Alas, the health care debate in the US is covered here, but not in an alarmist way, since Singaporeans are neither without coverage (it is universal) nor on the hook for future liabilities. There have been a few op-eds by Singaporeans patting themselves on the back for having such a good system (even The Wall Street Journal editorial pages has sung its praises). Evidence, perhaps, that this Lion City is better governed than the US. But all that has taken a back seat this weekend.

Asians are a commercial people and when they look at the US, they see what is still the world’s largest consumer economy. Therefore, maintaining stability in the relationship – and ensuring that trade continues to flow – is the foremost priority. On that front, Obama has given all the right messages on supporting free trade (traditionally, Republicans are preferred by Asians since they are seen as more mercantile-focused than those pesky Democrats with their focus on issues like human rights). Additionally, the POTUS seems to have walked the fine line of appeasing Japan without offending China, which is, after all, the best way of ensuring that regional tensions do not interfere with trade.

Furthermore, the current kerfuffle over Afghanistan is no issue here. The news is reported but the problem is seen as remote. If anything, people think the US is wasting its resources, leading to the potential premature demise of its empire. While people want the US to remain a customer, the depletion of its power is not lamented in most of Asia, Singapore being an exception because it so values US dominance of the seas as the best way to ensure continued flow of trade through the world’s busiest port.

As for the big news of postponing climate change action, I cannot think of a better place for Obama to have announced that action, since the reason for the postponement is largely on his back for not getting any legislation in place this year. Asian governments are generally not too keen on any sort of binding treaty, as they prefer to grow their economies unfettered. Had the announcement been made in Europe, I imagine the protests would have been fierce. Likewise, in Africa, which is trying to hold Western governments for a ransom over climate change, reaction would not have been positive. I think it was fortuitous that this announcement came from Asia, where the story will have the least impact.

So, all in all, a perfect time for Obama to escape all the criticism in Washington for adulation in Asia. I bet he will miss his honeymoon when he has to get back to the business of government and the hard issues of health care and Afghanistan.

We’ve heard over and over again how the advent of the Obama Presidency would go a long way toward cleaning up our image around the world.  It was a big selling point during his campaign.

Since his inauguration, Obama has undertaken steps to address those areas in which the Left had found the United States to be lacking image-wise under Bush.  We’ve prohibited torture, introduced habeas corpus for terrorist suspects and begun the process of unraveling the Gitmo detention policy. 

These are all initiatives that are far more popular outside the United States than inside, by the way.  But since world opinion is more important than the opinion of the American people, we do them anyway.   

Unfortunately, Obama seems to believe World Opinion is a monolith comprised of Middle Eastern autocrats and their toadies in Western Europe.  After all, every move to improve the U.S. standing in the world has been designed to placate the very kind of ruler who cares nothing for his own image.  To think that Assad or Mubarak are truly offended by torture is more fuzzy-headed than anything the neo-cons have been accused of.     

Most recently, Obama has been reticent to lend much rhetorical support to the Iranian protesters. He states that he doesn’t want to meddle in Iranian affairs, evoking the 1953 CIA-supported coup of an elected Iranian leader.

In doing so, however, Obama shows great disdain for the rest of world opinion, which seems to be mostly on the side of the protestors.

If Obama is so concerned with world opinion, why is he only worried about the opinion of one part of the world? Furthermore, it’s a part of the world where ‘opinion’ is hard to come by. Indeed, too much of a certain kind of ‘opinion’ can result in getting your head cracked.

When Obama talks about American image, it’s really a code word for “what the Arab and Muslim world thinks of us.” Sort of like how Democrats use the term ‘working people’ to describe blue-collar types, as if a doctor, lawyer or small business owner doesn’t really work.

So when it comes to image, Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, Africa…they don’t really matter. In fact, starting trade wars with these regions, or snubbing their leaders is completely cool.  All that matters is that the Middle East power structure and various Western politicians are on board with us.

You could probably narrow this ‘world opinion’ down to less than 100 people.  It certainly has nothing to do with the ‘Arab Street’, which is a useless term used in lieu of actual polling data. 

In the end, Obama is out to please mainly Mullahs, dictators, thugs and their apologists in Western Europe. 

The rest of the world can just go to hell, I guess.