Brzezinski, Obama and Foreign Policy Reconceptualization
by Herbert I. London, Family Security Matters
In the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Brzezinski outlines the ambitious efforts of the Obama administration to redefine the foreign policy of the United States and, as he puts it, “reconnect the United States with the emerging historical context of the twenty-first century.” According to Mr. Brzezinski, President Obama has done this remarkably well reconceptiualizing foreign policy in several areas which he outlines:
* Islam is not an enemy, and the “global war on terror” does not define the United States’ current role in the world;
* The United States will be a fair-minded and assertive mediator when it comes to attaining lasting peace between Israel and Palestine;
* The United States ought to pursue serious negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, as well as other issues;
* The counterinsurgency campaign in the Taliban-controlled parts of Afghanistan should be part of a larger political undertaking, rather than a predominantly military one;
* The United States should respect Latin America’s cultural and historical sensitivities and expand its contacts with Cuba;
* The United States ought to energize its commitment to significantly reducing its nuclear arsenal and embrace the eventual goal of a world free of nuclear weapons;
* In coping with global problems, China should be treated not only as an economic partner but also as a geopolitical one;
* Improving U.S.-Russian relations is in the obvious interest of both sides, although this must be done in a manner that accepts, rather than seeks to undo, post-Cold War geopolitical realities;
* A truly collegial transatlantic partnership should be given deeper meaning, particularly in order to heal the rifts caused by the destructive controversies of the past few years.”
For all of this, Brzezinski adds, Obama did deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, the erstwhile national security advisor does not point out that he heaps praise on a policy he helped to shape. That observation might well detract from his presumptive objectivity. But in almost all respects the reconceptualization attributed to Obama is either wrong, misguided or based on a set of false assumptions.
Let me cite the ways. The global war on terror is a war against a radical strain of Islam that has imperial goals and a jihadist tactical temperament. The U.S. may avert its gaze or ignore the magnitude of the threat, but the threat remains and weakness as a response only makes it more threatening;
Second, the U.S. was a fair-minded mediator in the Israel-Palestinian issue as the evolution of the two state solution suggests. By “fair-minded” Brzezinski means tilting in favor of the Palestinians whatever objections the Israelis may have;
Third, serious negotiations have been on-going with the Iranians through back channels and the Europeans for years. Yet despite blandishments and mild threats, they have not had the slightest influence in defusing the Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons. From the Iranian perspective, nothing the U.S. offers can compare to the regional influence nuclear weapons can confer;
Fourth, counterinsurgency, according to the General McChrystal plan, was conceptualized long before the Obama presidency and, relies on securing strongholds in Afghanistan’s urban areas. It is both a confidence building strategy and a military plan;
Fifth, respect for President Chavez and Fidel Castro has not yielded reciprocal reactions from these leaders. On the contrary, they are intent on spreading their brand of socialist revolution throughout Latin America and have done their utmost to undermine President Uribe, a true democratic leader, of Colombia;
Sixth, by agreeing to equalize its delivery capacity with Russia, the U.S. has accorded Putin and company a unique advantage. Since the U.S. nuclear umbrella protects Japan, Taiwan, etc. we require delivery expansiveness and secondly, much of the Russian decrease in capacity is composed of planes and subs that were scheduled for mothballing in any case;
Seventh, China is not an ally and not yet a foe. However, with a blue water navy and patrols in the Sea of Japan, it is engaged in sabre rattling that bears careful observation. It is hard to think of China as a partner when it provided the advanced technology for the Pakistani nuclear arsenal;
Eighth, surely acceptance of post-Cold War geopolitical realities should be recognized by the Russians, but Putin’s strategic vision is predicated on the reacquisition of the near-abroad as recent actions and doctrine indicate;
Ninth, a transatlantic partnership should be recognized and encouraged. But it should be noted that the U.S. has assumed a disproportionate share of NATO expenses and the Europeans, who have grown to love freedom and prosperity, do not yet know how to defend these cherished concepts.
Alas, what Brzezinski provides is a cliché-driven set of propositions that have little if anything to do with real world conditions. In the aggregate these positions make the U.S. look weak and ineffectual in my opinion.
In the end, however, it is not what drives this reconceptualization of policy, but whether or not it is successful. So far, this effort has been a failure, but President Obama has several years to recover from missteps. Perhaps one way to begin is by not taking Brzezinski’s proposals too seriously.
From the feeble mind of the man who advocated the Ayatollah Khomeini’s return to Iran.
Brzezinski and Carter.
The Midwives Of International Islamic Terrorism.
But being a member of the foreign policy establishment means never having to say you’re sorry.
The more these guys screw up – the more havoc and tragedy they wreak – the more valued their advice becomes.
In a just world, Zbig would suffer the fate of Iranian women who are accused of adultery.
Serving suggestion
I am “Forbidden” from viewing Shy’s link, so I choose to visualize it as being this.
Or this.
Or this.
Retry
Sucks to be you.
It is as though a faith healer has just bopped me on the forehead.
I can see!
I can see!!
I also am “Forbidden” from viewing Shy’s link, so I choose to visualize it as being this.
Or this.
Or this.
Too much bop
I sound like a parrot I too can see now
Which word would the Palestinians use most if I were prime minister?
Answer
Not to be obsequious, but Shy Guy is one of those rare people who looks good in any hairstyle.
The fleas are another matter.
Too much bop
Too much bop
Server down
I’m covered with ‘em.
I envy you.
I am covered with spastic Tyrannosaurus Rexes.
If you got it flaunt it.
Shy is more like this
Remember Pikuach Nefesh in deference to Shy Guy
back to serious discussion, I need to learn something today.
What did you expect?! Sefirah beard.
What do you want us to learn you
If you want to understand what Obama intends to do in the Middle East, review the public statements made by Brzezinski over the last three decades…culminating with this one:
Note the obligatory anti-Semitic reference to the Liberty, which is the causa belli of Jew haters in America.
This White House is infested with Jew haters, starting with the one at the top.
What arrogance. Why does he believe that in such an eventuality it would be America downing Israeli aircraft? Last time at Top gun (TailHook) Israel downed American aircraft 50-0. Result never publicly announced so as not to embarrass our good friend and ally.
I suppose he figures either way Israel loses.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/brandon-greife/2010/04/16/polls-suggest-israel-support-is-becoming-dangerously-politicized.html
Oooh, I feel dirty.
It would just be wonderful for the US to protect Iranian nukes from attack. It would show the world we care and love even those who would blow us to pieces so much, we would kill our friends to protect them, no matter how evil they are.
I think Obama is gay S&M. I seriously doubt the US will survive what he is doing without mega-catastrophe.
I think Obama is gay
Israel is more popular than Iran and Pakistan and North Korea.
Only ranked fourth in the coveted “most hated” category.
Geez, and after killing the Son of God and harvesting every Palestinian organ.
What’s a country gotta do to attain top status?
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3878518,00.html
Israel will never secure Obama’s blessing to preempt an Iranian attack.
The “some members” who value the illusion of friendship with America over survival include Barak, who is an endless curse upon Israel.
It is ominous that the Israeli government is still counting on Obama.
Unless corrected soon, this miscalculation will prove fatal.
Israel will never secure Obama’s blessing to preempt an Iranian attack.
The “some members” who value the illusion of friendship with America over survival include Barak, who is an endless curse upon Israel.
It is ominous that the Israeli government is still counting on Obama.
Unless corrected soon, this miscalculation will prove fatal.
Surrendering an ally is no strategy at all, says this columnist. He also finds insights into Obama’s view of the world–and its results.
UH OH: CNN POLL: 73% OF AMERICANS WILL BE UPSET IF OBAMA NOMINATES A LIBERAL TO REPLACE STEVENS
THAT’S A WHOPPING 73% IN FAVOR OF A MODERATE OR CONSERVATIVE.
AWESOME: A LIBERAL NOMINEE WILL BE AS POPULAR AS OBAMACARE.
BWAHAHA!
AND PROBABLY HELP KEEP US TEA PARTIERS MOTIVATED.
IT’S ANOTHER WIN-WIN FOR THE RIGHT:
* IF OBAMA NOMINATES A LIB, THEN HE UPSETS 73% AND WE WIN!
* IF HE NOMINATES A CONSERVATIVE HE PISSES OFF HIS BASE AND … ER, UM… WE WIN!
BWAHAHAHAHA!
Emanuel: ‘I’m the fundamental core’
.
J. Turner
brzezinski is not someone who’s foreign policy recommendations should be taken seriously.
“They’re Coming To Take Me Away”
I haven’t heard that song since the days of Doctor Demento.
I remember another of his favorites: “Let Me Hang My Balls On Your Christmas Tree”.
Very touching holiday fare.
Israel imposes partial arms embargo on Turkey
April 19, 2010 – 17:11 AMT 12:11 GMT
GOOD!!!
PanARMENIAN.Net – Israel will temporarily freeze sales of advanced military platforms to Turkey over concerns about the perceived mounting anti-Israel rhetoric from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to UK-based Jane’s Defense Weekly.
Israel’s defense assistance and export organization, SIBAT, has decided to evaluate Turkish requests on a case-by-case basis; one case under review is a Turkish request for Israeli-made electronic warfare systems. Turkey has also expressed interest in Rafael’s Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) anti-tank guided weapon as well as Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI’s) Barak 8 theatre-defense missile system for its navy and the Namer heavy infantry fighting vehicle, Today’s Zaman reported.
“Ties with Turkey will never be the way they once were,” a defense source said. “We are being very careful which systems we sell them due to the growing Islamic trends in the country.”
JAMES TARANTO: Why The Left Needs Racism: It Serves A Political Purpose.
The political left claims to love racial diversity, but it bitterly opposes such diversity on the political right.
This is an obvious matter of political self-interest: Since 1964, blacks have voted overwhelmingly Democratic. If Republicans were able to attract black votes, the result would be catastrophic for the Democratic Party.
Even in 2008, the Democrats’ best presidential year since ‘64, if the black vote had been evenly split between the parties (and holding the nonblack vote constant), Barack Obama would have gotten about 48% of the vote and John McCain would be president.
THE MARGIN OF VICTORY FOR OBAMA WAS THE BLACK VOTE;
REPEAT: THE MARGIN OF VICTORY FOR OBAMA WAS THE BLACK VOTE.
AND IT WASN’T AN ACCIDENT; POLITICO – 10/6/08, JUST A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION:
THE TOP TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD VOTE DEMOCRAT
10.You should vote Democrat if you believe oil companies’ profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn’t.
9. You should vote Democrat if you believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.
8. You should vote Democrat if you believe Freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.
7. You should vote Democrat if you believe you’re way too irresponsible to own a gun, and feel that anybody needs are the local to protect you from murderers and thieves and terrorists.
6. You should vote Democrat if you believe that people who can’t tell us if it will rain on Friday can tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if everyone doesn’t start driving a Prius.
5. You should vote Democrat if you believe the slaughter of millions of babies through abortion is okay, but that we should keep all death row inmates alive.
4. You should vote Democrat if you believe illegal aliens have a right to free health care, education, and Social Security benefits.
3. You should vote Democrat if you believe that businesses should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They just need to break even and should give the rest away to the government for redistribution as the Democrats see fit.
2. You should vote Democrat if you believe liberal judges need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would never get their agendas past the voters.
1. You should vote Democrat if your head is so firmly planted up my ass it’s unlikely that you’ll ever have another point of view.
TEABAGGERS TO OBAMA & HIS COMRADES: DON’T TREAD ON US!
The American equivalent of Barak?
John Kerry.
They each exist in vacuum, unfettered by reality and oblivious to the consequences of their feckless approach to life.
If I were prime minister and intended to bomb Iran, I would find a way to make sure Barak was out of the loop…lest Obama learn what was about to happen in time to stop it.
Barak is a menace.
If not for Arafat’s pathological Jew hatred, old Ehud would have succeeded in surrendering Judea and Samaria.
The Qassam rockets would be flying into Israel from the West Bank.
Yet like Brzezinski, Barak rarely pays a price for always being wrong.
And like Brzezinski, Barak is always wrong in a way that disadvantages his own nation.
Neither of these guys ever err on the side of patriotism.
According to Obama, when Muslims kill Americans it is the fault of the Jews.
But whose fault is it when Muslims kill Pakistanis?
Or Russians?
Or Nigerians?
Or Indians?
Or Spaniards?
When those evil Jews build housing in Jerusalem, are they responsible for Muslims killing Germans?
Or Brits?
Or Swedes?
Or the French?
Someone should ask Obama.
Are Muslim jihadists throughout Asia and Africa killing Gentiles in retribution for Hebrews constructing apartments?
When will someone belatedly confront the pathetic anti-Semites who blame Jews for Muslims killing American soldiers?
Why hasn’t anyone of prominence vilified Obama and Petraeus and the rest of the craven reprobates who scapegoat Jews?
Tell it as it is, with no sugar coating.
Obama is a Jew-hating bigot, and collectively pretending that the emperor is wearing the finest silk doesn’t change the fact that he is actually bareass naked.
Say what you will about Zbig…the man has a physique like none other.
IAF Aerobatic Team Display druring Independence Day 62th
more here
here
here
yamit,
I have been negligent by not congratulating you on your professorial tone, which you employ in lieu of muscle tone.
Why all this blather about Obama and his plans? We knew from the start that he was born a Muslim from a radical, hippy mother. Who his father was is still a matter of conjecture and we knew who his friends and mentors were and are. If it’s born of a duck, walks like a duck, etc. etc. Case closed. Only an idiot could believe that Obama has any sympathy for either Israel or the Jews.
Well said.
Only an idiot or a liberal Jew, whose problem is emotional rather than intellectual.
I keep on telling you: Obama is not the problem. He is much worse.