Obama West Point Commencement Speech: New Foreign Policy Strategy

Gone are the days of unilateral American power and pre-emptive wars. In President Obama’s new strategy, which he outlined Saturday to West Point’s graduates, the tools of foreign policy should be diplomacy and the cultivation of international alliances. “America has not succeeded by stepping outside the currents of international cooperation,” he said. “We have succeeded by steering those currents in the direction of liberty and justice, so nations thrive by meeting their responsibilities, and face consequences when they don’t.” His speech drew sharp contrasts with President Bush’s doctrine, also laid out at West Point eight years ago in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. And, addressing 1,000 young men and women who are due to ship out for duty, he expressed optimism in both of the United States foreign engagements, adding, “We are poised to end our combat mission in Iraq this summer.”