Obama: U.S. Can't Fix the World Alone

President to Tell U.N. General Assembly that Others Must Now Pull Their Own Weight, Not Just Wait for America

(CBS/AP)  Seizing a chance to challenge the world, President Obama says the global community is failing its people and fixing that is not "solely America's endeavor."

"Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone," Obama said in a passage of the speech he was delivering Wednesday to the United Nations General Assembly.

The White House released excerpts in advance that carried a remarkably blunt tone.

It comes in Obama's first speech to this world body, a forum like none other for a leader hoping to wash away any lasting images of U.S. unilateralism under President George W. Bush.

In essence, Obama's message is that he expects plenty in return for reaching out.

"We have sought in word and deed a new era of engagement with the world," Obama said, echoing the cooperative theme he promised as a candidate and has since used as a pillar of his foreign policy. "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility."

CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports that the president will lay out as his top priorities curbing the spread of nuclear weapons, slowing the effects of climate change and stabalizing the global economy.

Obama said if the world is honest with itself, it has fallen woefully short.

"Extremists sowing terror in pockets of the world," Obama said. "Protracted conflicts that grind on and on. Genocide and mass atrocities. More and more nations with nuclear weapons. Melting ice caps and ravaged populations. Persistent poverty and pandemic disease."

The president added, "I say this not to sow fear, but to state a fact: the magnitude of our challenges has yet to be met by the measure of our action."

"This is an opportunity not only to engage and to recommit to the U.N., which he will no doubt do, but to challenge the U.N." to deal with the real problems facing the world, said CBS News analyst Juan Zarate.

Obama's speech is the centerpiece of a dizzying agenda that will also see him holding pivotal meetings with the new Japanese prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Immersed, Obama foreshadowed his message to world leaders in a speech Tuesday to the Clinton Global Initiative. He spoke of nations interconnected by problems, whether a flu strain or an economic collapse or a drug trade that crosses borders.

"Just as no nation can wall itself off from the world, no one nation - no matter how large, no matter how powerful - can meet these challenges alone," Obama said.

While that point is hardly new, it is sharper because of the political context. Obama follows Bush, who at times questioned the U.N.'s toughness and credibility, particularly in containing Iraq's Saddam Hussein. The U.S.-U.N. relationship wilted.

Obama's team is intent on drawing the contrast.

"The United States has dramatically changed the tone, the substance and the practice of our diplomacy at the United Nations," said Susan Rice, Obama's ambassador to the U.N.

But multilateralism has its limits, particularly as national interests collide.

Obama needs the sway of Russia and China in getting tougher U.N. action against Iran over its potential nuclear weapons program, and neither country is showing interest.

Will Obama and Iran Leader Cross Paths?

While other world leaders could push for Mideast peace, it was Obama who personally intervened in pulling together the Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Tuesday. He showed some impatience as both sides have been stalled over familiar issues.

The good-will feeling of Obama's fresh government is apparent at the United Nations.

But eight months into his presidency, the problems he inherited are now his own, upping expectations for results. His White House is being pressed to right the war in Afghanistan. And his efforts toward diplomacy with adversaries, chiefly Iran and North Korea, are not meant to be open-ended.

Obama's day starts with his meeting with Hatoyama, who has said he wants to shift Japan's diplomatic stance from one that is less centered on Washington's lead.

Later, Obama was meeting with Medvedev. That session comes just days following Obama's decision to abruptly scrap a Bush-era missile defense plan in Eastern Europe that Russia deeply opposed, swapping it for a proposal the U.S. says better targets any launch by Iran.

Watch: New Approach on Missile Defense

Russian leaders rejoiced over Obama's move, but he dismissed any role Russia may have played and called it just a bonus if the country is now less "paranoid" about the U.S.

[tomindie]

We have respect for progress US has made over decades in science, technology, medicine and bringing development to everyone. But as a non US resident honestly feel Is U.S. really fixing the world or messing it up further for selfish motives; why US should dictate who can have Nukes n who should not; other US no one has killed millions of innocents with Nukes. US is only nation in modern history who has killed Millions of innocents all over world be it Vietnam, Japan, Afghanistan, Iraq, East Europe or Africa. Just because US wants to sell its arms world over they are making world more and more unstable.

What world really needs is a all inclusive policy no dictatorship from so called superpower; this will make world a happy and peaceful place than unnecessary conflicts and wars.

[sam-kiley]

(CBS/AP) Seizing a chance to challenge the world, President Obama says the global community is failing its people and fixing that is not "solely America's endeavor."

tout a fait d'accord, les states ou le president OBAMA, n'ont pas de baguette magique, certes ils jouent un role essentiel dans le monde, cela dit les nations doivent se réveiller compter sur elles meme et si besoin est demander l'aide ux states, travailler ensemble est le meilleur conseil..au revoir

[hower4]

Very funny. Americans now ignore anything said by the French (even though they were proved right about Iraq)..... and 99.9% won't understand it anyway.

[barbaram99]

I had to say yer right. I was taught it when I was a girl. There was a day when America may have been the greatest Nation in the world. Not now. What nation is the greatest. I really don't know. i never believed it. America is the rudest. There I said it. I am 54.

[hower4]

by barbaram99 September 23, 2009 7:29 PM EDT
I had to say yer right. I was taught it when I was a girl. There was a day when America may have been the greatest Nation in the world. Not now. What nation is the greatest. I really don't know. i never believed it. America is the rudest. There I said it. I am 54.
------------------------------
The thing that I find most disturbing about your post is that you obviously found it so difficult to think that America is not the greatest country. People in the rest of the world have no problem whatsoever with the concept that other countries might be better than theirs. The difference is simply American arrogance.

You now need to come to terms with the fact that America never was the greatest country in the world. Do you want to admit that? If not, tell me when you think it was and I'll tell you exactly why it wasn't.

[stuart-johns]

First of all, we donot need the government controlling our healthcare. You and others talk abot Dictatorship in other countries, well this controlling our health care falls under that category.
===============

Oh mossback. So now Obama is a dictator? Now there's a perfect example of ignorance. Obama is nothing CLOSE to a dictator. You don't want government controlled healthcare, fine. But private insurance. What's the problem??

Go back to Faux News where you and all the little republican extremists trolls came from.

[erasmus111]

by alanrobisch September 23, 2009 11:36 AM EDT
Erasmus Interesting If I listened to you I would believe all canadians walk on water and americans are all idiots.


No, not ALL Americans are idiots, but you are.

And Canada does have some problems, but when we look at your country, they all just seem to fade away. Our problems are NOTHING compared to yours. The reason the U.S. has so many problems is because of dimwits like you.

[RobertSugg]

The U.S. can lead the world in a Space Solar Power (SSP) program to address policies in the areas of space, energy, security, commerce, environment, and education.

Invented by Peter Glaser of A.D. Little Corp. more than 40 years ago, SSP is favorably reviewed by NASA, DOE, and DOD. SSP doesn't add to greenhouse gas emissions. It doesn't present nuclear waste materials.

Space Studies Institute found in the mid-1980s that 99% of the mass of a sunsat can come from the moon with a 97% cost savings vs. using materials launched from earth. A sunsat can deliver 5 gigawatts to the grid, equivalent to the output of 10 fission plants. SSP is the manufacturing reason to return to the moon. Not only are there large civil energy benefits, but DOD finds security benefits in SSP. A sunsat can point power to forward bases and disaster zones quickly and securely. SSP can mitigate future energy wars due to dwindling resources. SSP can scale to replace fossil fuels as they ramp down over the course of this century. SSP solves the energy requirement for cities, industries, and electric transportation. It solves the climate problem. It puts interested businesses and partner nations to work for a very long time.

[SmartPeopleRule]

If Obama is so bad why are stocks so up? The Dow will hit at least 10,000 by year end, and when jobs start coming back in 2010, will likely hit 12-13k.

[olyboy]

Obama wants everyone to support "his administration" and constantly bad-mouths Bush. He doesn't realize that this is the United States and we support it, not a given administration. His continued negative comments about Bush are negative comments about us, we elected Bush... and Obama. If he doesn't like the USA then he shouldn't be the president.

[erasmus111]

"Seizing a chance to challenge the world, President Obama says the global community is failing its people and fixing that is not 'solely America's endeavor.'"



Ummmm, I like Obama, but now I'm PISSED.

Canada is not failing it's people. Canada takes good care of it's people. WE have health care. WE didn't sink too low with the recession because WE were in good shape before it hit. WE have the best banks in the world, and WE are now out of the recession. WE must be doing something right, huh?

The reason that we were in a recession was because of the U.S. but it was not because of the U.S. that we didn't sink too low, and it wasn't because of the U.S. that we are now out of the recession.

I think Obama is doing a good job for the U.S., but we here in Canada do not need his help. Maybe he could use OUR help? : )

[erasmus111]

AND about global warming, we have been doing stuff all along, while the U.S. was still in denial. Of course the reason that they were in denial was because of BUSH. I just don't like Obama saying that now that they have decided to do something the rest of the world needs to follow. We have been doing it for awhile. The U.S. needs to catch up.

[nubiangent09]

Anything he says is never right with conservatives. Obama can say American kids need the best educational system to compete. The republicans would say he's trying to indoctrinate our kids, he's trying to manipulate them, and control their minds. Anyone who thinks that conservatives want Obama to succeed is a Liar.

[barbaram99]

I was 6 when JFK said those words and today is the first I ever read them words. They are only words that are meaningless. America can not do every ehing that talk saids. Just can't. We should not.
I have felp hatred from a Native Ameican and she told me to go home..I told her I was born here. My friend told me what she meant. I have heard of the trail of tears. This nation belongs to them.. Whitey by force took this nation from them. Yep. I 'member that lady's words. I could not asnwer her as I was never told what nation my family came from.Those in the know are dead and it was not passed down. I think Iraland or England.
I don't believe we can do everything alone and we should not. I am aware Ameica is hated both here and overseas. We have a black President..He need to undo bush's krap frist,bring the troops home. The founding fathers were british citizens. They started the Ameican Rev War and stold this nation from the Natives Americans. That is right. By force. Whites were America's first slaves cos they were prisoners from England doing time for their crimes. They knew this nation belonged to the Native American people. Should the Native Americans have their Naion back and send us back home where we came from. YEP. It won't happen as the USA govt will stop it . Just as they stooped Wounded Knee 1973.

[erasmus111]

"They knew this nation belonged to the Native American people. Should the Native Americans have their Naion back and send us back home where we came from. YEP."


I agree! : )

[mossback1954]

Great Post. Yes, the Native Americans were here before anyone else and they were treated worse than the slaves. They had their land taken (that which they didnt sell for trinkets), were rounded up and herded like animals to lands which no one would dare live in/on. Were treated as slaves and slaughtered. Yet it is those who ancestors came from Africa feel that the people of the US "owe" them. It makes me wonder where the Native Americans are in Congress..

But the whites were 'not' all slaves. Some came as dentured servants who were to work off their passage, yet it never seemed enough. Most were from countires which were presecuting them because of their religious beliefs. Nor were all the blacks who came only slaves. Many in Florida and Lousiana came here as paid passengers, but because of their skin color and the Civil War, all freedom was taken from them.

But all in all, it goes to show that if WE are to help other countries, to be respected, we have to first get over the racism and hatred in our country.

[G-I_Jesus]

U.S. Terror List

If the United States wants to do its part in fighting terrorism in the world, here is a list of people (fictitious and real) that should be added on the American terrorist list (if they are not already):


Rush Limbo: Because he says Sarah Palin would have made a good Vice-President (Sick!).

Jimmy Carter: Because he will not hire African-Americans at his peanut farm because it would be racist.

Lex Luthor: Because he is no match for Superman (Unless he plays dirty and uses kryptonite).

Dick Cheney: Because he often shoots his mouth off.

Peewee Herman: Because this guy should not touch our children's minds.

Tom Cruise & John Travolta: Because they promote and live off Ron Hubbard's mediocre fantasies.

Madonna: For selling hard candy to young girls.

[dontknowitall]

GI JESUS as in gastrointestinal? Or diarrhea of the mouth.

[inketolstoy]

Dick Cheney: Because he often shoots his mouth off.

And his friends in the chest.

[lovetheair]

President Obama - because he has lied to the American people.

Charlie Rangle- because he is a tax cheat, yet makes our tax laws.

John Edwards - for being a scoundral to his wife.

Naomi Campbell, Danny Glover and Sean Penn - for bein Chavez buddies.

[vuenbelvue]

Hopefully the President will tell the State Department to stand down on its mission to distribute pallets of US Dollars to the Iraqi's, Afghans and Pakys. I agree with what he says, this country cannot afford to grind on with wars against extremists alone. Where is China, Japan, Phillipines, India, Russia, Indonesia and others? Part of the absence lies in the Pentagon thinking that they don't want these countries involved but maybe they should be. As a US taxpayer I think the funding should come from every country if not with troops. Say No also to Homeland Security's idea of taking more freedoms away from Americans. Decrease muslim immigration to 0 to show them we are tired of being controlled. No one can deny this is their doing.

[mossback1954]

I have to agree with you. We have been supplying those countries with funding/aid in the form of $$$$ and all they are doing is tunneling money into arms that are being used against us.

[dragon8me]

Global distribution of military expenditure in 2008

U.S. 41.5%

China 5.8%

France 4.5%

U.K. 4.5%

Russia 4.0%

Nest 10 countries combined 21.1%

Rest of world 18.6%

Total U.S. military budget for fy 2009 - $515.4 Billion.

[nubiangent09]

Great post.

[hower4]

No it's not a great post because it doesn't make any point at all. My point would be that America could reduce its military spending by at least 75% and spend it on domestic healthcare instead. The result - more people would longer and healthier lives in America....... and so would people in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Do you know that if instead of invading Iraq and Afghanistan and killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people, with less money America could virtually eliminate malaria from the whole of Africa? This would save millions of lives.

WHY DO AMERICANS PREFER TO TAKE LIFE INSTEAD OF SAVE LIFE? The American movie and TV industry tells us exactly what Americans enjoy ................

[mossback1954]

by hower4 September 23, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
No it's not a great post because it doesn't make any point at all. My point would be that America could reduce its military spending by at least 75% and spend it on domestic healthcare instead. The result - more people would longer and healthier lives in America....... and so would people in Iraq and Afghanistan!

First of all, we donot need the government controlling our healthcare. You and others talk abot Dictatorship in other countries, well this controlling our health care falls under that category.

Secondly, those innocents as you call them in Iraqi and Afghanistan are the same ones who are going and killing their own people. Suicide Bombers going into marketplaces, businesses and blowing up themselves and innocents. WHY?

Lastly, we went over there for one thing. To find those responsible for the Twin Towers and the Pentagon attacks and bring them to justice. We seem to have lost our focus and it is about time we get back on track and leave those who are warring between themselves in those other countries alone. That has been their way of life for centuries.

[hower4]

by mossback1954 September 23, 2009 1:58 PM EDT
Lastly, we went over there for one thing. To find those responsible for the Twin Towers and the Pentagon attacks and bring them to justice. We seem to have lost our focus and it is about time we get back on track and leave those who are warring between themselves in those other countries alone. That has been their way of life for centuries.
--------------------------
Wow!!!! What we've got here is an idiot Yank who still thinks Iraq was responsible for 9/11!

So, you would rather spend money on killing people than helping people. Fine, you're far from alone in America with that opinion.

[dragon8me]

"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes ? known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.? No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare." - James Madison, Political Observations, 1795

[dragon8me]

Funny how people who claim to follow the "The Prince Of Peace" like to chant "Kill them all and let God sort them out".

[inketolstoy]

by dragon8me September 23, 2009 8:43 AM EDT
Funny how people who claim to follow the "The Prince Of Peace" like to chant "Kill them all and let God sort them out".

Funny how people who aren't christian are so often pointing out the unchristian natures of those who fail in their christianity. Doesn't that just make them like you?

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money]

by willow013 September 23, 2009 8:13 AM EDT
If he can't fix the world alone, what makes him think he can fix the U.S. alone? His arrogance is astounding....hower4 called it "typical American arrogance", but I disagree...Most Americans are not arrogent, only the administration running this country....I see Obama as a one term president...His lies and arrogance will catch up to him...
===========================================================

If he can't fix the world alone... I see Obama as a one term president...His lies and arrogance

Did you just contradict yourself? Funny that you dismiss the arrogance of 'By God, we WILL fix the world alone.'


Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone," That is a rather naive statement. Of course we can't fix the world alone. Nobody country has any intent or interest to solve the world's problems -- at least altruistically.

[dragon8me]

Excert from Eisenhower's Military-Industrial Complex Speech;

...Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist...

V.

Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future, we -- you and I, and our government -- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.

VI.


Down the long lane of the history yet to be written America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.

Such a confederation must be one of equals. The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength. That table, though scarred by many past frustrations, cannot be abandoned for the certain agony of the battlefield.

Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent I confess that I lay down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment. As one who has witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war -- as one who knows that another war could utterly destroy this civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built over thousands of years -- I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight.

Happily, I can say that war has been avoided. Steady progress toward our ultimate goal has been made. But, so much remains to be done. As a private citizen, I shall never cease to do what little I can to help the world advance along that road.

[zamorin44]

Obama should find a way for America to fix itself and be an example to other countries.

[mossback1954]

I agree. In order to get respect, you need to show respect.

[ajayvee]

I have just accepted 3 to 1 that Israel will order Obama to leave the room when Ahmadinejad speaks, and 5 to 2 that he will obey. Just a little flutter.

[willow013]

I'll be interested to see who leaves the room when Gadhafi shows up.