Lecture 9 Flashcards
1
Q
What did Obama inherit from Bush?
A
A financial crisis, two ongoing wars, and a bad reputation
2
Q
2008 financial crisis
A
- biggest crisis since Great Depression
- stock market plummeted, unemployment peaked, housing prices fell, and the crisis was felt around the world
3
Q
Obama’s Approach
A
- avoiding war
- offshore balancing
- sanctions/negotiations
- proxies/militias
- strategic restraint
- pivot to asia
4
Q
Afghanistan War
A
- Obama ordered increased troops presence in 2009, there were many more by 2011
- US was unable to defeat the Taliban, and could not empower the Afghan government
5
Q
Rebuilding US soft power
A
- closing Guantanamo
- ending torture techniques
- reemphasis of multilateralism
- new beginning with Muslim world
- seeking peace in Israeli/Palestine conflict
6
Q
Foreign Policy under Obama
A
- assertive towards Russia
- China was rising
Nuclear deal with Iran - Arab Spring
7
Q
Obama’s failures
A
- misguided doctrine of ‘nation building at home”
- faithlessess towards traditional friends (Mubarak)
- global disorders spurred by American retreat
- weak stance towards Crimea
