Obama: West Still Leads the World

[DelhiDareDevil]

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President Obama has told British politicians that, despite the rise of new global powers, the time for US and European leadership "is now".

He said the influence of the US, UK and allies would remain "indispensable," in a speech in Parliament on the second day of his UK state visit.

But he said that leadership would need to "change with the times" to reflect economic and security challenges.

He is the first US president to address MPs and peers in Westminster Hall.

Rows of the UK's most senior politicians and other prominent figures lined the historic building to hear the US president talk about the history of the UK's relationship with the United States and its shared values - and outline some of the future challenges facing the world.

Former British prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown sat next to each other in the packed hall - the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament - which fell silent as the US president began his 35-minute speech.

As he began, Mr Obama joked that with an "especially active press corps", the relationship between the UK and US was forever being "over analysed".

But he added: "There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom."

'New chapter'

He said the two countries had "arrived at a pivotal moment once more" following global recession and years of conflict.


With the winding down of operations in Iraq, progress in Afghanistan and having dealt "al-Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader Osama Bin Laden", President Obama said it was time to enter a "new chapter in our shared history" with new challenges.

But he rejected arguments that the rise of superpowers like China and India meant the end for American and European influence in the world.

"Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future, and the time for our leadership has passed. That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now," he said.

"It was the United States, the United Kingdom, and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which new nations could emerge and individuals could thrive.

"And even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership, our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just."

But he added that leadership had to "change with the times" and the days were gone when an American president and UK prime minister could "sit in a room and solve the world's problems over a glass of brandy".

BBC News - President Obama: Now is time for US and West to lead

I think Obama is wrong to say West still leads the world, as China and Japan and India are top 10 economies in the world.

[illuzioN]

Thanks UK, for all the help and support you have shown us...

Enjoyed our Joint Military Exercises with Japan earlier this year

[Stealth IFV]

Long live peaceful UK-US relations!

[saleen_s7]

One of those times we realise what we could have been with a bit of unity. It is not of US's interest to strengthen relationship between China and India. If China and India could see pass the differences and joined hands along with Pakistan, maybe there would be hope. Or am I being too optimistic?

[Obambam]

President Obama has told British politicians that, despite the rise of new global powers, the time for US and European leadership "is now".

He said the influence of the US, UK and allies would remain "indispensable," in a speech in Parliament on the second day of his UK state visit.

But he said that leadership would need to "change with the times" to reflect economic and security challenges.

He is the first US president to address MPs and peers in Westminster Hall.

Rows of the UK's most senior politicians and other prominent figures lined the historic building to hear the US president talk about the history of the UK's relationship with the United States and its shared values - and outline some of the future challenges facing the world.

Former British prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown sat next to each other in the packed hall - the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament - which fell silent as the US president began his 35-minute speech.

As he began, Mr Obama joked that with an "especially active press corps", the relationship between the UK and US was forever being "over analysed".

But he added: "There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom."

'New chapter'

He said the two countries had "arrived at a pivotal moment once more" following global recession and years of conflict.


With the winding down of operations in Iraq, progress in Afghanistan and having dealt "al-Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader Osama Bin Laden", President Obama said it was time to enter a "new chapter in our shared history" with new challenges.

But he rejected arguments that the rise of superpowers like China and India meant the end for American and European influence in the world.

"Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future, and the time for our leadership has passed. That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now," he said.

"It was the United States, the United Kingdom, and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which new nations could emerge and individuals could thrive.

"And even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership, our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just."

But he added that leadership had to "change with the times" and the days were gone when an American president and UK prime minister could "sit in a room and solve the world's problems over a glass of brandy".

BBC News - President Obama: Now is time for US and West to lead

I think Obama is wrong to say West still leads the world, as China and Japan and India are top 10 economies in the world.

Just let them believe what they want to believe. Obama is simply going around to score points and hard sell himself. He wants to remain as president for the next several years.

[Pioneerfirst]

I heard the speach by Obama,in fact was really balanced.Just one thing wrong i-e US intervention in Libya.

[oct605032048]

US leadership is no doubt for today's world but UK...? Sorry but where is this country?

[Chinese-Dragon]

He's right.

The West still dominates, because they are always united. They act as a block, and their combined power gives them hegemony.

Asians on the other hand, are always fighting each other.

But in the next few decades, that won't be enough, to stop the balance of power being shifted to the East.

[roadrunner]

i don't think people outside the US generally like Obama, much like Bush.

It's very much a US thing.

[roadrunner]

He's right.

The West still dominates, because they are always united. They act as a block, and their combined power gives them hegemony.

Asians on the other hand, are always fighting each other.

But in the next few decades, that won't be enough, to stop the balance of power being shifted to the East.

Poverty, lower education. Things will change.

A world of educated people would be utopia.

[RaptorRX707]

He's right.

The West still dominates, because they are always united. They act as a block, and their combined power gives them hegemony.

Asians on the other hand, are always fighting each other.
But in the next few decades, that won't be enough, to stop the balance of power being shifted to the East.

Agree, they have alot of fun below- G8 Summit Paris.

[pakdefender]

Obama forgot to mention is that the Israelis hold the west on a leash [ at least they hold the US on a leash ] and the way Netanyahu dissed him publicly even I felt a bit sorry for Obama [ though I shouldn’t he is extremely anti Pakistan ]

[kawaraj]

so clearly india is the traitor, you have to realized you will never be part of it, never.

your tomorrow is staying peace with Pakistan and China, and United Aisa against the west. this gonna to be a wake up call.

[Juice]

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I heard the speach by Obama,in fact was really balanced.Just one thing wrong i-e US intervention in Libya.

European intervention...we helped with strikes in the beginning, help with logistics...but this is thier baby.