules! Deutschland uber alles! Gordon Brown is finished!
Give me a break. Obama did not fail. He did the best he could in view of the tidal wave of nationalism sweeping Europe.... and the US. This was a first step.This meeting was month in preparation. It will take months to fill in all the details and implement. Wait six months until the Europeans really feel the crunch, which they have not yet, and there will be more stimulus. No one got what they wanted. Not Mrs. Merkle. Not l'americain. Not Gordon Brown. This is a work in progress. You are so American in being swift to condemn. But I will grant you it is a good way to grab a headline.
Lovefreedom
The Obamatrons will view this trip as some kind of victory...respect, really, like the one he demonstrated bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia and manhandling the Queen with the two hand handgrab...He is like a Celebricon not showing not humility but pure ignorance in the World Theater.
France, Germany, Sweden and very apparently, the British Press, have his number...maybe, soon the American "Media" will do their job and let the rest of the Drones among us, here in our country...what the real situation is. Connie47 Dream on.
EdinNJ
Conservative writer pens negative piece on Obama. In other news, sky is blue, water is wet, and Conservatives still don't get it.
I wonder if this article was written before Obama's trip. It's not like there was any chance a Spectator writer was going to write something favorable, so it was probably prepared in advance.
EdinNJ
Hey "lovefreedom", when Bushie was winking at the queen were you screaming about protocol? How about when he gave Merkel the back rub?
You are an idiot. It's amazing you can walk without instructions from your rightwing echo chamber.
apparently
Viva La Vida, by Cold Play, has been overused especially on Mornin' Joe on MSNBC, but it kept running through my head watching Obama try to take over the G-20. I don't think he's listened to the lyrics.
Lovefreedom
EdinNJ...This Democrat idiot...can tell the difference between a wink and being manhandled ,as far as Merkel , I guess Michelle watched Bushie and decided to back rub the Queen.
Its amazing how having a clue about PROTOCOL or good manners makes me a rightwinger. I guess if you are a Drone and can't think and formulate your own opinion without following everyone else... makes one incapable of using ones BRAIN or WALKING. You are just sooo classy I can tell.
sonofloud
Obama has no more charisma than Bill Clinton, the difference is that Clinton has the wisdom and the quick thinking to back it up.
Oh and the press has a crush on Obama whereas with Bill Clinton the press tried to crucify him.
SFGiants
lovefreedom: What's the color of the sky on your planet?
Picachu
Since the right maintained a fantasy about Bush's presidency, is it any wonder they are now manufacturing the Obama is a failure myth just 60 days in? This fits right in with self regulating markets and other fairy tales from the right.
karabaic
I'd like to recommend that everyone here take a big breath, step back and read Helene Cooper's New York Times News Analysis piece (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/world/europe/03assess.html). It's pretty balanced, making the point that Obama didn't get what he expected, but made a good first start. Most people compared this to the summit in 1933, and in 2009 we avoided a protectionist disaster.
And the Michelle/Queen incident? The Queen touched Michelle first, when they were comparing shoes.
BeastKorrector
This is international accounting tricks folks.. We're still circling the drain.
Hawnzz
He left having warmed relations with nations that historically have always been frigid. As American power and prestige have been fading (or perceived as such) due to a major economic crisis and a unsuccessful war(s)... he used this to his advantage without appearing weak. I watched his address last night and as always it was spot on.
I don't think this is going to solve everything. But it was a major victory in many ways. (For everyone) I thought it might be a slightly better version of the original summit from the depression era. But after hearing how well it went, and how well he did... I flat out couldn't believe it. Even if this summit is only marginally successful at it's task... that isn't the point. It is the first time all the major powers of the world pledged to work together on ANYTHING. (And that ain't no small beans)
I didn't think he'd get the world to sign on to a stimulus. (At least not yet) France and Germany are correct. Market regulation has to be fixed, and it has to be coordinated on a global level to keep these similiar events from happening again. Do we want to over-regulate? Of course not! That is why we have Republicans... but what we want to keep from happening is getting SCREWED like we did this time around.
P.S. If you have something constructive to say, say it. If you're here just to be hateful or spiteful get the heck out of here. Go troll somewhere else...
Lovefreedom
SfGiants: Here from Planet REALITY...The sky is colorless. Air reflects blue light more than other colors so that is the reason it looks blue.
Don't worry be Happy...remember REALITY BITES.
garryboyle
This article has a couple of confusing and surprising errors. I expect better from the writers/editors here.
I appreciate skepticism, which is why you won't catch me saying that this summit was historic (I doubt it is). But what is really the point in Mr. Neil using so many words to say so little?
@Lovefreedom:
Contrarianism is not the same thing as original thought, nor is agreement the same as lack thereof.
It amazes me that so many people dismiss others as drones and kool-aid drinkers because they are willing to give the President a chance. Many of these same people who rail against mindless Democrats gladly call themselves ditto-heads because they parrot the opinions of Rush verbatim.
Thank you.
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