Obama's Nobel Prize Speech, Oslo, December 10, 2009: More Quintessentially American?

Robert Kagan reacts to President Obama's speech in Oslo today:"

Wow. What a shift of emphasis. Something about this Afghan decision, coupled perhaps with events in Iran, has really affected his approach.

I don't know what to say about an "Obama doctrine," because based on this speech, I think we are witnessing a substantial shift, back in the direction of a more muscular moralism, a la, Truman, Reagan. The emphasis on military power, war for just causes, and moral principles recalls Theoedore Roosevelt's phrase, "the just man armed." There is something much more quintessentially American and traditional about this speech, compared to most of his rhetorical approach throughout the year.

It's always dangerous to draw too many conclusions from a speech, but this is a big one.

I love him, but Kagan's generous. Obambi's reading the electoral tea leaves. His hopey-changey mandate's wearing thin, and the prospect of a single term is forcing him to adapt to the American culture, rather than trying to force Americans to adopt his (post-American culture).

But see the New York Times, "Accepting Peace Prize, Obama Evokes ‘Just War’." And Memeorandum.