Obama kicks off a new global era

Usually, words do not have the same impact as deeds. But in the case of the recently-completed G-20 summit, words and symbolism may end up rivaling the most important deeds.

President Obama went to the summit to convey the start of a new era, and by most measures, he succeeded. The new era is characterized by a United States that listens as well as leads, that appreciates and develops its relationships with its allies in Europe and around the world, and that seeks to forge agreements with its rivals, Russia and China in particular, where it sees common interests.