Obama tells other world leaders: ‘I believe America is exceptional’
By Juliet Eilperin,
"I believe America must remain engaged for our own security, but I also believe a world is better for it," he said in the speech. "Some may disagree, but I believe America is exceptional, in part because we have shown a willingness, to the sacrifice of blood and treasure to stand up, not only for our own interests, but for the interests of all."
Obama had made a similar point during his televised address to the nation on Syria earlier this month, when he said that the United States is not the world's policeman, "But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act.” He added: “That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a recent New York Times op-ed, criticized Obama for making such a claim, writing, "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation."
The fact that Obama has chosen to reiterate the point during the year's single largest gathering of world leaders shows that he is not inclined to give any rhetorical ground to Putin, even as the two countries continue to negotiate over an international response to Syria's ongoing civil war.
