Guest Editorial

BY REX MURPHY, NATIONAL POST |  APRIL 6, 2011

A Canadian point of view

Our neighbors to the north are getting the idea….

rex murphyThere's a great vacancy at the top of the world: A retreat by the American government from its global leadership role.

From the end of the First World War right up until about a year ago, there could be no gainsaying the predominant role of the United States in the world, the product of its economic and military power, and its active, however spotty, promotion of the core concepts of liberty and democracy. The tired metaphor of the United States as a beacon to the oppressed has been no less true for all its fatigue.

Similarly, the style, vigour and continuously innovative broad popular culture of the United States has proved to be a benign contagion to the young of the world, meaning that America also has had an enormous secondary or "soft" influence on the great events and broad currents of an always changing and dangerous globe.

But since the election of Barack Obama, there has been a subtle, un-articulated, but quite definite withdrawal from the United States' earned stature as a pre-eminent and shaping influence on the key events and forces of our time. This week, for example, is surely one of the most events-crowded since the terror attacks on the Twin Towers. Japan, a country which after its defeat in the Second World War became both a ward and creature of the United States, till its own full emergence as an economic and political player, is in a ferocious crossfire of crises. The country is economically the third major player on the world stage. Its success, or lack of it, in dealing with the series of threats thrust upon it by the earthquake and tsunami is of vital importance not only to itself, but also to the world's economy.

I know the United States is there institutionally. A U.S. aircraft carrier, the Ronald Reagan, was early on the scene. (It's worth noting how American aircraft carriers are the world's great first responders: A carrier was the first on the scene in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as well.) But despite a few words from the White House podium -"Our hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region, and we're going to stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy" Barack Obama is not really present in this great tumult of the story. His is not one of the voices reaching the tired, anxious and sorrowing Japanese people.

I cannot imagine a Ronald Reagan being so removed from the pain and distress of a long-time ally. Reagan would have sensed that his role as a president required a dedicated acknowledgement of Japan's plight, required the right words at the right time from America's leader. Nations speak the language of empathy to each other through their leadership.

Obama seems to feel that if he nods toward the crisis, gives one of his flat-toned, affectless mini-speeches on it, he's done his bit, and then it's off to the more glamorous perks of the job (NCAA picks). He doesn't seem to understand that the dynamic of large-scale world events require something more, actually and metaphorically, than a nod of "present" from an American president.

This week, Obama announced he's heading to, among other stops, Rio, where he will deliver a speech on Sunday. And despite some urging him otherwise, suggesting that a trip to Rio doesn't fit the urgency of the time – what with Japan, Libya and Bahrain all being aflame in different ways – he's stood firm. Brazil or bust.

Why not the obvious and serious foreign visit the times require? Why not a trip to Tokyo – a gesture of symbolic solidarity with an ally?

Evidently, Rio needs him more.

It is ironic that this high celebrity of a president seems more comfortable with acting the celebrity role than being the president.

There's a vacancy at the top of the world. And his name is Obama.

Rex Murphy offers commentary weekly on CBC TV's The National, and is host of CBC Radio's Cross Country Checkup.