A New Course in the World, a New Approach at the UN
by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Reviewed by William P. Kiehl, Ed. D., Editor
Text: www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/ 20090812_163.html
Video: http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/

In her remarks at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and the Center on International Cooperation, August 12th, Ambassador Rice anticipated the opening of 64th General Assembly and outlined how the Obama Administration will approach the world body.  According to Ambassador Rice, “a fundamental imperative of U.S. national security” is to create a “community of states committed to solving collective problems and capable of meeting the responsibilities of effective sovereignty.”

Ambassador Rice listed ways the Obama Administration will demonstrate its “guiding principles” to value the U.N. as a vehicle for advancing U.S. policies and universal rights, to work for change from within, …stand strong in defense of America’s interests and values…[but] build coalitions, …meet our responsibilities,… pay our bills …[and] push for real reform.”

Noting that other members of President Obama’s national security team have outlined how their organizations are implementing the President’s national security strategy, Ambassador Rice used this address to offer her thoughts on how the Administration is “rather dramatically changing our approach to the United Nations.”

Those who are looking for specifics in Ambassador Rice’s remarks may come away disappointed.   The six ways she describes that the U.S. Mission to the U.N. is “putting these principles into practice every day” seem not so different from diplomatic business as usual as practiced by the U.S. in multilateral forums over the past half century.  And such statements as: “So we invest in relationships, because in diplomacy, as in life, it can make the difference,” are not exactly new breakthroughs in diplomatic thinking.

Nevertheless, Ambassador Rice’s remarks are worth reading (or viewing) for a succinct presentation of the Administration’s worldview and a window on President Obama’s priorities as presented to and aimed principally at an American domestic audience.