Reporting from The United Nations – In a sweeping call for international cooperation, President Obama this morning challenged world leaders to set aside “an almost reflexive anti-Americanism” and work together with him and other nations on common goals such as nuclear disarmament, climate change and Middle East peace.
An anti-American sentiment has served as an “excuse for our collective inaction,” Obama told members of the United Nations General Assembly, at a time when collaboration is more important than at any time in history.
“Like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests,” Obama said. “But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 — more than at any point in human history — the interests of nations and peoples are shared.”
A message of mutual interest and mutual respect formed the heart of Obama’s address, his first to the international body.
But the president did take to task the leaders of Iran and North Korea for ignoring international standards on nuclear weapons.
In fact, nuclear disarmament should be a primary goal of the world community, Obama argued, putting it on a par with global peace and security, a healthy planet and an improved economy as a goal.
A day after convening a meeting among Palestinian and Israeli leaders, Obama reiterated his view that “America doe… >>>
