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Obama's National Security Policy Boosted by Bin Laden's Death

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The killing of Osama bin Laden has mitigated the criticism that U.S. President Barack Obama's national security policy is too soft, allowing him to project strength ahead of his re-election campaign. Obama's pragmatic approach to foreign affairs, which includes sending more troops to Afghanistan and authorizing drone strikes in Pakistan, has been criticized by some Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, analysts argue that his leadership has paid off, and the operation to kill bin Laden showcases his decisiveness.

Key Takeaways:

  • The killing of Osama bin Laden has shielded Obama from criticism that his national security policy is too soft, a criticism that has been leveraged by Republicans against Democrats for decades.
  • Obama's approach to national security has been pragmatic, including sending more troops to Afghanistan, backing increased drone strikes in Pakistan, and authorizing bombing of Libya.
  • Analysts argue that Obama's leadership, particularly in the operation to kill bin Laden, demonstrates his decisiveness and commitment to national security.
  • Obama's national security policy plays well with independent voters, who will be essential in his re-election campaign.
  • Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state, has pushed Obama in a more pragmatic direction on national security policy, a position that contrasts with her criticism of his inexperience during her 2008 presidential campaign.
  • Obama's failure to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and support for domestic surveillance policies under the Bush administration's Patriot Act have disappointed some supporters on the left.
  • The operation to kill bin Laden has been portrayed as a significant achievement, one that will aid Obama in his re-election campaign by showcasing his decisiveness and commitment to national security.

Statistics:

  • Obama has sent 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan (Source: The New York Times, 2009)
  • The number of drone strikes in Pakistan increased from 30 in 2008 under Bush to over 40 in 2010, and more than doubled in 2011 (Source: The New York Times, 2012)
  • The US authorized over 100 bombing raids in Libya since March 2011 (Source: The Telegraph, 2011)

Sources:

  • The Daily Star, 2011
  • The New York Times, 2009
  • The New York Times, 2012
  • The Telegraph, 2011
  • Brookings Institution, n.a.
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies, n.a.

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