The Embarrassment of the Pelosi Trip
Nanci Pelosi's visit to Syria last week sent the world a mixed message of American foreign policy. By opening dialogs and having conversations with heads of state that the Bush administration has cut off from any such discourse, Pelosi has made the world less certain of America's collective intentions in the world. This may be the most valuable aspect of the Speaker's trip. She has sent a powerful message to the rest of the world that the Bush doctrine is not America's doctrine. His arrogance is not America's arrogance and there is now enough political will opposing his policies that action to repair the damage is now being taken.
It is very unfortunate that two American foreign policy initiatives must compete in the diplomatic world for attention. It's an embarrassment that the President says one thing and Pelosi has to come along and do another. It's a terrible way to conduct ones self as the most powerful nation in the world. Embarrassing or not, Bush's intractable, arrogant, and aggressive policies have made it necessary.
The rest of the world must be assured that come 2008 America will take it's head out of the sand or from where ever it's been hiding and engage our neighbors in a more civilized manner. The awkwardness and confusion that the Pelosi trip brings is only another example of how every choice toward a new direction carries serious down sides. Our diplomatic position isn't strong enough anymore to tell Syria to renounce terrorism before we will talk to them. We don't carry the diplomatic leverage to stop Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. These are both tragic outcomes of America's diminished image and moral authority in the world. The pretense that it is otherwise is no longer fooling anyone, except ourselves.
Dick Cheney continued to claim last week that Al Qaida was working with Saddam Hussein before the 2003 invasion, despite pentagon reports recently released and the 9/11 commission's clear statements to the contrary. It's these, the sky is not blue, denials that make trips like Pelosi's necessary. The Bush administration's policy view has gone beyond ideological stubbornness to a kind of madness. Those in highest levels of the administration have been infected with a blindness of fact that goes beyond anything this country has seen in generations.
Democrats have, as the opposition party, been duty bound to represent another point of view than that given by the President. They have not always fulfilled this role well. The lack of voice from across the isle is in part responsible for the mess we are in today. However, the President has now cut himself off from the very ideals of his party. Smaller governmental intrusion, more humble foreign policy are staples of Republican thought. I no longer know who the President thinks he is representing. It is certainly not Democratic ideals nor is it Republican. The President is still part of the Republican family, even if he no longer acts like one. It is up to those of his party, leadership and constituency alike to preform an intervention in order to stop the madness.
This intervention must take place for the good of the Republican party. The image of the party as the stewards of common sense and American values has taken a hard beating as of late. The Republican trait of loyalty has played an important part of their support for the President. This is certainly understandable. How many Democrats supported Clinton through his scandals even while opposing his actions. However as the administrations actions become less in keeping with Republican ideals, the less Republican they become. The sooner we can begin to speak to the world with one voice, the louder our virtues will be heard throughout the world.
It is very unfortunate that two American foreign policy initiatives must compete in the diplomatic world for attention. It's an embarrassment that the President says one thing and Pelosi has to come along and do another. It's a terrible way to conduct ones self as the most powerful nation in the world. Embarrassing or not, Bush's intractable, arrogant, and aggressive policies have made it necessary.
The rest of the world must be assured that come 2008 America will take it's head out of the sand or from where ever it's been hiding and engage our neighbors in a more civilized manner. The awkwardness and confusion that the Pelosi trip brings is only another example of how every choice toward a new direction carries serious down sides. Our diplomatic position isn't strong enough anymore to tell Syria to renounce terrorism before we will talk to them. We don't carry the diplomatic leverage to stop Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. These are both tragic outcomes of America's diminished image and moral authority in the world. The pretense that it is otherwise is no longer fooling anyone, except ourselves.
Dick Cheney continued to claim last week that Al Qaida was working with Saddam Hussein before the 2003 invasion, despite pentagon reports recently released and the 9/11 commission's clear statements to the contrary. It's these, the sky is not blue, denials that make trips like Pelosi's necessary. The Bush administration's policy view has gone beyond ideological stubbornness to a kind of madness. Those in highest levels of the administration have been infected with a blindness of fact that goes beyond anything this country has seen in generations.
Democrats have, as the opposition party, been duty bound to represent another point of view than that given by the President. They have not always fulfilled this role well. The lack of voice from across the isle is in part responsible for the mess we are in today. However, the President has now cut himself off from the very ideals of his party. Smaller governmental intrusion, more humble foreign policy are staples of Republican thought. I no longer know who the President thinks he is representing. It is certainly not Democratic ideals nor is it Republican. The President is still part of the Republican family, even if he no longer acts like one. It is up to those of his party, leadership and constituency alike to preform an intervention in order to stop the madness.
This intervention must take place for the good of the Republican party. The image of the party as the stewards of common sense and American values has taken a hard beating as of late. The Republican trait of loyalty has played an important part of their support for the President. This is certainly understandable. How many Democrats supported Clinton through his scandals even while opposing his actions. However as the administrations actions become less in keeping with Republican ideals, the less Republican they become. The sooner we can begin to speak to the world with one voice, the louder our virtues will be heard throughout the world.
posted by kamuizot at 2:49 PM
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