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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jlallen who wrote (19826)	7/31/2001 9:43:38 AM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 82486

What possible reason could there be for such a "strategy"? That is so obvious that I can hardly believe that it needs explanation. The strategy, like so much of US foreign policy, is designed to play to an exclusively domestic audience. There are a fair number of Americans who have developed a strong dislike for multilateralism, and have violent emotional reactions to the idea that America ought to deal with other countries or groups of countries as equals. Resentment is particularly directed at the UN, at Europe (generically dismissed as a bunch of socialists), and at the developing world (generically dismissed as a bunch of dark-skinned moochers that burn embassies and blow things up). The people that hold these views, to more or less blatant degrees, are largely Republican constituents, though there are many in organized labor, traditionally a Democratic constituency, that feel the same way. These people get a great deal of gratification out of seeing their government blow the rest of the world off with little concern for diplomacy. I can see no other reason for taking the "in your face" approach on issues like the Kyoto and BMD treaties, when the same objectives can be obtained by much less strident means. In general, I would have to say that developing foreign policy to suit short-term domestic political needs is not very smart, especially when it is emotion-driven. Our arrogant attitude toward other countries - countries whose cooperation we may someday need to pursue real and vital interests - may someday come back to haunt us. I think Bush Jr. could learn some lessons from his father on this score.