Some say the president's pragmatism in foreign policy is a powerful ideological weapon. Others insist that he still must prove himself with tough choices on Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and the future. Has this administration improved security?
Edited by Steve St. Angelo
Yes
By Sen. Evan Bayh
Indiana Democrat, Select Committee on Intelligence and Armed Services Committee member
For the first time in almost a decade, we have an American president who approaches the security threats facing our country from a standpoint of pragmatism, not ideology. Barack Obama's young presidency has blended realism with fidelity to American ideals in a way that has not only kept us safe but represents a fundamentally better approach than the discredited unilateralism of the recent past....
No
By Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon
California Republican, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee
The paramount duty of the president is to keep Americans safe. As President Obama continues his first year in office, surely he understands this awesome responsibility. The question facing Obama—one that will be highlighted in the coming weeks—is whether he will make the right policy choices across an array of thorny national security issues. These choices are always tough and inevitably come with trade-offs....
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Robert L. Matarainen of NY 2:33PM January 30, 2010
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