April 24, 2006
It is time to stop the useless name-calling of the president and come up with realistic, well thought out plans for American foreign policy in Iraq and around the world… Do Democrats Have a Better Plan? It is easy and quite fashionable these days to criticize the president. It has almost become the politically correct thing to do in many circles to start off one’s lament of America’s standing in the world by calling President Bush every type of negative term in the book.
It has gotten so ridiculous that even talking with friends about the weather or upcoming social events that the topic immediately turns to a discussion of what they perceive as the president’s dismal performance in Iraq and elsewhere. Some people wear their anger and absurd vilification of the president as a badge of honor. These critics really have little of substance to say but seem proud of what they see as their moral superiority to that of the president.
Reasonable debate is always proper but the negative and really thoughtless berating of the president and the vice-president and the secretary of defense and others in the administration has really gotten out of hand. It really adds nothing to serious debate to say “the president is dumb” or “the president is an idiot.”
What the country needs is serious and reasonable debate on America’s current foreign policy goals and objectives without resorting to simplistic criticism.
The lack of civility pervades all aspects of politics today. When was the last time you saw anyone on a talk show speaking in a civil voice? Today everyone on talk shows is outraged and speaking in ever louder voices being critical of the topic of the day. Columnists and editorial writers are also becoming more strident, more politically correct and making more ridiculous comments about the current administration.
There is nothing easier to do than to be critical and make broad generalizations about a public policymaker or to tear down a policy but does anyone out there have actual workable, coherent policies that make sense for changing our foreign policy?
Senator John Kerry, a Vietnam War hero, has talked recently of setting a date for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. Is this a workable plan? Would it increase the violence after U.S. forces leave? Kerry is actually more outspoken on the topic of Iraq than he was during the 2004 presidential campaign. He is not as guarded in his comments. This is the type of speaking from the heart comments we need to hear from all of the potential Democratic presidential candidates in 2008.
And the candidates need to be specific in their plans. The candidates need to stop worrying about how they sound to potential financial backers and to prospective voters and speak out as future leaders who have a well thought out plan for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to hear how the candidates would treat Russia in their administration. Do they see Russia as friend, ally or adversary?
We need to hear how the Democratic candidates view terrorism. Are we at war with terrorists or is it mainly a legal matter? We need to hear what the Democratic candidates and the Democratic leadership in Congress have to say about NATO and its future role in the world. What should be America’s policy towards Hamas? What would be our policy if Iran were to actually acquire nuclear weapons? Why do some candidates support India being a nuclear power but not Iran? As with Russia, is China a friend, foe or ally today?
There are so many important foreign policy issues to be seriously discussed and debated that is a travesty that our politicians have resorted to making half-hearted suggestions instead of well thought out policy positions on the key issues of the day.
Stop the useless tearing down of the president and his administration and present what you see as a better foreign policy to the American public.
As they said in the old movie “Field of Dreams,” talking about a baseball field for old time baseball players, “build it and they will come.”
So it will be today. If one or several of the Democratic candidates running for president has the courage to speak out on a well-thought out foreign policy plan then the people - and potential voters-will come and listen.
It is time to stop this politically correct name-calling and come up with serious alternatives, if that is what the candidate truly believes, to the current foreign policies of the Bush administration. A serious debate on Iraq and other foreign policy topics is long overdue in this country.
The sooner a serious debate begins without the overblown, senseless and loud rhetoric the better off the whole country will be.
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