The Obama Doctrine

Remember when Charlie Gibson asked Vice President candidate Sarah Palin about the Bush Doctrine, well the Bush Doctrine which had outlined preventive war as foreign policy option for the United States is over. President Bush outlined this argument at the Commencement speech he delivered at West Point Military Academy on June 1, 2002, months prior to the Iraq war. A Frontline documentary titled "the evolution of the Bush Doctrine" best reviews the policy and its effects.

It's not insignificant that President Obama chose the same forum to outline bis approach to foreign policy for the United States one that relies more on diplomacy and one that takes into account the limits of American power in view of the financial crisis and the two wars. This new Obama Doctrine that was outlined at this year's West Point graduation has many elements of Andrew Bacevich's argument of the "Limits of Power".

Many have argued that this is just a continuation of the Bush Doctrine by different means while others find this just to be a naive version that leaves America vulnerable.