A Trip Abroad

On Saturday, June 28, Barack Obama's campaign announced that its candidate plans later this summer a trip to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain. The trip to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain will take place separately from a trip planned by the candidate to Iraq and Afghanistan. Of the visit to Europe and the Middle East, the Illinois Senator declared "This trip will be an important opportunity for me to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security and to consult with some of our closest friends and allies about the common challenges we face.”

This is a smart move by Obama because:

1- It allows the candidate to appear presidential, an improvement in stature for one whose foreign policy credentials have been questioned.

2- It will blunt the charge of inexperience leveled by Senator McCain, who on 5/28/08 charged of his rival "It’s been 871 days since he was there. And I’m confident that when he goes he will then change his position on the conflict in Iraq because he will see the success that has been achieved on the ground.”

3- It will give Obama more credibility to attack the Bush/McCain policy in Iraq, enabling him in debates and other appearances to fall back on "my experience in Iraq...." or "what I've learned...."

4- If played right, it gives the presumptive Democratic nominee an opportunity to emphasize the drop in standing of the U.S.A. abroad during the eight years of Republican reign and his own capacity to lift the prestige of the nation. (He must, however, avoid imparting the sense that foreign nations are trying to affect our election, a perception particularly dangerous for an individual who may be tagged by the opposition as somehow foreign or insufficiently American.)

And of course, it wouldn't hurt for a prospective President to be well-versed in some of the international issues which would confront him as Commander-in-Chief.