- It seems more apparent with each passing day that American
foreign policy is being run by the Wizard of Oz, hidden behind the curtain
using smoke and mirrors, and anything that comes to mind, in articulating
its position and place in the world. It is high time that American citizens
pull back the curtain like Toto, to uncover what is really going on. One
would have thought the disastrous events of September 11 would have ushered
in a total revamping of US international policy in dealing with the world,
in an effort to deter another similar disaster. It is alarming that nothing
of the kind seems to have happened. Instead, what we have seen is a hodgepodge
of policies and actions that seem chaotic, lacking in direction, and downright
comical at times. Let,s take a look at this situation.
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- In conducting its war in Afghanistan, America cozied
up to Pervez Musharaff of Pakistan. In exchange for his cooperation Washington
plied him with treats and goodies. Being a military man, Musharaff no doubt
produced a wish list loaded with military equipment and aid. Washington
complied.
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- This alarmed New Delhi, bringing Pakistan and India to
the brink of a nuclear exchange. Washington became alarmed and engaged
in frantic shuttle diplomacy to calm the situation. Did Bush administration
analysts not realize that this newfound love affair with Musharaff would
create a perception of a shift in the balance of power between the two
rivals, and consequent nervousness on the part of India? Do we not pay
such intelligence analysts to work up what if scenarios in guiding foreign
policy?
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- Currently the world is experiencing a bit of a crisis,
with North Korea throwing out weapons monitors and reactivating its nuclear
program. Bush grand policy for dealing with this situation is to not talk
to North Korea and levy tough sanctions. Ultimate warrior Donald Rumsfeld
has weighed in John Wayne style, warning North Korea that America is able
to take on, at the same time, both them and Iraq in military confrontation.
Such a ridiculous macho bully-in-the-schoolyard US foreign policy is the
worst recipe for resolving this situation. In fact US policy toward North
Korea prior to the current situation shows how unfocused and amorphous
the Bush Administration really is in this instance, and how its policy
might have contributed to North Korea,s current stance. Here,s what I mean.
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- In the wake of September 11 Bush decreed that North Korea
constituted part of an axis of evil. In short order the Administration
made available a document of nations on a nuclear targeting list by the
Pentagon. North Korea was on that list. About that same time the US backed
out of the ABM nuclear treaty, lifting limits on its nuclear expansion.
Shortly thereafter the US revealed that North Korea was up to no good,
and in violation of its commitment to not pursue nuclear weapons. About
this time Bush said of North Korea,s leader I absolutely loathe Kim Jong
Il., Then the US illegally held a ship carrying North Korean made missiles
to Yemen. A legal purchase. In the face of such belligerence by the US,
is it any wonder that North Korea would rationalize that rapid acquisition
of nuclear weapons would be their best bet for self preservation against
attack? Right after of September 11, the Bush Administration decided that
it needed to sell America to the Arab world, and show this nation in a
good light. To that end they hired Wall Street advertising guru Charlotte
Beers to lead the charge. The State Department paid her to make flyers
and advertisements targeting Muslims and selling them on the idea that
America was really a wonderful nation. Beers is notable for her advertising
campaign that changed the fortunes of Uncle Ben,s rice. In justifying use
of her services Secretary of State Powell said that her ad campaign for
Uncle Ben,s rice made him a convert to the brand. It seems almost comical
that America feels that it needs to sell itself to a world that already
knows about them, thanks to satellite and cable TV, American business,
American aid, and American products. Either they,re sold or they,re not.
Flyers won,t change this. Moreover, the idea of selling America to Arabs
at a time when scores of these very people in this country are being locked
up incommunicado and indefinitely, indiscriminately singled out, and racially
profiled by immigration and law enforcement, seems to be nothing short
of confusion and hypocrisy.
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- Nowhere is American foreign policy more myopic and baffling
than in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. When the violence had reached
a high point with the Israeli army moving into the West Bank and Gaza,
Bush instructed Secretary Powell to go over there and use some of your
political capital, to resolve the issues. Powell did. He got to the region,
met with both Ariel Sharon and Yassir Arafat, and took both men to task.
He ordered the Israeli army out of the West Bank and Gaza in no uncertain
terms. Then the rug was pulled out from him by Bush and company, as he
was ordered to tone down and refrain from insisting that the Israelis leave
Palestinian territory. He left the region having accomplished little, while
the Bush Administration reverted to its unimaginative broken record announcements
that Israel has a right to defend itself,, and Palestinians need to refrain
from terrorist attacks against Israel., Such a policy guarantees the violent
status quo.
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- If the US truly desires to make its citizens safe and
secure, with a guaranteed enthusiastic future, then the current policies
of war on terrorism, axes of evil, preemptive strikes, threat of using
nuclear force, braggadocio of taking on two enemies at a time, and blatantly
touting regime change, is the most unrealistic way of achieving this. A
comprehensive overhaul of this nation,s foreign policy is a must for this
to happen. A policy based on compassion, respect for others, and leading
by example, is a prerequisite for goodwill abroad and peace of mind at
home. In his Letter to America Bin Laden stresses this point repeatedly.
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- -- Ben is a newsletter editor, freelance writer and published
author. His previous articles include: *George Bush vs Robin Hood (CounterPunch.com
11-4-02, SmirkingChimp.com 11-5-02), Underestimating George Bush,s Intelligence
(CounterPunch.com 11-13-02,Trinicenter.com 11-15-02), *Is Bush A Good Role
Model For Our Children? (SmirkingChimp.com 11-29-02), *Bush War On Iraq:
A Case of a Drowning Man Grabbing At Straws (SmirkingChimp.com 12-11-02).
He can be emailed for a more comprehensive listing of his articles. His
book Jackals of Samarra, can be found at www.iUniverse.com, and at all
the major Internet book outlet sites. Be prepared for a surprise reading
this action adventure novel set in the Gulf, as today,s news headlines
seem to be ripped right out of its pages. Definitely a case of life imitating
art. Ben can be contacted by email at: grandt730@aol.com
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