Advice for President Obama on Touching Every Nation

Max's advice for March 18, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Max grew up as the son of a man who knew 'ALL' the answers to the problems of the world. Max's father said so! Many times, his father let everyone know that anyone who didn't know that he had the answers was a turkey or a knucklehead.

The famous Ma Bell, the second most powerful force in the world (next to God of course), thought so much of Max's father's opinions that she made him 'Supervisor of Troubles'. This is true!

The advice Max promised you, President Obama.

Make sure every nation, large and small, has someone in your administration looking after it!

Max knows that when times are busy the tendency is to prioritize. For an individual, that usually means putting some things on the back burner for a while.

Mr. President, in the world of nations, it is essential that every nation feels they are this country's number one priority. In some nations, the United States ambassador is capable of keeping them in our country's view and keeping them informed about their value to us in whatever ways they value most.

In some countries we only have interest sections, and having someone from State show attention to them has the possibility of moving their interests and ours closer.

A few countries have no desire for any relationship.

In the world of nations each country is important. Many world conflicts have begun in a city or country that was considered unimportant. Once a major conflict starts, the place actually gets itself referenced in the history books.

You and most of your team will need to keep your focus on the half dozen 'big' issues such as the economy, and the 'major' states. Thought there are dozens of conflicts around the world, your team must focus on the two most prominent ones.

Except for state visits, you will have little time to personally make sure that every nation is cared for as a great nation should.

The Chinese have partially resolved this lack of attention by their government and now stand to have a windfall from dozens of countries that were being neglected. Their position as a rising trade partner to some nations shows their success.

The United States is lagging in some of the less developed parts of the world in large part because we sent aid without sending trade delegations. Many of the poorest nations also have immense potential.

You team includes two members who should take the lead on this while you are focused on internal affairs. The State Department is of course one of the logical members. This department should have someone looking after every nation identified as such.

The other team member is your Commerce Department which will need to engage with the major trade players immediately. This department should make sure it has some resources focused on every nation so that no opportunity to develop new trade is missed.

Someone in your inner circle needs to keep an eye on which country might not be getting enough attention. There is a limit to some of the easily reached natural resources and, once they have been spoken for, our nation will be unable to get them at the best price.

Historically large and milliteristic nations have gotten the bulk of the resources where attention is involved. That makes sense when you are going head to head in a Cold War.

In the world we are entering, we may be in a war not between nations but rather between ideas. Both new ideas never heard before and old ideas, which call up raw emotions, will most likely be involved.

At least in the near term, our nation needs to provide for some cohesion between itself and as many nations as it can. It can only do this if your administration makes sure that no nation is left without at least one person trying to keep it and us in touch.

Max wishes you well in all your efforts.

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Link one is to the State Department's responsibility to work with other governments.

Link two is the Bermuda page of the CIA fact book.

Link three is the United States page that is available on the CIA fact book.