INSIGHT:
Why America should halt the
genocide in the
Sudan.
Achebe's
'Things Fall Apart': time for Nobel prize for Literature has come -
says Prof. Lindfors at USAfrica Best of Africa 080808
events in Houston; challenges Nobel committee to do what's
right and deserving....
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••
CLASS
magazine
'the Ebony
magazine for Africans in north America'
Adopting a more pragmatic approach to America's
economic and foreign policy
By Rev. Augustine I. Ogbunugwu
Special to USAfricaonline.com,
CLASS
magazine, USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston and
The
Black Business Journal
In the wake of the September 26, 2008 presidential debate between
senators John McCain and Barack Obama, the realities of the
challenges ahead remain stark. The fact is that come January 2009,
America's next president 
will
be sworn in, and he needs to be conciliatory in approach in dealing
with old and new allies, tackling domestic problems and simmering
international conflicts. The next president should make a priority
the task of healing the devastating eros
ion
of America's prestige all over the world which emanated from the
conflict-prone attitude adopted by Bush-Cheney administration. To be
able to lead the world as it stands at present presupposes that the
next president be more of a bridge builder rather than a
single-minded confrontational know-it-all emperor. Also, by virtue of
the leadership role thrust upon her by providence, the next president
should begin to realize that talking now only of America's interest
is no longer enough.
The reasons for a leader with the focus to lead are both
internally and externally driven. An overwhelming number of polled
Americans agree that the direction which the leadership of this great
country has taken in the past 7 years have not yielded much dividends
to the lives of millions of Americans. Many Americans have lost well
paying jobs, their homes to foreclosures, insurance packages, stocks
and retirement benefits. Significantly, there's the weakening of the
U.S Dollar against other major world currencies especially the
Euro.
Externally, the world is waiting and watching as Americans get
ready to vote in a new president who will tackle new, greater
challenges come January 2009.
Therefore, it is reasonable to argue that in the present
circumstance, a better, pragmatic and conciliatory approach has to be
adopted towards America's economic and foreign policy and
actions.
It is important to note that Americans are realizing that the
world is fast changing. The U.S needs to adapt to these fast changes.
It was not long ago that America's automobile design was judged the
most frugal in terms of gas consumption. In those days American
consumers did not feel any pinch because gas was cheap and every oil
producer shipped mainly to America and that was when America dictated
the price of the commodity as there was little of no competition.
Today, emerging nations like India, Korea, Indonesia and China can
pay higher prices for these commodities and thereby causing cut
throat competition which drives the price up. Thank God that
our nation is beginning to phase out the big guzzlers in their
automobile designs. That is one step in the right direction. Another
effort is towards drilling at home in areas hitherto excluded from
drilling. Let's hope that drilling at home will increase supply and
drive down price for consumers. If the world oil producers don't see
that happening, America must then think faster on what to do so she
would not be seen incapable of drilling herself out of the present
predicament so the second situation is not worse than the first. This
makes the case for alternative sources of energy.
With railway networks which
span the whole of Europe, transportation is cheaper and reliable.
Owning a car is part of the American dream and there is every reason
to celebrate this luxury but the reality on the ground today may
demand a second look at this luxury. Would households need to prune
down the number of cars they have? Would more states need to consider
developing more environmental friendly mass transport systems like is
seen in New York a model for other cities? Car dealers for sure will
kick against this suggestion but the tension will only continue to
mount.
America should look towards energy
independence, respond to the threat to the world environment as seen
in the fast depletion of the polar ice caps. Many endangered species
face immediate threats of extinction.
The world it can be argued has never been tied much together as is
the case now. It is not only the world of the internet, the CNN,
FoxNews, MSNBC, BBC, AP, Reuters and Pravda the major news networks
that link the world today. With a more mobile world population,
communicable diseases now travel faster and so the world must be
ready to act faster in the area of world health needs and this will
not happen unless America leads a coalition of willing nations in
this direction. America has spent over six hundred billions to
prosecute the war in Iraq. America has not been attacked again by Al
Qaeda and America is adjudged safer. But America has not lost only
treasure and blood, she has made more enemies of those that used to
be very strong allies due to Bush presidency's handling of the
war.
America needs not to end the
historic cooperation with Russia over arms reduction and limitations.
To confront Russia in a manner which compel her to seek alternative
economic and military allies who oppose America's interests will not
augur well for what America intends to achieve in the global economy.
The fact is America needs to maintain friendly relations with Russia
because doing so will also make nations inclining towards Russia like
China, Iran and Syria to be amenable to reason on issues of global
importance. Conversely, to anger Russia and alienate her will not be
a smart move in the face of the Iranian and North Korea's nuclear
threats.
America is the greatest world power but she
better use her power to make more friends than enemies. Losing
Russia's goodwill, taking on Iran, containing with Venezuela's menace
and having a chronic enemy like Cuba at her doorstep will be too much
for America. At present China is buying over all Africa and
consolidating her economic grip in Asia and South East Asia. There is
every need of change in America's foreign and domestic policies if
she intends to maintain a genuine, number 1 leadership role in the
world.
•Ogbunugwu is the pastor