Obama’s national security choices aren’t suitable for the anti-war left.According to a speech that the new President made six years ago, his approach to foreign policy is similar to the policy of George H.W. Bush. The speech revealed an idealist attitude of Obama much more than a realist one.
“Obama’s Bush Doctrine” , a Washington Post article by E.J. Dionne Jr., analyses the reasons behind Obama’s “apparent” decision regardind his choice about keeping Robert Gates on as defense secretary and selecting Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, persons that are “relying heavily on foreign policy specialists” that are closely associated with Clinton, who is considered to be “strong ties to the military”, while Hillary has a “carefully cultivated image of tough-mindedness.”
‘In electing Barack Obama, the country traded the foreign policy of the second President Bush for the foreign policy of the first President Bush. ‘
Another argumment can be considered the Obama’s conversation with Bush senior’s “closest foreign policy adviser, Brent Scowcroft”.
‘Obama has drawn counsel from many in Scowcroft’s circle, and Gates himself was deputy national security adviser under Scowcroft. ‘
‘Antiwar Democrats cheered Obama for addressing a rally against the Iraq war in Chicago’s Federal Plaza on Oct. 2, 2002. His opposition to the war was a major asset in his nomination struggle with Clinton. .’ .
‘Obama did indeed denounce the impending war as "dumb," "rash" and "based not on reason but on passion." But in retrospect, the speech may be most notable for other things Obama said that separated him from some in his antiwar audience. ‘