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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices

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To: michael97123 who wrote (406641)8/15/2008 10:03:18 AM
From: i-node  Read Replies (4) of 1575780
 
are you so sure that signing this deal with poland now was wise? I am not so sure.

Michael

This is how foreign policy is done.

I scoffed this week when some on this thread said, "There is nothing Bush can do; his hands are tied". Of course there are things that can be done.

We often hear the State Dept talk about "sending a message". This is precisely how it is done. It isn't done, as Obama seems to think, by sitting down and having a chit-chat with someone. It is done by taking action that is either consistent with or counter to the position of the entity you are negotiating with.

"Talking", as so many seem to fond of, simply has either no effect OR in most instances, likely has a negative consequence (in that it reflects weakness). Actions are what matters, and while the news out of Poland is really fairly minor, it does show Russia that between now and the end of January, at least, Putin will still be challenged on his actions.

Should Obama be elected, this will be the first thing he'll learn -- that in foreign policy actions meaningful, words, not so much. And seemingly minor actions send strong signals to governments.
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