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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Dec 31 2014
Obama's strong finish in 2014
Ã-MER TAÅ?PINAR
December 31, 2014, Wednesday
It has been a strange year for Barack Obama. Despite a strong economy,
the Democrats lost the midterm elections to the Republicans in a
humiliating way. The Senate is now in the hands of the opposition and
Obama is the walking definition of a lame duck president. With his
legislative agenda hampered, everyone expected Obama to accept his
fate and finish his last two years in search of a legacy and a voice.
Yet, to the surprise of many, Obama now appears more determined than
ever to fight Republican obstructionism with the prerogative of the
executive office.
In many ways, Obama is not only legally but also politically entitled
to do so. After all, the economy has been stronger than ever in the
last 10 years, with growth restored to healthy levels and unemployment
below 2005 levels. The healthcare law passed and the number of
uninsured Americans is down by 10 million. There is also good news on
the budget front, with the national debt and fiscal deficit in a
downward trend.
Yes, Obama lost the mid-term elections despite such good economic
data, mainly because of income stagnation. But with incomes beginning
to rise as of last month, consumer confidence is coming back. This is
why Obama believes he deserves more political credit than what the
polls seem to indicate. After the mid-term defeat he decided to keep
his chin up and use his last two years in power without much
reservation.
Only two months have passed since the elections, and Obama has shown
his determination to do so in three major cases. First came his visit
to China and the Asia-Pacific region, with historic agreements made
after years of negotiations in climate, economic and military talks.
The visit symbolized a pivot to Asia with substantial results.
Needless to say, Obama badly needed some foreign policy points after a
disastrous spring and summer, during which Russia annexed Crimea and
the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) conquered large parts
of Syria and Iraq.
After his successful trip to Asia, Obama decided to focus on domestic
politics. The issue he selected was one of the most polarizing items
in American politics: immigration reform. In a prime-time speech to
the nation, Obama declared that he will bypass the House of
Representatives, which blocked Senate's immigration bill. It was time
to honor his political commitment to the millions of mostly Hispanic
voters asking amnesty for undocumented immigrants at risk of
deportation. Not surprisingly, Obama's executive order to pardon 5
million future Democratic voters infuriated the Republicans, who
wanted to savor their mid-term victory by emasculating him.
Finally, as 2014 was coming to a close, Obama finished the year in
style with an astonishing declaration that the US was restoring
diplomatic relations with Cuba. Needless to say, this final salvo
exacerbated Republican frustrations even further.
Why all this should be relevant for Ankara? 2015 will be a critical
year for Turkish-American relations. It is no secret that the White
House is very frustrated with the Turkish reluctance to play ball
against ISIL.
The common refrain that I hear in Washington is that this is not the
way a NATO ally should behave in times when solidarity is of essence.
The current situation is a litmus test for arguments about Turkey's
much-taunted geo-strategic importance. After all, what good is
Ä°ncirlik Air Base if it is not used in times like today, against a
barbaric foe like ISIL?
One should also remember that Turkey counts on its strategic
importance each time Congress considers resolutions about the Armenian
genocide. In case Ankara continues to drag its feet regarding ISIL, an
unhinged Obama may decide to use his new-found executive voice with an
unexpected recognition of the Armenian genocide on the centennial of
the tragedy. If Ankara is complacent about the centennial on the
grounds that the Republicans are dominating Congress, it is time to
think twice. Obama may be running out of patience with Ankara.
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/omer-taspinar/obamas-strong-finish-in-2014_368488.html
Dec 31 2014
Obama's strong finish in 2014
Ã-MER TAÅ?PINAR
December 31, 2014, Wednesday
It has been a strange year for Barack Obama. Despite a strong economy,
the Democrats lost the midterm elections to the Republicans in a
humiliating way. The Senate is now in the hands of the opposition and
Obama is the walking definition of a lame duck president. With his
legislative agenda hampered, everyone expected Obama to accept his
fate and finish his last two years in search of a legacy and a voice.
Yet, to the surprise of many, Obama now appears more determined than
ever to fight Republican obstructionism with the prerogative of the
executive office.
In many ways, Obama is not only legally but also politically entitled
to do so. After all, the economy has been stronger than ever in the
last 10 years, with growth restored to healthy levels and unemployment
below 2005 levels. The healthcare law passed and the number of
uninsured Americans is down by 10 million. There is also good news on
the budget front, with the national debt and fiscal deficit in a
downward trend.
Yes, Obama lost the mid-term elections despite such good economic
data, mainly because of income stagnation. But with incomes beginning
to rise as of last month, consumer confidence is coming back. This is
why Obama believes he deserves more political credit than what the
polls seem to indicate. After the mid-term defeat he decided to keep
his chin up and use his last two years in power without much
reservation.
Only two months have passed since the elections, and Obama has shown
his determination to do so in three major cases. First came his visit
to China and the Asia-Pacific region, with historic agreements made
after years of negotiations in climate, economic and military talks.
The visit symbolized a pivot to Asia with substantial results.
Needless to say, Obama badly needed some foreign policy points after a
disastrous spring and summer, during which Russia annexed Crimea and
the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) conquered large parts
of Syria and Iraq.
After his successful trip to Asia, Obama decided to focus on domestic
politics. The issue he selected was one of the most polarizing items
in American politics: immigration reform. In a prime-time speech to
the nation, Obama declared that he will bypass the House of
Representatives, which blocked Senate's immigration bill. It was time
to honor his political commitment to the millions of mostly Hispanic
voters asking amnesty for undocumented immigrants at risk of
deportation. Not surprisingly, Obama's executive order to pardon 5
million future Democratic voters infuriated the Republicans, who
wanted to savor their mid-term victory by emasculating him.
Finally, as 2014 was coming to a close, Obama finished the year in
style with an astonishing declaration that the US was restoring
diplomatic relations with Cuba. Needless to say, this final salvo
exacerbated Republican frustrations even further.
Why all this should be relevant for Ankara? 2015 will be a critical
year for Turkish-American relations. It is no secret that the White
House is very frustrated with the Turkish reluctance to play ball
against ISIL.
The common refrain that I hear in Washington is that this is not the
way a NATO ally should behave in times when solidarity is of essence.
The current situation is a litmus test for arguments about Turkey's
much-taunted geo-strategic importance. After all, what good is
Ä°ncirlik Air Base if it is not used in times like today, against a
barbaric foe like ISIL?
One should also remember that Turkey counts on its strategic
importance each time Congress considers resolutions about the Armenian
genocide. In case Ankara continues to drag its feet regarding ISIL, an
unhinged Obama may decide to use his new-found executive voice with an
unexpected recognition of the Armenian genocide on the centennial of
the tragedy. If Ankara is complacent about the centennial on the
grounds that the Republicans are dominating Congress, it is time to
think twice. Obama may be running out of patience with Ankara.
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/omer-taspinar/obamas-strong-finish-in-2014_368488.html