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March 29, 2009
Will NATO Agree to Stabilize Afghanistan?
This year, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization celebrates its 60th birthday. President Obama will take his first European trip since the presidential campaign to meet NATO’s twenty-six members. While there, he’ll have to pinch every last pressure point to induce the other members to “step up to the plate” in Afghanistan.
Read the full article here The Women's International Perspective.
Read the full article here The Women's International Perspective.
March 20, 2009
Engaging the Muslim World
I joined the dialogue to discuss Juan Cole's new book Engaging the Muslim World on TPMCafe Book Club
I highly recommend the book!
Engaging the Muslim World: What are we waiting for?
I, for one, welcome Cole's book. It talks about engaging people and understanding them for who they are not who we believe them to be. There are plenty of people that feel Americans are not the principled people we think ourselves to be mostly because our government is implementing policy in parts of the world where they don't care to do their homework therefore the implications for the people are highly destabilizing. See Afghanistan.
At the beginning of his term, President Obama declared that he was ready to engage the world. He should be looking to people like Cole to help him understand the nuances and implications of rhetoric, postures and policies his Administration is proposing to implement. Denigrating anyone is usually counterproductive and this type of approach, which the Administration seems to be vacillating with toward Iran, will only create more apprehension on their part causing what Cole calls "American Anxiety."
Read the full article here TPMCafe Book Club
Engaging or Gauging Intervention
Whether it is the Israeli, sorry the Israel, Lobby, the Cheney Gang or Obama's new "smart power" team, all of the above are interventionists no matter how you slice it. All too are playing a great game that is hurting a whole lot of people (including themselves) that they are sadly miscalculating.
Cole talks about engagement and many of the comments I have seen do not lose sight of the fact that engagement can definitely take the form of soft or hard power. Historically, with our love and propensity for weapons, the US, along with the prompting of others (Cheney and the lobby), likes the hard stuff.
Read the full article here TPMCafe Book Club
I highly recommend the book!
Engaging the Muslim World: What are we waiting for?
I, for one, welcome Cole's book. It talks about engaging people and understanding them for who they are not who we believe them to be. There are plenty of people that feel Americans are not the principled people we think ourselves to be mostly because our government is implementing policy in parts of the world where they don't care to do their homework therefore the implications for the people are highly destabilizing. See Afghanistan.
At the beginning of his term, President Obama declared that he was ready to engage the world. He should be looking to people like Cole to help him understand the nuances and implications of rhetoric, postures and policies his Administration is proposing to implement. Denigrating anyone is usually counterproductive and this type of approach, which the Administration seems to be vacillating with toward Iran, will only create more apprehension on their part causing what Cole calls "American Anxiety."
Read the full article here TPMCafe Book Club
Engaging or Gauging Intervention
Whether it is the Israeli, sorry the Israel, Lobby, the Cheney Gang or Obama's new "smart power" team, all of the above are interventionists no matter how you slice it. All too are playing a great game that is hurting a whole lot of people (including themselves) that they are sadly miscalculating.
Cole talks about engagement and many of the comments I have seen do not lose sight of the fact that engagement can definitely take the form of soft or hard power. Historically, with our love and propensity for weapons, the US, along with the prompting of others (Cheney and the lobby), likes the hard stuff.
Read the full article here TPMCafe Book Club
March 16, 2009
A week of weakness...
This week the Afghan government is still weak, the Pakistani government is weaker and the US government still thinks our American brains are weakest.
Today we heard again that Iran "may" be closer than we thought to a nuclear weapon. They probably, might be, could be, may possibly be closer than we may possibly or probably thought, maybe. I for one thought we were moving away from the 'we need an enemy at all times' theme of American foreign policy. Unfortunately that is not the case and if we couldn't drum up our own foes quick enough, we have Israel helping us.
Sources say they are putting lots of pressure on the US to go after Iran who may or may not, might have or not a nuclear weapon. Just like Iraq I might add.
The US must be careful. It is already in two wars. Both I might add are on the border of Iran. The US military is already stretched and most of the middle east is already mad at us.
American must understand the international relations is not easy and bombs and guns don't always to the trick. The history of the world as well as its cultures, tendencies and traumas must be taken into account in order to even begin to make change.
Our world, although it would make matters very simple, is not black and white. Believe it our not people have different ideas, experiences and understandings of the inter workings of communities, nations and regions around the globe.
Americans must be strong in mind and values and work harder to understand others. It is definitely tempting to always exploit those who are weak, but that just shows you too are not in the least bit strong.
Today we heard again that Iran "may" be closer than we thought to a nuclear weapon. They probably, might be, could be, may possibly be closer than we may possibly or probably thought, maybe. I for one thought we were moving away from the 'we need an enemy at all times' theme of American foreign policy. Unfortunately that is not the case and if we couldn't drum up our own foes quick enough, we have Israel helping us.
Sources say they are putting lots of pressure on the US to go after Iran who may or may not, might have or not a nuclear weapon. Just like Iraq I might add.
The US must be careful. It is already in two wars. Both I might add are on the border of Iran. The US military is already stretched and most of the middle east is already mad at us.
American must understand the international relations is not easy and bombs and guns don't always to the trick. The history of the world as well as its cultures, tendencies and traumas must be taken into account in order to even begin to make change.
Our world, although it would make matters very simple, is not black and white. Believe it our not people have different ideas, experiences and understandings of the inter workings of communities, nations and regions around the globe.
Americans must be strong in mind and values and work harder to understand others. It is definitely tempting to always exploit those who are weak, but that just shows you too are not in the least bit strong.
March 11, 2009
The Two-State "Solution" is No Solution
The "Two-State" rhetoric currently being pushed by the U.S. and its international allies neither ensures Israeli security or Palestinian self-determination. Much to everyone's dismay, their destinies are intertwined. Israelis have not, and will not, allow Palestinians to govern their own borders, airspace or -- as history has shown -- democratic process. The only solution is for the two groups to work and live together.
Read the full article here The Huffington Post.
Read the full article here The Huffington Post.
March 8, 2009
Hillary Clinton: Trying to Reset while on Overload
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's whirlwind trip to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Belgium, Switzerland, and Turkey over the last seven days made one thing abundantly clear - American foreign policy is thankfully on reset. Current efforts to engage allies and others is way overdue.
You could almost hear the sigh of relief from NATO partners as the SecState reassured them that the US is back and working with them instead of against them. Even though Secretary of Defense met with the NATO defense ministers last month, the SecState's visit reassured that the US was staying true to its diplomatic promises for robust engagement.
Never mind the fact that the US desperately needs its NATO partners to step up in Afghanistan, balance Russia's attempt to reestablish colonialism and sidestep Iran's journey toward nuclear hegemony in the Middle East.
Her 'new' style of relationship building is quite refreshing to us all. It is too bad though in the midst of giving European (and Asian) assurances the US itself still needs to tip toe through the Middle East.
Quite frankly with TalQaeda rising and AfPak falling, the US needs to get its Middle East policy squarely in order, that is toward peace, or Israel won't be worrying about Iran at all, instead it'll be dodging unsecured Pakistani nukes being lobbed by those who still don't believe that the West is or ever will treat parties other than Israel fairly.
I'm sure her Turkish counterparts told her this. They themselves said they appreciated Clinton's candor, but did she hear theirs when they outlined their need to back out of an long-term Israeli relationship - for awhile anyway - due to Israel's devastating military action in Gaza.
Turkey itself is important on all fronts. Not only can it help with Syria in the Middle East, but Turkey can also assist the West by speaking freely with Iran, staying close to NATO, continuing to provide Afghan assistance and consel and, finally, providing, if needed, assistance on the border of Iraq for US troop withdrawal. As the US leaves Iraq, any continued Kurdish partition plans may stir up more border violence so, as a friend and ally, the US must be the one to honor and stand with the Turks should problems arise.
After NATO and before her Turkish visit, Clinton stopped off in Geneva to meet the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, with a defective reset button signifying that US foreign policy has been exactly that - defective. Nevertheless, Clinton is trying to turn over a new leaf of engagement and just in time.
The US does not need the Russians entering neighboring countries at will or playing roulette with their military supply routes to Afghanistan. The efforts in Afghanistan are far too important.
The gift of the defective reset button was more an embarrassing irony than a Russian insult so I wouldn't worry about Moscow taking it personally. That button shows just how disengaged this country has become. If our best and brightest can not even get the correct Russian word on the button how are they supposed to clearly analyze the complexity of AfPac, TalQaeda, the Middle East, Sudan (a most recent fiasco) or anywhere else.
I, for one, couldn't help feeling ashamed and concerned about the future of the State Department. Its predecessors stripped its budget - including depleting the Peace Corps, which is one place you can find the best equipped foreign policy experts. They also skimped on funds to maintain 'expert' knowledge, keep experts trained and knowingly weeded out some of our best people.
Now Clinton must not only fight to reinstate these lost programs funds,and recruit excellent people, but she must also work to the best of her ability to represent the richest, most powerful country in the world with so little monetary and, more importantly, constituent support.
Ironically, while trying to reset, Clinton is actually finding that her whole department is on overload.
You could almost hear the sigh of relief from NATO partners as the SecState reassured them that the US is back and working with them instead of against them. Even though Secretary of Defense met with the NATO defense ministers last month, the SecState's visit reassured that the US was staying true to its diplomatic promises for robust engagement.
Never mind the fact that the US desperately needs its NATO partners to step up in Afghanistan, balance Russia's attempt to reestablish colonialism and sidestep Iran's journey toward nuclear hegemony in the Middle East.
Her 'new' style of relationship building is quite refreshing to us all. It is too bad though in the midst of giving European (and Asian) assurances the US itself still needs to tip toe through the Middle East.
Quite frankly with TalQaeda rising and AfPak falling, the US needs to get its Middle East policy squarely in order, that is toward peace, or Israel won't be worrying about Iran at all, instead it'll be dodging unsecured Pakistani nukes being lobbed by those who still don't believe that the West is or ever will treat parties other than Israel fairly.
I'm sure her Turkish counterparts told her this. They themselves said they appreciated Clinton's candor, but did she hear theirs when they outlined their need to back out of an long-term Israeli relationship - for awhile anyway - due to Israel's devastating military action in Gaza.
Turkey itself is important on all fronts. Not only can it help with Syria in the Middle East, but Turkey can also assist the West by speaking freely with Iran, staying close to NATO, continuing to provide Afghan assistance and consel and, finally, providing, if needed, assistance on the border of Iraq for US troop withdrawal. As the US leaves Iraq, any continued Kurdish partition plans may stir up more border violence so, as a friend and ally, the US must be the one to honor and stand with the Turks should problems arise.
After NATO and before her Turkish visit, Clinton stopped off in Geneva to meet the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, with a defective reset button signifying that US foreign policy has been exactly that - defective. Nevertheless, Clinton is trying to turn over a new leaf of engagement and just in time.
The US does not need the Russians entering neighboring countries at will or playing roulette with their military supply routes to Afghanistan. The efforts in Afghanistan are far too important.
The gift of the defective reset button was more an embarrassing irony than a Russian insult so I wouldn't worry about Moscow taking it personally. That button shows just how disengaged this country has become. If our best and brightest can not even get the correct Russian word on the button how are they supposed to clearly analyze the complexity of AfPac, TalQaeda, the Middle East, Sudan (a most recent fiasco) or anywhere else.
I, for one, couldn't help feeling ashamed and concerned about the future of the State Department. Its predecessors stripped its budget - including depleting the Peace Corps, which is one place you can find the best equipped foreign policy experts. They also skimped on funds to maintain 'expert' knowledge, keep experts trained and knowingly weeded out some of our best people.
Now Clinton must not only fight to reinstate these lost programs funds,and recruit excellent people, but she must also work to the best of her ability to represent the richest, most powerful country in the world with so little monetary and, more importantly, constituent support.
Ironically, while trying to reset, Clinton is actually finding that her whole department is on overload.
March 4, 2009
Hillary Clinton Sends a Message to the Middle East: No change necessary.
I was on Hannity and Colmes some time ago when Sean Hannity asked me if Israel would got to war 'again' with its neighbors. I was so nervous - it was my first time on national television - that I said something like "I hope it never does." What I should have said was"excuse me Mr. Hannity, but I was under the impression that Israel is still at war with its neighbors and has been since its very existence."
Hindsight is twenty-twenty and I for one learned my lesson. It is too bad though that the Obama Administration and the current Secretary of State never learned theirs.
I just don't get how we can keep ignoring that the Middle East is at war with itself and various neighbors. Further, I don't get how we can keep trying to stop the war with the same old war stopping formula.
AND the same people.
James Steinberg, Dan Kurtzer, Dan Shapiro, Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross (who has already been reported to be discussing his Iranian talking points with the soon to be Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu instead of the American President Obama? Hmm.) - all former Clinton envoys or Ambassadors to Israel - are all working with George Mitchell on the 'pandering one party" process for peace?
Well, we certainly have enough Jewish Americans on the job. However I'm confused - Where are the Iranian Americans? Arab-Americans? Muslim and Christian Americans? (Ok so George Mitchell is half Lebanese and Christian). Further, where are the women? New people?
Where are the new ideas for that matter?
Here we go again no negotiating with Hamas, Hezbollah or a mouse that may have said someting interpreted by someone in AIPAC to be anti-Israeli or pro-Palestinian.
We want a two State with no settlement or land confiscation halted in what is supposed to be the Palestinian state. As for the Palestinian houses soon to be demolished in Jerusalem "unhelpful" said SecState Clinton. Unhelpful? It is down right disturbing. If Israel is so concerned about illegal housing, it should do the same to thousands of new settlements and outposts who apparently are not subject to the same permit required laws and shall remain erect and inhabited.
People what are we thinking? It is time for new ideas, new thoughts, new people, and new rules. Everybody must be required to tow the same line and stop the violence. Clinton said "bombing was at the very crux of the problem." The only problem with that was that she didn't mention the continued strikes by Israel just those perpetuated by the other side.
This should not be called the "Roadmap to Peace," it should be called the "Roadmap to Failure" and the bumper sticker should read 'no one bothered looking at the past, thus the crash.'
Hindsight is twenty-twenty and I for one learned my lesson. It is too bad though that the Obama Administration and the current Secretary of State never learned theirs.
I just don't get how we can keep ignoring that the Middle East is at war with itself and various neighbors. Further, I don't get how we can keep trying to stop the war with the same old war stopping formula.
AND the same people.
James Steinberg, Dan Kurtzer, Dan Shapiro, Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross (who has already been reported to be discussing his Iranian talking points with the soon to be Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu instead of the American President Obama? Hmm.) - all former Clinton envoys or Ambassadors to Israel - are all working with George Mitchell on the 'pandering one party" process for peace?
Well, we certainly have enough Jewish Americans on the job. However I'm confused - Where are the Iranian Americans? Arab-Americans? Muslim and Christian Americans? (Ok so George Mitchell is half Lebanese and Christian). Further, where are the women? New people?
Where are the new ideas for that matter?
Here we go again no negotiating with Hamas, Hezbollah or a mouse that may have said someting interpreted by someone in AIPAC to be anti-Israeli or pro-Palestinian.
We want a two State with no settlement or land confiscation halted in what is supposed to be the Palestinian state. As for the Palestinian houses soon to be demolished in Jerusalem "unhelpful" said SecState Clinton. Unhelpful? It is down right disturbing. If Israel is so concerned about illegal housing, it should do the same to thousands of new settlements and outposts who apparently are not subject to the same permit required laws and shall remain erect and inhabited.
People what are we thinking? It is time for new ideas, new thoughts, new people, and new rules. Everybody must be required to tow the same line and stop the violence. Clinton said "bombing was at the very crux of the problem." The only problem with that was that she didn't mention the continued strikes by Israel just those perpetuated by the other side.
This should not be called the "Roadmap to Peace," it should be called the "Roadmap to Failure" and the bumper sticker should read 'no one bothered looking at the past, thus the crash.'
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