Over the past seven plus years, the American people found out the hard way how George Bush's foreign policy has been a disaster for our country. Not only have we snubbed our long term allies, but the President has used our military power with impunity to try and force democracy on another nation. Mr. Bush violated our past commitments of working with our allies on so many fronts and therefore the next President will have to work extra hard to turn things around.
The next President will have to restore America's moral mantle of world leadership. That does not mean America needs to be the world's policeman. It means we have to lead and show the way for our allies and foes alike. America needs to be strong economically and militarily and reverse those policies that have not only been non-productive but that have simply failed. Remember Bush's so called "tough talk" did not prevent the worst foreign terror attack on U.S. soil on 9-11. We can not keep arming other nations and expect other nations not to send arms to other countries. There is no creditability in our actions when we do that.
The next President should openly work to bring Israel, India, and Pakistan to be a party to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty as the U.S. and other nuclear powers are. America loses its leverage when it tries to pick and choose what countries can or can not have WMD without checks and balances.
Our next President should speak softly and carry a big stick. Not to push our weight around, but to show our determination to make a difference in the would for peace. No other nation will attack America if our foreign policy carries the message that it would never be of benefit to those who harbor such thoughts. We have no adversaries that carry the destructive power that Russia possessed during the cold war, yet they knew it would not be to their advantage to launch a Nuclear War.
The main threat from WMD comes from Israel, Pakistan, and India because those countries have unstable leaders and because the U.S. has a present foreign policy that is silent on those countries' responsibilities and the threat they pose. It is almost as if our President does not want to talk about it. We make matters worse by threats to other countries who belong to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
The next President will have an opportunity to work to reverse the madness of a foreign policy run by the President and individuals who think they have the power to bully people around while not having a sound foreign policy based on American principals, values, and respect. I'm not sure how much time the new President will have, but I know our country will have to pull together and do what ever it takes. In the mean time, let's hope Mr. Bush does not try anything cute to make matters worse for the new administration.
2 comments :
The main thing that the next president needs is a majority in both houses of congress, and not the "blue dog" variety but the ones willing to make substantial policy changes. I know the primary battle has been a long and bitter fight but I hope the democrats can all come together for a common cause in November. Another eight years of NeoCon policies would be disastrous for our nation.
Every American should be outraged that our President and other Foreign leaders are not putting pressure on India, Pakistan and Israel to join the Treaty like the nations who have. After all those three countries do lack stable leadership and safety.
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