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POPSThe Gray Scale between East and West Understanding that there is no clear distinction between east and west is one of the most important changes we need to make in 21st century diplomacy. Failing to see east and west as a cultural continuum with significant commonalities across the board is one of the main reasons for the rise of terrorism and our failed Russia policy. Clinging to old nationalist divisions blinds us to what the world has become and what the world has always been: cultures in flux across borders and mutating as different people interact.
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POPSI support Obama on Issues, not because of the Cult of Personality I don't worship Barak Obama. I don't think he's a savior, or even an angel. Although the novelty of him being a "black" president is entertaining, I don't really care about that either. (Honestly, it seems a little strange that we are so self-congratulatory over 'voting for a black man,' as if that should be really impressive somehow.) Why do I support Barak Obama? Because of all the people running for President, I believe he has the best ideas on what direction our country needs to take. I would like to see much of his platform made into reality, and because of that, I will vote for him. I don't want to waste all our time arguing of personal slights and vauge rumors. Let's get to the issues. Here is why I support Barak Obama:
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POPSSmall Claims Court for Countries It's interesting how well the international system works when people aren't busy sabotaging it. Malaysia and Singapore just settled this international dispute in court, and everyone seems happy. I think the main reason that countries such as the US or China don't support international courts and authorities is because they don't want to be held responsible for the transgressions they know they've committed. You have to admit, America has come to demand a certain kind of exceptionalism, placing ourselves above the law by virtue of our own self-aggrandizement. Restoring America's international reputation will begin with ending this repugnant double standard that we hold for ourselves and the rest of the world.
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POPSMcCain: A Critical Weakness on Foreign Policy
McCain's critical weakness on foreign policy is that he knows next to nothing about it. Although I have a lot of respect of McCain, I think he falls into the typical trap of myopic patriotism. Many people love their own country so much that they are blind to the reality of the world outside their borders. The outside world is a place where America is a pretty good nation, but has certainly seen better days. The outside world is a place where our enemies occasionally have legitimate points, and certainly have lives and families much like our own. In the reality beyond our borders, the US isn't guaranteed to win every fight, especially when we go in on shaky ground. In the reality beyond our borders everyone has to talk, whether they like it or not, because in the end, nations, like people, are created equal. McCain knows everything about the US Military, but knows nothing about our enemies. With a perspective like that, how can we expect to win?
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POPSLosing Hearts and Minds; Empowering Extremism Before anyone asks why we aren't winning the War on Terror yet, consider these sad headlines. All around the world, reasonable people are being dragged into the slipstream of extremism. The cause is blatant moral bankruptcy. Greed, corruption and exploitation, fortified behind the twin bastions of ignorance and righteousness, are discrediting the institutions that are instrumental in overcoming extremism, intolerance, and global violence. Particularly America remains the store house of the world's hopes and dreams. We are not merely a nation but an ideal, and we must live up to our promise. Obama and McCain are both men of admirable morals and transparent character. Meanwhile, as Hillary obfuscates over her finances, we must realize she lacks the moral authority needed to restore America's international credibility. Being Righteous is not nearly as important as being Right.
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POPSBush: Out of Touch, and Out of his Mind At a certain point I fail to understand what our President thinks he is doing. It would seem he is newly possessed with an urgent desire to invade Iran, regardless of the circumstances. Apparently, he doesn't understand the game he's playing. He's confirming America's stereotype as a global villain in they eyes of the rest of the world. Bush led the push to attack and isolate Iran because of their nuclear weapons program. When that allegation was firmly contradicted by our own intelligence community, he didn't miss a beat. He's going on as if the NIE never even came out, still talking about nuclear weapons as if nothing had changed. Now Iran agrees to answer questions and open up to the IAEA, as well as fulfilling other obligations to the UN. As they do, Bush keeps cheer leading for war. Doesn't he realize that he's impeaching what little credibility America has internationally?
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POPSA Plan to End the Crisis With Iran Just so nobody can say I only criticize Bush, I offer here a plan to immediately end the crisis with Iran. Ahmadinejad is an aggressive, anti-Western president who is isolating Iran, much to the chagrin of the Iranians. The economy is weak, and it is getting harder for people to make a living, which is causing unrest. On the other hand, his predecessor Khatami was a progressive, who wanted relations with the west, and had a good record on the economy. I suggest that we use these factors in to our advantage in the following plan: (see comments bellow.)
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POPSConflict in Iran: Symbiosis between Bush and Ahmadinejad I've stitched together three very interesting articles over the last week, which become much more interesting when you read them in sequence. Look carefully at what is happening. If there is anything that lays bare the role of the Bush Administration's jingoistic belligerence in the Middle East, it is the recent conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. With the international pressure off Ahmadinejad, he starts taking heat in Iran for the shortcomings of his leadership. Without fear, his belligerent and isolationist politics lose their appeal. In order to defend his world view, and preserve the source of his power, he needs America as an enemy... So some Iranian boats play around with one of our convoys, Bush comes out with some insane saber-rattling press conference, and, Ahmadinejad is back in business, courtesy of the Bush administration. If you desire war, you need an enemy. If you need an enemy, you desire war. Bush needs Ahmadinejad. Just like Ahmadinejad needs Bush.
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POPSExcellent Advice on Middle East Diplomacy Although I disagree philosophically with Bush's conception of the international community and America's role in it, I do not believe that is the reason for Bush's diplomatic failure over the last 6 years. Instead, rather than ideology being the problem, I believe that methodology has been the most serrious impediment. If they can learn to swallow their pride when necessary and follow these three guidelines, we may see genuine progress in the middle east for the first time in nearly a decade.
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POPSTalking Sense: An Alternative to Sanctions and Bombing These days it seems most people can only think in terms of either sanctions or bombing. If we cannot bomb them, then use sanctions; if we sanctions don't work, we must bomb! This is a horrific false dichotomy. Bombing and Sanctions are both barbaric and uncivilized. They hurt average people, and in the history of civilization, neither has proven particularly effective. A true diplomat thinks of ways to resolve problems through helping people, not hurting them. Diplomacy appeals to humanity, rather than brute appeals to force, be they military or economic. Bernard Kouchner is the first real diplomat I've seen in a long time. Hats off to you! This should also remind us that our plan to sanction/bomb Iran is totally futile and simply leading us down the garden path to our own destruction. Has America learned nothing from the way Bush manipulated us with Iraq? Why are people falling for the same trick again with Iran?
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POPSOh, the Glory of it All: Nuclear War and North Korea Coming on the heels of Bush's retro-active opposition to the ascension of Raoul Castro, we see another naive and anachronistic policy push from the extreem right wing: trying to intimidate North Korea. For all those who don't get cable news in their fall-out shelters, North Korea is already a nuclear power. Why are we so eager to provoke what would inevitably become a nuclear war? Because it won't hurt us. There's no way that N.K. could reliably hit the US, their first targets would probably be Seoul and Tokyo. So for Republicans like Bolton and his ilk, the nuclear destruction of Seoul (Population 30,000,000) would be "sad" but convenient, because it would provide us with the pretext to use our nukes and annihilate North Korea, which deep down they secretly think would be kind of fun. So, tell me again: Who is it that is Evil?
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POPSThe Biggest Threat to the West Lies Within Itself, Not with Islam Simon Jenkins on threats to peace and democracy. This defeatism led the American Congress to allow its president to authorise torture and detention without trial in what Senator Robert Byrd called “the slow unravelling of the people’s liberties”. It enabled a British Home Office to curb free speech and habeas corpus. It arms police, fortifies buildings and impedes the free movement of citizens. It makes every Christian suspicious of every Muslim.
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POPSThe US & China: Military Diplomacy As I have argued before, I believe China's military spending is not a genuine threat, but instead an effort to be taken seriously internationally, and esspecially to impress America. At their core, they want cooperation and friendship with America, but they have a funny way of persuing it. However, the Chinese can be very responsive if you show them just a little bit of respect. They are very sensitive to gaining or losing face. John Denver visited this country once more than twenty years ago, but the Chinese were so touched that they all still know the words to "Country Road Take Me Home" by heart! I am impressed by the diplomatic restraint and good judgment that Defense Secretary Robert Gates seems to be showing on this issue. If only we could start using the same level-headed judgment on Iran and North Korea...
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POPSOn Apartheids, Anti-Semitism and the Israeli State Although I think the use of words like "Holocaust" and "Apartheid" in modern political discourse are distasteful and possibly disingenuous, this sheds light on one of the key problems that makes it impossible to negotiate peace in this region. Anyone who is critical of the Israeli government is automatically attacked as Anti-Semitic. Was it anti-white to demand equal rights for blacks? Is it anti-male to demand the right to vote for women? By saying that human rights activists who criticize Israels occupation are anti-Semitic, the implication is that the degradation of human dignity that has occurred in the occupied territories is not only justified but the natural right of Semitic peoples. It also essentializes the Israeli people, suggesting that there is no internal dialog on this issue, and that there are no dissenting opinions. The idea that all Israelis think alike, and that a criticism of one is a criticism of all blocks any negotiation and the possibility of compromise.
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