Diplomatic Health

IF there’s one thing everyone knows, it’s this: America’s alliances are in tatters and the American image abroad is terrible. George W. Bush has eschewed diplomacy and sacrificed the good name of the United States. Our alliances, our image, and our name need to be “restored.”

When President-elect Obama chose Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, she vowed to “reach out to the world again.” Obama spoke of his “commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances.” Bill Clinton chimed in that his wife was “the right person for the job of helping to restore America’s image abroad.” And Democrats aren’t the only ones who talk this way. Some Republicans are in on this act too (e.g., John McCain, late of the presidential campaign).

About the Author

Jay Nordlinger

Jay Nordlinger was a senior editor of National Review and a book fellow at National Review Institute.

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IF there’s one thing everyone knows, it’s this: America’s alliances are in tatters and the American image abroad is terrible. George W. Bush has eschewed diplomacy and sacrificed the good name of the United States. Our alliances, our image, and our name need to be “restored.”

When President-elect Obama chose Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, she vowed to “reach out to the world again.” Obama spoke of his “commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances.” Bill Clinton chimed in that his wife was “the right person for the job of helping to restore America’s image abroad.” And Democrats aren’t the only ones who talk this way. Some Republicans are in on this act too (e.g., John McCain, late of the presidential campaign).