Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics

"At any given time in America, there is only one President of the United States of America. It is the exclusive purview of the occupant of that office to speak on behalf of America during moments of international crisis, especially when American lives and property are involved." Emmanuel Konde

                                            *By Emmanuel Konde*

   

     Although foreign policy and domestic politics often intersect, there exists a stark difference in how each is executed. Whereas domestic politics is a free-for-all game within any given country, foreign policy is not a free-for-all endeavor. This simple fact, observed throughout America's history, seems to have eluded Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican contender for the Presidency of the United States.

     At any given time in America, there is only one President of the United States of America. It is the exclusive purview of the occupant of that office to speak on behalf of America during moments of international crisis, especially when American lives and property are involved. That person is the President of the United States of America, who happens to be, presently, Mr. Barack Obama. President Obama, or some other well-informed officials designated by the executive branch, can speak for America on foreign policy matters. A presidential candidate is not privileged to intrude into a sphere that s/he has not won through a democratic election to represent the American people.

     Since the ascension of Senator Obama to the Presidency of the United States in 2009, some of his avowed Republican opponents have sought to delegitimize him through subterfuge. They tried "Birtherism" by casting him as an outsider but it did not work because it was a lie. Gov. Romney's unsuccessful attempt to play president today is the latest tactic of that shameful strategy. There he stood in Jacksonville, Florida fabricating facts and condemning President Obama and the entire administration. Few American presidents have been as clear of purpose as President Obama. Far from confusing, the statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo when confronted by an unruly mob apparently enraged by a movie defaming the founder of their religion (Mohammed), was in keeping with diplomatic practice.

     America is not at war with Egypt; neither is America at war with Islam. America is definitely not at war with Libya, which in its present orientation was made by the United States. Therefore, the uttering of fighting words in defense of American values is not called for. Indeed, it does not feature in the lessons about the application of diplomacy in professional schools. Besides, American does not fight with words; American fights with the instruments of war. Yes, America speaks softly but carries a big stick.

     It was in fact a fatal error on the part of Mr. Romney. To burnish his credentials as a potentially strong president, Mr. Romney engaged a nonexistent enemy in a war of words that the presumed enemy did not answer back. From all apparent indications, Mr. Romney had engaged himself in a war of words that has damaged him even more. To his character trait as a "flip-flopper", "flippant" is now added. So now we have "flip-flopper-flippant" Romney.

     One does not rise to be President of the United States by blowing his mouth or by intruding into issues that they have no inkling about and do not quite understand. It takes for long years of schooling or specialized training in the craft of diplomacy and foreign policy analysis to attain expertise in this delicate field of navigating relations amongst nation states. Unlike domestic politics, cheap points can hardly be scored in foreign policy. One either knows or one does not know.

     Contending for the office of president does not make one president. It would be wise to let the president be president, and the presidential contender be presidential contender. Until that time when the contender unseats the president, we admonish that each should attend to their assigned duties.

***Emmauel Konde is a Professor of history and diplomacy at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. He is a graduate of Boston University in Boston, Massachussetts.***