President Bush and President Clinton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

President Bush and President Clinton - Essay Example ar threat from North Korea , blown open the federal budget deficit, presided over economic recession and weakness, overseen an historic gap between corporate profits and worker compensation, and ignored menacing environmental issues such as pollution and global warming. There is no doubt that Bill Clinton was a far superior leader and far more worthy of the respect, admiration and gratitude of Americans. The reputation of the United States is the first area in which the difference between Bush and Clinton is stark. Under Clinton, the United States respected multilateral agreements, sought consensus among the international community on matters of great import, projected the power of the United States in a non-arrogant manner, and respected human rights. For example, Clinton pursued and successfully achieved treaties that grew and strengthened international trade, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). He also helped negotiate the Kyoto Protocol against global warming. In addition, he utilized U.S. military power when necessary and within the context of NATO, as was the case in Kosovo. Because of his active solicitation of and respect for the opinions and influence of other nations, the United States enjoyed a high degree of respect and admiration throughout the world. On the contrary, Bush has led the U.S. to an all-time low in its image abroad. Virtually from the beginning of his presidency, he has pursued an all-out assault on the international progress that took eight years to achieve during the Clinton administration. He immediately backpedaled on security assurances that had been made to North Korea, effectively provoking that country to resume nuclear weapons development and causing them to return to caustic anti-American propaganda and posturing. In addition, he pulled out of the Kyoto accord on global warming, effectively leaving much of the rest of the world high and dry when it comes