Obama to U.N.: Drop 'reflexive anti-Americanism'

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75901.html

Obama to U.N.: Drop 'reflexive anti-Americanism'

By Warren P. Strobel | McClatchy Newspapers


UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama called on the world's nations Wednesday to drop "reflexive anti-Americanism" and move beyond posturing to solve global problems ranging from nuclear proliferation to climate change.

Making his inaugural address to the United Nations General Assembly, Obama ticked off a list of his predecessor's policies that he's overturned: banning extreme interrogation techniques that many consider torture, pledging to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, withdrawing from Iraq, seeking deeper cuts in nuclear weapons.

"Make no mistake: 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.

Specifically, he said that Iran and North Korea "must be held accountable" if they continued nuclear programs outside international inspection. Israel, the Palestinians and Arab nations "must decide whether we are serious about peace or whether we will only lend it lip service." Both developed and developing nations must bear responsibility for combating climate change, he said.

snip//

Obama was greeted warmly in the General Assembly hall, where his predecessor, George W. Bush, often got a cool welcome.

Obama received his loudest applause when he criticized Israel's settlements in the West Bank. While the United States stands by Israel, "America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements," the president said.

in so many words.

We've earned the disdain other countries for our ignorant and hypocritical actions and policies.

:patriot: