Universitatea de Stat din Moldova
Facultatea Relatii Internationale si Stiinte Politice Administrative
Essay
Differences between Obama and Bush administration
Student: Valentin Triboi gr.303 RI
Candidates for President regularly campaign on the premise that the incumbent has done
everything wrong and on the promise that they will do things very differently if elected. Then,
once elected, many Presidents find themselves delivering a foreign policy that has more
continuity than change. Few Presidents have followed this pattern as dramatically as has
President Obama. The Obama 2008 campaign was built entirely around the theme of change and
especially around the repudiation of the foreign policy of his predecessor, George W. Bush. The
Obama Administration has kept the same campaign rhetoric throughout, but at the level of policy
and grand strategy, there has been a substantial degree of continuity. Of course, there have also
been areas of change, and some of those are significant. But the continuity is more striking and,
importantly, the continuity has mostly worked for Obama, certainly more so than have any
changes. Obamas foreign policy successes came primarily when he followed policies inherited
from the Bush Administration, while his failures came when he attempted to implement his own
initiatives.Many critics have stated that Americas foreign policy was not going to change
despite a change in the countrys leadership. However, the foreign policies adopted by different
presidents have differed in various respects. Certain variations can also be seen between the
foreign policies of the Obama and Bush administrations.
Both the Bush administration and the Obama administration have committed to a foreign policy
that ensures the safety of Americans. However, the Bush presidency was marked by tensions in
all spheres. In the first few months of his presidency, Obama has not faced any serious foreign
policy issues. He has vowed to commit himself and his administration to a foreign policy that
ensures the safety of Americans.
Bush was clear in declaring war on Iraq stating that the country was a threat to the world. His
foreign policy was to pump more troops into Iraq. But Obama has stated clearly that his mission
will be to end the war in Iraq and focus on the challenges faced by that country. He has said the
mission of US forces in Iraq will change drastically and that they will be engaged in training,
equipping and advising the Iraqi Security Forces to meet future challenges.
Regarding Americas attitude towards Muslims, Obama has been clear stating that America is
not an enemy of the Muslim world. Obamas gesture of extending a hand to Muslims unheard of
in Bushs foreign policy.
While the Bush administration had no clear policy for tackling the menace, Obama has already
announced a new strategy for dismantling the terrorist forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Obamas greatest successes in foreign policy have come in domains where he continued and
expanded on the policies inherited from his predecessor. Obama dropped the Global War on
Terror label, but proceeded on the same trail blazed by Bush when it came to the legal
reasoning underpinning it (including an expansive view of presidential power and detention
policies), to unilateral drone strikes wherever terrorists are found, or to the use of Special Forces
raids to target high-value individuals. The achievements the Obama Administration is rightly
most proud of the elimination of a solid number of high-level al-Qaeda officials, including of
course Bin Laden are a direct result of continuing the War on Terror along this aggressive
path.The same pattern of continuity yielding positive outcomes holds for other important policy
areas. On Afghanistan, Obamas adoption of a surge in the number troops to allow for a better
resourced counterinsurgency campaign against the Taliban was the same option recommended
by the Bush-era strategy reviews of 2008. In Asia-Pacific, the geopolitical balancing against
China by increasing US naval presence in the area and strengthening relations with regional
power such as India, also represents a continuation of Bushs regional strategy in that part of the
world.
Regarding nuclear power and its potential as a threat to the world, there are certain differences
between the Bush and Obama administrations. Obama is for reducing and eventually eliminating
all existing nuclear arsenals. He has also proposed negotiation with Russia on further nuclear
reductions and also the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Obama stands for
nuclear proliferation and for preventing terrorists from acquiring such weapons. Bush, on the
other hand, had withdrawn from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
A few days after assuming office, President Obama stated that his vision was to strengthen
existing relations and to build new relations to meet future challenges. Bushs foreign policy was
marked by diplomatic tension with many countries, such as Korea and China.
In conclusion, the Bush presidency was marked by tensions in all spheres. In the first few
months into his presidency, Obama has not faced any serious foreign policy issues.
Obamas mission in Iraq was to end the war and focus on the challenges faced by that country.
