OpinionCan Biden rein in America’s debilitating delusions of moral superiority?

Name: As Biden enters White House, world leaders express ‘relief’ and welcome ‘friend’ and ‘mate’ back
Uploaded: 2021-01-25T17:30:12.000Z
Duration: 4 min 33 s
Description: As Biden enters White House, world leaders express ‘relief’ and welcome ‘friend’ and ‘mate’ back

The relaunch of an exceptional American democratic spirit cannot proceed apace without more self-reflection. As well-meaning as Biden might be, the US must control the debilitating delusion that it is a nation of the highest virtue

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Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20. Photo: AP

Tom Plate

Published: 1:30am, 26 Jan 2021Updated: 11:33am, 18 Feb 2021

The first major American post-election-result return is being able to feel that the ground under your feet isn’t always shaking and your head isn’t always aching. Yes, US President Joe Biden is doing that for us, especially in this early wave of foreign-policy appointments. He is acting like a president.

Asians who know a lot about Antony Blinken, Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, admire him. It is the same with Kurt Campbell, who has been appointed Indo-Pacific coordinator on the National Security Council. (“Hope Biden will listen to his advice,” Southeast Asian diplomat Tommy Koh told me.)

The nominated No 2 official for the State Department is Wendy Sherman, who is keyed especially on Asia. Up for the No 3 job is Victoria Nuland. They are both simply out-and-out sharp.

Avril Haines, former deputy director of national intelligence, has already been Senate-approved with no-fuss bipartisan speed as director of national intelligence. The president’s principal intel adviser leads an agency that heads 17 various US intelligence agencies. Everyone I know of who knows Haines praises the choice.

Career diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield has been proposed for the position of US ambassador to the United Nations. She is a veteran of the US Foreign Service, which under the previous president got about the same measure of respect as the UN itself – none.

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As Biden enters White House, world leaders express ‘relief’ and welcome ‘friend’ and ‘mate’ back

America’s UN ambassador not only gets the spotlight at the Security Council but a seat as well in Washington in the president’s cabinet. Formal Senate confirmation is required, but this will not be a problem for Thomas-Greenfield.