Summary: This Debate of the Day was written to accompany our live debate "Obama's foreign policy is a gift to America's enemies", which took place in London on Thursday 27th May. The debate will be broadcast by BBC World News on Saturday 5th June at 09:10 and 21:10, and Sunday 6th June at 02:10 and 15:10 (all times in GMT). Video highlights are now available on the Intelligence Squared website where the full video will also be available on-demand from 5th June. For many on the liberal left who scorned George W Bush's gung-ho foreign policy, Barack Obama's more dovish, multilateral approach is far more likely to make headway. Ever since his inauguration, Obama has been offering an extended hand of friendship to America's enemies. But his detractors say that all he gets in return is a fist in the face. Is too much accommodation - to China, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Iran and others - just capitulation in another guise? Is Obama simply hastening American decline?
