Mr. Obama Campaigns Abroad

We will reduce "the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy," whatever that means. Yet at the same time "the United States will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal to deter any adversary," a nifty but unnecessary qualifier. We will negotiate with the Russians to reduce stockpiles. A good thing. And we will try to negotiate a new test ban. A very good thing. Mr. Obama then wanders a bit through the thicket of "peaceful" uses for nuclear power to arrive at his support for the absolutely foolish and highly provocative project of a U.S. missile shield in Europe, one of the very worst Bush foreign policy initiatives. How, it's not unreasonable to ask, does Mr. Obama expect to negotiate nuclear arms reductions with the Russians while at the same time building up something they regard as a serious threat?

It's tempting to dismiss the entire speech as meaningless theater, particularly given Mr. Obama's rapid succession of mis-steps in other areas. But that would be a mistake. There's just enough there for professionals to work with and it is a start — a feeble start, but a start — in a new direction. What's needed now is a coherent framework, to be provided either by administration professionals or outsiders, that cuts through the political bullshit.