Obama's healthcare win could boost foreign policy

[babylonsister]

Obama's healthcare win could boost foreign policy
Jeff Mason - Analysis
WASHINGTON
Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:05am EDT


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's domestic success on healthcare reform may pay dividends abroad as the strengthened U.S. leader taps his momentum to take on international issues with allies and adversaries.

Russia

More than a dozen foreign leaders have congratulated Obama on the new healthcare law in letters and phone calls, a sign of how much attention the fight for his top domestic policy priority received in capitals around the world.

Analysts and administration officials were cautious about the bump Obama could get from such a win: Iran is not going to rethink its nuclear program and North Korea is not going to return to the negotiating table simply because more Americans will get health insurance in the coming years, they said.

But the perception of increased clout, after a rocky first year that produced few major domestic or foreign policy victories, could generate momentum for Obama's agenda at home and in his talks on a host of issues abroad.

"It helps him domestically and I also think it helps him internationally that he was able to win and get through a major piece of legislation," said Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser to Republican President George W. Bush.

"It shows political strength, and that counts when dealing with foreign leaders."

Obama's deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the Democratic president's persistence in the long healthcare battle added credibility to his rhetoric on climate change, nuclear nonproliferation and other foreign policy goals.

"It sends a very important message about President Obama as a leader," Rhodes told Reuters during an interview in his West Wing office.

more...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62P0P320100326

[babylonsister]

1. More good news here, you know you want to read it!

:D

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. It's interesting how Mr. Netanyahu seems to be stalling until the November elections here.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159300.html

[babylonsister]

3. I wonder if we can all afford to wait that long. nt