President Obama’s foreign policy in the Middle East covers the interests of the US in Iran, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Libya. The Obama’s foreign policy in this block includes strategies for ending the Iraqi war, militarization of local groups fighting terrorism, the provision of aid to Gaza and Syria, rebuilding and constructing strong alliances with Israel, Libya, and Iran as a strategy for securing the interest of the US in the Middle East, and direct engagement of the citizens of this region in the democratization and demilitarization of different militia groups.
For instance, the Obama administration has pledged more than $900 million aimed at reconstructing Gaza, increased sale of legal military hardware to Saudi Arabia, where the US earned $60.5 billion in the year 2010, coerced the Iran government to support democracy and human rights through economic sanctions, and probable return of the US forces in Iraq to counter the rise in extremist Islamic militias such as the ISIL (Gerges 54).
The Obama administration’s approach in foreign policy in the Middle East is a mixture of trade alliances, promotion of democracy, thwarting of terrorism and extremist groups, and reconstruction of regions that have been desolated by prolonged conflicts.
Impact of the Congress
From the beginning of Obama’s term as the president, there has been mixed and sometimes heated disagreements in Congress with regards to his foreign policies. Interestingly, the Obama administration’s foreign policy in the Middle East has received opposition by the
Congress members from the Democratic and Republican parties alike. The opposition has hurt some of the policies such as ending the war in Syria, which was opposed by the Congress based on lack of prioritization, limited public interest, and minimal returns to the US economy.
Presidency in the US and the UAE
Similarities
In the US and the UAE, the president is both the head of government and the head of state. Besides, the two countries share similarity is the role of the president as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The constitutions of the US and the UAE have vested formal executive powers to the president who has the duty of appointing different state officers in the diplomatic, judicial, and executive arms.
Besides, the authority of executing international treaties, pardons, and adjoining the government of the day rests with the president in both countries. Also, the presidency in the US and the UAE is mandated with the role of signing bills into laws after endorsement by the legislative arms of the two governments.
Differences
The presidency in the US is an elective post that the holder can only occupy after the indirect election by the Electoral College. Since the presidency is elected in the US, there is a time limit of 4 years for each term and maximum of two consecutive terms for a single person. In contrast, the presidency in the UAE can be described as de-facto hereditary; that is, the president acts as the customary ruler at the same time through a leadership lineage.
Therefore, there is no time limit for a single individual who occupies the office. The presidency in the UAE is more of a ceremonial position, unlike the system in the US where the president exercises direct control in governance. Also, the presidency in the US is a competitive post while it is a reserve of a family in the UAE.
Works Cited
Gerges, Fawaz. Obama and the Middle East: The End of America’s Moment? New York, St. Martin’s Press, 2013. Print.