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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Carragher who wrote (25588)	7/31/2006 9:06:45 AM
From: Dale Baker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541872

Did I say we shouldn't be in Afghanistan? I have said many times before here that was the real security threat and should have had 100% of our attention, not Iraq. Clean out Al Qaeda in their strongholds and the US homeland is much safer. Iraq also diverted us from places like Somalia which tipped over to radicals when we weren't paying attention. That's the same way Angola blew up in 1974-75 (I couldn't resist that one, it was my MA thesis topic). Your other questions are too broad to answer in a paragraph. In general, we target our use of force against the people who really threaten us. We build up strong relations with allies so we don't have players like Russia working against us when we need them in our camp. The Europeans have been working on the Iran issue for several years but there is a very good chance there is no real way to stop what is happening there anyway now that so many other countries have nukes. We can't invade, we could bomb some facilities but that doesn't end the problem, sanctions won't matter or work, so what is left except an attempt at diplomatic persuasion? There is a dangerous feeling around nowadays that every single problem in the world can be solved with resolute persuasion or enough force. It is an American delusion that we have to learn is wrong the hard way every generation or so. I have no idea what the current thought is in the State Department. When I left the diplomatic service, I tuned them out except for the occasional anecdote I get from friends and former colleagues.