Barack Obama has won reelection as America’s president. But while the economy – and avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff – will inevitably take up much of his time, there are numerous foreign policy challenges facing the next administration. GPS asked 10 leading foreign policy analysts to name 10 things that Obama should focus on next. The views expressed are, of course, the authors' own.
Keep Arab Spring on track
By Kenneth Roth
Kenneth Roth is executive director of Human Rights Watch.
The biggest human rights challenge facing President Obama in his second term is finding ways to help keep on track the reform agenda that launched the Arab Spring. Most important is ending the horrible slaughter of civilians in Syria. Obama should stop pretending that Russia’s and China’s obstructionism absolves the U.S. of responsibility to continue ratcheting up pressure to stop the atrocities.
In Egypt, the regional trendsetter, Obama has properly said he respects the election that brought the Muslim Brotherhood to power, but now he should press the government, like all others, to respect basic rights, including of women and minorities. In Libya, Obama should stop treating the country as a “mission accomplished” and actively help elected authorities build the rule of law. And Obama should keep his promise to “promote reform across the region” and stop the discrediting double standard of making exceptions for U.S. allies, whether friendly monarchs or Israel.
Avert an al Qaeda crisis
By Danielle Pletka
Danielle Pletka is the vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank based in Washington, DC.
There are two top priorities in national security for Barack Obama as he enters his second term. The first is Iran, the second the return of al Qaeda. Of course, there are pressing challenges everywhere; the Middle East is in the process of a generational transformation that will in the short term look much worse for America’s interests, allies and values. China’s strategic ambitions are increasingly and obvious anathema to our and our allies’ interests in the Pacific. A rapid exit will be failure in Afghanistan.
But these are slow motion train wrecks. The two oncoming locomotives are a nuclear weapon and the means to deliver it in the hands of one of the rashest and most dangerous regimes in the world; and the metastases of al Qaeda and its cohort from South Asia to the broader Middle East to the horn of Africa and beyond. Iran now has enough nuclear material, enrichable in short order from 20 percent, to fuel several nuclear weapons. Regime leaders have expressed the intention of dominating their region and destroying Israel. We ignore those threats at our peril. Al Qaeda now controls substantial and growing territory around the world, and will make impressive gains in Iraq, Syria and Egypt (Sinai) before long. For the last four years, Barack Obama has allowed these problems to grow. There is a crisis around the corner, and much must be done to avert it.
Get the fiscal house in order
By James Lindsay
James M. Lindsay is a Senior Vice President at the Council on Foreign Relations and co-author of America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy. The views expressed are his own..
Iran. Afghanistan. China. Syria. Al Qaeda. These are just some of the foreign policy challenges awaiting President Obama in his second term. But his top foreign policy priority won’t be overseas; it will instead be here at home – putting the U.S. government on a sound fiscal footing. Trillion dollar deficits simply aren’t sustainable. The flow of red ink need not be stanched overnight; indeed, doing so would derail an already anemic economy.
But tough decisions on aligning spending with revenues are essential. The trick is do so while continuing to make the critical investments in education, infrastructure, and innovation that help nourish the wellsprings of America’s global power. That is a tall order given the nation’s current partisan divisions. But if Washington fails to act, or if it rashly slashes investments in the future, the result will be a weakened country less able to influence events overseas to its liking.
Regime change in Iran
By Michael Rubin
Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and senior lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School.
A perfect storm is approaching the Middle East – and Iran is its eye. Debate about whether Iranian nuclear weapons capability or their acquisition should be the American red line misses the point: The difference between the two could be a week. Enriched uranium stockpiling suggests the international policy of procrastination will end. A military strike will unleash a cascade of instability, but so too would nuclear breakout. Secure behind its own deterrent, a nuclear Iran might act upon its ideological prerogative to export revolution.
Sequestration will tie America’s hands. The headlines today report violence in Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Gaza, but tomorrow they could just as easily include Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait. Containment is no solution. After decades of promising no tolerance of a nuclear Iran, no Arab ally will trust a U.S. nuclear umbrella; instead, they will make accommodation with resurgent Iran. The only solution is to hasten regime collapse. Unless that occurs, get ready for renewed terrorism, nuclear brinkmanship, and $200 oil.
5. Banish Europe’s ghost
By Madhav Nalapat
Madhav Nalapat holds the UNESCO Peace Chair at Manipal University in India.
The United States will not be able to maintain its primacy in the 21st century by clinging to assumptions valid only in the 20th. Thus far, the U.S. and the European Union have frequently, in the form of NATO and otherwise, formed a package while dealing with the rest of the world. It was such an identity that caused the tragedy in Vietnam, where Washington sought to follow in the footsteps of Paris. And since 2001, the United States has persisted in dragging bits of Europe along with it in its foreign operations, whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere. In Libya, meanwhile, Washington followed Paris and London into an endeavor that has left the country ungovernable.
More from CNN: Obama faces world of challenges
With its colonial baggage and continuing condescending attitude, the major European powers are strategic deadweight for the United States, slowing down and diffusing its resonance and thrust in Asia, Africa and South America. It was hoped that President Obama would free his country from this yoke, but this has not happened. In fact, the deathly influence of Europe has arguably increased. 21st century. The U.S. needs to see Asia and Europe as separate but equal entities, without seeking to insert one into the other. The U.S. needs to rediscover its strengths rather than persist in acting as though it Europe is part of its eastern most shore.
Find an effective Clinton-Campbell replacement
By Brad Glosserman
Brad Glosserman is the executive director of Pacific Forum CSIS.
While Barack Obama’s reelection means that there will be continuity in foreign policy toward Asia (although there would have been in the event of a Romney win, given decades of broad bipartisan support for Asia policy, rhetoric toward China notwithstanding) personnel changes are likely to have an impact. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that she will step down after the first term, and Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, is likely to go with her.
These two have done truly outstanding jobs, and while no one is irreplaceable, they will be sorely missed. The next secretary will follow the president’s lead, so Asia will remain a priority; the assistant secretary’s focus by definition is Asia, so attention won’t flag there either. And there are plenty of smart, hardworking and talented folks on the Democratic bench capable of picking up the portfolios.
No, the changes will reflect the fact that Clinton and Campbell have a special relationship. They are extremely close, and Campbell has had outsized influence precisely because of that connection. I have heard numerous tales of how Campbell got the secretary’s attention and time precisely because of their close personal ties. That dynamic will be hard to replicate and is likely to have a profound if indefinable impact on U.S. foreign policy.
Develop Latin American ties
By Christopher Sabatini
Christopher Sabatini is editor-in-chief of the policy journal Americas Quarterly. The views expressed are his own.
Despite its importance for U.S. exports and the counter-narcotics, Latin America will not be a high priority for the new administration – perhaps understandable given the other demands and crises across the globe. That said, there are a number of countries and issues that certainly deserve high level attention.
First among them is Brazil. The world’s sixth-largest economy, Brazil aims to be a regional and global power, an ambition that has made for a prickly partnership with the U.S., including over the humanitarian intervention in Libya and its goal to gain a permanent seat on an expanded U.N. Security Council. The administration should try to foster Brazil’s promotion into multilateral forums and agreements to leverage a closer working relationship.
Second, the drug trade and the violence and corruption that have come with it are threatening state collapse in Central America and have cost over 50,000 lives in Mexico. The U.S. needs to dramatically expand its assistance and cooperation with countries in the region while also attacking drug consumption and arms sales within its own borders.
Last, for domestic political reasons, Cuba has always – unfortunately – always commanded outsize attention in U.S. domestic politics and policy toward the region, with support for the U.S. embargo often serving as a litmus test for presidential appointees before congress. The next four years, it will deserve the attention – but of a different sort. With Fidel Castro 86 years-old and his successor brother Raul 83, there will almost certainly be a leadership transition in Cuba’s 60-year-old revolution. The embargo law currently ties the ability of the U.S. government in its relations with Cuba and the Cuban people until a democratic transition is nearly completed, and has isolated U.S.-Cuba policy from the rest of the world. The U.S. will need to refine its policy to play a constructive, multilateral role if it wants to shape the process – which, being just 90 miles from Florida, it must.
Negotiate the Japan-China high wire
By Guy de Jonquières
Iran would be the top priority, but a close second is the bitter Senkaku/Diaoyu islands dispute between China and Japan, which has poisoned their bilateral relations and is causing real economic damage. Mutual mistrust and strong pressures from nationalist groups on both governments to act tough mean that the risks of escalation, and of tactical miscalculations leading to military conflict, are high.
More from CNN: Behind the islands dispute
The dispute not only jeopardizes security and stability in East Asia; it poses a serious dilemma for Washington and the first test of its Asian “pivot” policy. The U.S is committed by treaty to defend Japan. But it may be hard to demonstrate effective support for Tokyo without itself being sucked into the dispute, putting it on a collision course with Beijing. Cool nerves, fine judgment and delicate diplomacy will be needed.
Find a feasible plan for an Iran strike
By Jonathan Schanzer
Jonathan Schanzer is vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and a former terror finance analyst at the U.S. Department of Treasury. He tweets at @JSchanzer. The views expressed are his own.
President Obamamust home in on the foreign policy challenge that poses the most imminent threat to world security: Iran. The theocratic regime in Tehran is undeniably closer to obtaining a nuclear bomb. With that weapon in hand, the regime will have the ability to deliver a devastating blow to the United States or any one of its allies. With a “nuclear umbrella,” Iran could also continue to terrorize the world with impunity, thanks to a state-run terror apparatus known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, and still others elsewhere. The president must push forward with punishing sanctions, and credibly threaten the use of force. Should Iran choose not to step back from the nuclear brink, the president may also need a feasible plan for military intervention. If Iran builds a nuclear weapon, it will almost certainly happen on his watch.
Drop China ambiguity
By Brian Klein
Brian P. Klein is a global strategist and former U.S. diplomat. He blogs at Klein’s Commentary.
China’s economic rise and increasing military assertiveness have pushed U.S. strategic ambiguity to its limits. If a decisive position isn’t taken soon, allies and friendly countries will question whether the U.S. can back up its Asia pivot talk with action. Focusing on realistic trade liberalization, increased military contacts with China and firm engagement rather than the blame and shame tactics of the past must become a priority.
Meanwhile, the once vaunted Arab Spring, so full of promise and democratic zeal, shows signs of entering a long dark winter. Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy whittles away at reforms in the marginally secular republic, while Syria’s civil war now threatens regional stability, with conflict overflowing into Turkey and Lebanon. Boots on the ground may not be an option, but a focused effort to influence, if not completely resolve these destabilizing trends will be essential to restoring peace.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Call up Willard's money in the Cayman's and tell Willard to suck this!!!!!!!!! 8=======>
Its funny that Most the people who gave their Opinion in this article are Jewish and strong supporters and sympathizers of Israel. They ALL seem to be saying to go to war with Iran and are basically delivering that message to the American people that Iran will strike the United States first and not israel,lol, Israels problem IS NOT the United States problems as much as Jews try to make it out to be.
Israel would love to see U.S citizens crying while U.S armed forces fight for Israel dying for them...I DONT CARE HOW MANY JEWS ON CNN ADVOCATE FOR WAR... WE WILL NOT GO TO WAR FOR ISRAEL
Jason... How right you are. None of these people care about the best interests of the American people. Those interests include supporting a Two State Solution and ceasing the unstinting support for Israel. Remember the perfidy of Jonathan Pollard and his Israeli handlers.
Well put NO WAR FOR ISRAEL.
**Its funny that Most the people who gave their Opinion in this article are Jewish and strong supporters and sympathizers of Israel. They ALL seem to be saying to go to war with Iran **
clown, most are not jewish, and only one talk about Iran.
WAR WITH IRAN WAS NOT PRESENTED AS AN OPTION.
Ever heard or the arab spring ?
Get ready for the Iranian spring.
Iranian are verry upset.
And don't be surprised if an Israeli-Palestinian spring also happen.
Jewish peoples are tired of Nenthanayuh.
Palestinians are tired of the militia.
Both their war feeds get verry litle support from real peoples
And plenty of criticism and call for peace
Personaly I disagree about the Europe Ghost part. The author has no clues how the Lybian crisis unfolded and assume it was in any way connected to the GOP strategy of financial turning-to-stone spell. They were going to do it ANYWAY
Lybia cost less than a single day of occupation in Iraq
And an awfull lot of countries were involved.
Main cost were missiles. that's rather cheap.
(you do know missile get obsolete and replaced eventually anyway, right ?)
(could as well save 500,000 peoples with them)
And not one mention of the isaraeli-palestinian issue? I wonder why.
I remember an old joke from the 90's..."What do you call an israeli who can speak on television without an accent?" ' middle east/terrorism expert.'
The sham debates made it clear that israel will continue to have a blank check from the US on the palestinian issue.
Israel needs to decolonize the same way south africa did. Dismantle its WMD that destabalizes the region. Hold truth and reconciliation commissions and hold the murderers on BOTH sides accountable. Guarantee the right of return. And have proper one man one vote elections. There cannot exist a wholly jewish state if the cost is the destruction of a whole nation of people. The world stood together against apartheid and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. We need to do the same thing here.
Very well said Joe
If Israel got rid of it's weapons today they would cease to exist tomorrow.
Joe – the Palestinians REFUSED Statehood in 1948. They turned it down.....get it? Go away and learn history. I'm not interested in your home grown version of what YOU see as a convenient truth. Pffft!
If someone gave you a loaded gun and told you to put it to your head and pull the trigger, would you do it? That's exactly what you're asking the Israelis to do.
First of all, Israel is not "wholly Jewish". 20% of its population is non-Jewish, mostly Arab Muslim. The "right of return" is a euphemism for the destruction of Israel. Do you really think Israel is going to let millions of hostile, hate-filled Palestinians into their borders? What happens when they become a minority of the population? Are you aware of Hamas' charter which calls for the elimination of Jews from the land?
"Destruction of a nation"? When did the Palestinians ever have a nation? When they were offered it five times, they refused.
Concerning Israeli nukes. Israel has had nukes for over 40 years. How has it destabilized the region? Britain and France have nukes. Has that destabilized Europe? The United Stated has nukes. Has it destabilized North America?
Even Israel's enemies know they are only used as a deterrent.
dEAN i HEARD THAT STORY OVER AND OVER...GUESS WHAT , THATS TRUE FOR ANY COUNTRY.
We need to get Jews out of our politics which they have corrupted and blackmailed many members of congress to side with Israel or Else!!
Whether its a jew running on the democratic ticket or republican, we should not vote for them simply because they are not loyal to the United States, they are Loyal to a foreign country....Israel
no oil
Say it's not so Joe that everybody on the region who calls for the removal of Israel no longer say that. Just wounderful "love and peace in the middle east at last". We can now sleep with our doors unlocked and windows open.
Havent you figured out Obama Hussein's plan for the middle east? he wants the arab riots to spill over into Israel untl they are gone. He's one of them dont foget! Once saudi arabia has israel and jordan as its own, he will have completed his satanic deal. why do you think Hussein Obama had twice as much money as Romney – who supposedly had all the rich people on his side? this election was bought by the saudis. thats why the middle east isnt an issue and only saudi is concerned with iran – making us the proxy for THEM. the mayans got it right. this is our last full year as a civilization!
Father figure: are you spreading more hate and propoganda? It didnt work for your republican party, and It wont work for you either, sorry HATE JUST DOESNT CUT IT ANYMORE, PLEASE GO TO FOX NEWS, IM SURE YOU WILL FIND MANY LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF WHERE YOU DONT NEED TO HIDE YOUR RACISM ANYMORE
No mention of Africa and how the US could easily establish itself as an economic ally and find a market of 1 Billion plus people whose countries are manufacturing nothing. A good relationship with a few countries there could generate thousands of new jobs here and there...our country should be looking to provide an alternative to the Chinese presence but the Brazilians will ( and are) beating us to the biz over there. We will regret our ignorance of the continent. That is the same ignorance that fueled the conservatives here for a while (300 years) before it bit them in the backside last week.
Beyond him, obviously. Why frustrate the prez with mission impossible?
Yoiur right Ben and no mention of Bengahzi !!
Glad you noticed, Fareed is steering clear of it due to the statehood issue.
Can you imagine a country where it is law to deny support of a bid to statehood by another country?
Mr. Colin Powell would be a good Secretary of State.
More warmongering on Iran I see. It's interesting to see people calling for regime change, when in fact we overthrew their government in 1953. There's already people screaming about how Iran shot at one of our drones. Over the last several years we have threatened Iran, talked about potential nuclear strikes on a nation that has not directly harmed us, imposed crippling sanctions, conducted war drills in the waters near them, and continually violate their airspace. During this time Iran has seen us invade several countries near them, carry out drone strikes in several more, and kill who knows how many civilians. Who's the rogue nation again?
Great posting, Josh. Thank you. The problem here is not with the Iranians, but the right-wing thugs in Washington! Since 1953, our policy toward Iran has been wrong, wrong and wrong!
Wow. At least some Americans can call a spade a spade when they see it.
Hi Ahmadinejad, nice to see you are still posting here. Do you still insist that there are no gay people in Iran, and that you will "wipe" a certain other country off the face of the Earth?
hi we have gays here but they are not our problem.we neglet them the only difference between IRAN and other countries in this regard is that GAYs weight as much as they are not more.Again yes we want to wipe isreal name out of the map of the world and replace it by palestine(the real name)but dont want to wipe it from the earth since it belongs to palestinian.Remember that you want to do the same with the name of PERSIAN gulf replacing it with arabian gulf and it is just for rubbing the balls of few arab sheikhs for few dollars .shame on you
Josh – Excellent post.
Quigley – you ruined a reasonable comment and lost my interest when you said "right wing". THAT is juvenile and partisan – there's NOTHING to choose between the 2 parties. Nothing! Don't forget Bill Clinton initiated the war in Iraq – GWB simply carried on where Bill left off when he was busted!
Bill Clinton did nothing of the sort. Bush used our intelligence apparatus against us to drag us into a war that we never should have been in.
And dont forget it was loose drawers clinton who let osama go free when he had the chance to take him down after the Cole attack. But for clinton being busy diddling with monica, we'd have no 9/11! clinton realy sunk us.
Long promised visa waiver for Poland!!!
How about the U.s keeps its Promise for the defense missles in Poland, that genius Obama broke.
Tsk, Tsk, how can you dis a Nobel Peace Prize awardee?
Check out the individuals who contributed to this article, they are paid agents of Israel and AIPAC and hence there is no mention the Palestinian people's human rights to live free from Israeli occupation and slavery
I m mocking of obama that the know seals were really punished for speaking out about obama
LOL...those might be your policy goals, but they aren't the will of the American People.
#1 Stop all illegal (per the UN) settlement of land that Israel doesn't own
#2 repair ties with Iran to avoid a nuclear crisis
#3 global nuclear complete disarmament
#4 world peace
Shorter lists are easier to concentrate on.
#1 – It will be much easier for Israel to stop expanding if the Palestinians stop firing mortars and RPGs into Israeli territory on an hourly basis.
#2 – Iran is not our equal, nor is it the equal of any civilized Western or Easter nation. Nations whose leaders routinely state that their national goal is the extinction of an entire race of people do not get to sit at the big kids' table like the rest of the adults. It's up to Iran to repair their ties with us, not up to us to go groveling to the Ayatollah asking him to maybe, you know, not nuke Israel or Iraq or any of the other countries Iran hates if, you know, it's not too much trouble or anything.
#3 – Nuclear disarmament certainly wouldn't be a bad thing, but it's not even in the top 25 things the world needs immediately. No countries that currently have nuclear weapons are threatening other countries with nuclear attacks on a daily basis. It's countries that want the bomb that are the problem, not countries that already have it.
#4 – World peace? Uh, yeah, I guess that wouldn't be bad either, but you might as well have said unicorns. Politicians can only focus on what's possible, not what allows people to feel good and pat themselves on the back for supporting.
Imaginary lists are the easiest of all – they require no concentration whatsoever!
Mathew , If some one intrudes your home .. you reach out for gun.. intruder being Israel . As per the rhetorics of leader .. There are a lot of Right winged Israeli leaders who dont see a Palestatnian state or right of Arabs to return to thier homeland .. that doesnt disqualifies the country from talks.. leader come and go ..
hey matthew tell these to your leaders who think that IRAN is big enough not only to seat at same table with USA but ith 5+1 and if a stupid impolite person like you think that IRAN want,s to do genocide with entire of one race should know that the propsal is to do a democratic ation to call all palestinians all over the world(moslem+christians+jews) to participate in a referandom to stablish a new state and the decide for illegal imigrants to remain in palestine or return back to their own origins is this a genocide?shame on you and all who mask the truth,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Agree with Matthew. Like really Iran is just a country of crazy terrorist supporters so why be nice to them when all they wanna do is blow everyone up? Also are we going into a centure full of hippies? Like really all I hear is hey guys lets be peaceful and friends with the guys who wanna kill us. Ya not really a good idea. Not trying to be racist or anything but all of this is true.
In response to sean connery: seriously guy. Matthew was dead on in his perspective both of your nation's position in this world and of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The Iranian Government acts like a petulant child boasting their military might (it's pathetic, honestly, you can't even shoot down an unarmed drone in 2 passes with modern jet fighters) and their desire to destroy an entire nation and it's people. By the way, wasn't there a recent attempt to force non-violent change of your government recently? How quickly we forget to judge others by their actions in the recent past, or maybe we are just forgetting the recent past. Your country brutally suppressed it's own people protesting and marching, in a non-violent fashion, for change in your country.
Let me be clear on this one point: Iran has absolutely no legitimacy at any world table whatsoever, and should not be treated as a reasonable nation competent enough to be treated with politically until it demonstrates such capability. You're people are suffering, or so we are led to believe, due to economic sanctions imposed on you due to your blind pusuit of nuclear weapons, which you say is a civilian nuclear program. For what purpose? You have nearly limitless energy for the next several decades at least, therefore you have no use for civilian nuclear technology as it is not only an expensive endeavour, but difficult to maintain. A joint strike including Israeli and United States military forces is in your near future if you don't shape the hell up and quickly. We maintain the ability to dismantle your defensive grid with little to no loss to our military due to several current technologies we employ, and no stealth is not the only, but the chief one among them. After that we will simply impose our will upon you, and set your military, maybe even your civilian infrastructure, back 30 years. Don't-be-stupid.
To Eden: The Palestinians were offered a stated five times. Each time they refused. Concerning the "right of return", they don't have that right. It's not their land.
why do people keep talking about Israeli occupation when they were there living before the arabs and christians? I dont get it. Does strong arm win over right? For that matter, dont talk too loudly or the Sioux and Cherokee will want america back!
It was such a pity that Mitt Romney wasn't elected, Ms Danielle Pletka might have role to play in his shaping of foreign policies.
Michael Rubin, let the Iranians get rid of their leaders. They want to take pride in doing so themselves. It's never popular for outsiders to interfere.
Virtue to help the poor and lazy is commendable but we dont have any money. As much as i dont trustee romney, at least he believes in paying with cash in stead of borrowing from china. joke all you want, you blue staters, but the check is coming to your table soon!
Madhav Nalapat, whether you like it or not, Europe will always be America's cousin. We share so much together that words are superfluous to decribe our relationship. Not all European countries are like Greece, Spain or Italy. There are vibrancy here and there.
Brad Glosserman, if I were Obama, I would have Robert Zoellick to succeed Hilary Clinton. He's a moderate Republican und very diplomatic. He would be the right person.
I'm English and I can tell you that when....... and I DO mean when.......the US Dollar is no longer the world reserve currency, and your President's mishandling of the economy adversely affects EVERY economy on the planet – you Americans WILL be standing alone and friendless. Cope!
I think they're already standing alone etc. They made a mistake by choosing Obama, cause he'll just ruin their economy even more and just destroy them strength wise. At this rate no one will care about them just like how Iran laughs at them now since they're being weak with their foreign policy and everything. They used to be the bringers of Justice around the world etc. Now I think they are just turning into a bunch of hippies. Just my opinion.
It's nice to see our "friends," the Brits, standing with us so steadfastly. We are inextricably linked and try not to forget it. If you have to ask how then please refer and review our history, not only the origins of our nation, but also the intervention by us on your behalf in some of those past big wars. I'm sorry – does England carry the capacity to simultaneously defend Europe from ballistic missiles with a missile interception shield and carry out foreign policy in the Middle East and Asia? Oh that's right we are still the wealthiest country in this entire world. Do you really think that is going to change so drastically in the next decade so as to completely destroy our leverage and diplomatic connections with most foreign nations? Our military might alone, even in this current state, guarantees that everyone will have to take us absolutely seriously well into the next century. Oh and even if we have to withdraw from the world and pursue only policies and capabilities that defend our own shores, and largely keep our military might in our own hemisphere, we will still be able to strongly influence the goings-on of everyone in this hemisphere for the next century (and that's in the worst case scenario).
United States to Great Britain. United States to Great Britain. Come in, over. The ship isn't sinking, don't run for the hills yet. Fair-weather friends.
Barb is a troll, the British have been one of our closest allies for almost a hundred years now (Canada is the only country we are closer with). The NATO treaty is bound in blood so don't worry to much about that. On top of the fact that the progressives won here; so while the European recovery will take some time, we should be able to out outpace them pretty easily.
And with friends like you...
State of emergency or sanction America imposed on Iran may have an argument . Okay . But why America imposed sanction on Medicine supply ? To prevent one from buying medicine is totally barbaric and unacceptable . If a person prevents Hitlar from taking medicine , in my eyes that person is worse than Hitlar . It is the United stupidity of America and so called enlighted world . No American has protested ? But I see they care a lot about human rights of a patience who is suffering for lack of medicine due to sanction being imposed .
Don't we have a thousand domestic priorities to worry about?
unfortunately, the US does not exist in isolation. You are aware of that, right?
Seems like the U.S is going into a policy of isolationism and ruining itself economically. Didn't the US learn thats not a good thing from after World War 1?
Why not take care of America and Americans first? Is that so politically incorrect?
We now need to focus on India. The American invasion of Afghanistan brought to the forefront the irrelevance of India as a nation. With a population of over 1.2 billion people there was no value that this nation could bring to the table. Their soldiers (ragtag) 1.2 million continue hiding in the trenches scared from Talibans. A few teenage Talibans invaded the country and held it hostage for days on end showing how useless India is. It was embarrasing for the world to observe this humiliation of a nation that was being touted as a regional power.
I continue to read with interest the thesis presented on CNN that "less is more" in a political context as applied to India. Although Mies Van Der Rohe adopted this in an architectural context, its economic and political connotations are indeed powerful. Empowering subjugated minorities in India by splitting it into smaller states would trigger uber economic demand for western nations who have given so much financial and technology aid to India with no return to show for the investment. I concur with this approach and with an economic background find the premise to be on solid footing. Central Asian States (CAS) are a case in point on this successful approach. We need to understand that India has an unmanageable large population mired in poverty and we are spinning our wheels trying to feed it. It is also too big of a geographical unit to govern.
You are living in a fantasy land. You are most likely a Paki troll. I believe you are zealous of the tremendous progress India has made economically and militarily along with justice. It is a lively democracy where people of all religions (Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and others) live together in peace. The Prime Minister of the nation comes from the minority community (he is a Sikh). It has the second largest number of Muslims in the world and hardly any of them have shown support to Al Queda or Taliban. The country is self sufficient and does not need any foreign aid.
ISpare us your rubbish. India is a bully and a trouble maker in that region. It has kept the neighbors behind due constant bickerings.India has become a dinosaur. A Smithsonian specimen. Like humpty dumpty even USA, NATO and the entire free world are having a tough time holding it together. Living in the shadows of Pakistan, defined by China, haunted by Kashmir and punctuated by Terror Organizations such as Shiv Sena, India is struggling to find a meaning for its existence and a place in the new world order. How can it stand up? Certainly not on its feet .....perhaps on its knees to seek redemption for double crossing USA in Afghanistan and Iran. Typical of Indian DNA. Too bad Jerry Sandusky is behind bars.
I'm sure people said the same things about China 30 years ago. Oh boy history may repeat itself. It may not though, if India isn't careful in choosing it's allies, but seriously their military is no joke. A nation on the verge of collapse, as you seem to imply, would not have recently purchased an aircraft carrier for retrofit, field the heaviest and arguably best armored main battle tank in the world, and currently be entering into an agreement with Russia for research, development and production of their own version of the PAK-FA. Again: India needs to be careful in the selection of it's allies.
Read the very short and pathetic history of Pakistan if you want to know why reprinted is so angry. They have only existed a little over 60 years and they have already been crushed in 3 wars (all with India). While it is important to note India hasn't really been our greatest ally, Pakistan can't even control their own country! They have militant groups just running amok all over the north of their country. It has gotten so bad we actually have stepped in to help them. Nationalism is in short supply in Pakistan, although for good reason.
These pakis cant eat, cant sleep without thinking of India, Keep watching which country will split, we already split you in 1971 (shamefully, 93k surrender with our terms), and we still have plans to do some more splits, its the blue print of UN to split
He should focus on startind a war with Iran: hope it helps US economy!
#11: Bow to no one.
Iran is a threat to no one except Western banking interests that view all people of the world, including us, as their enemies. War with Iran is suicide for this once great nation.
So Iran giving out threats and going for nuclear weapons isn't a threat where they would be more then happy to use the Nukes on Israel or you guys or to sell them to any terrorist organization that would be happy to bomb you guys. Obviously not a threat.
So.....we should just issue a regime change in Iran,should we?I suppose in the process,Russia and China will stand idley by?Iran is not like Iraq,nor is it like Syria.Nor will Iran be as easy to conquer in the event of war,nor will it be easy to topple-we can't even seem to be able to topple the Syrian regimeZ(a far cry easier).
Both Russia and China have stated that they would defend Iran against us-a claim neither made for Syria or Iraq.China rceives 60% of its oil from Iran.Iran is a hotbed-it is also a politican nightmare.Unfortunately,the only language Tehran understands is violence.Unfortunately,China and Russia have said violence will mean a response from Beijing and Moscow.Quite possibly a military response.
You have made it up yourself, haven\t you! I guess you aspire to become a journalist and work for CNN...
Bad news for you: CNN offices are full of liars much better than yourself!
Could be right there but who knows whats better a possible World War 3 or a nuclear Iran? That's the real question here.
Declare socialist solidatiry with Cuba and Venezuala, collapse the military, abandon our allies, destroy what's left of the economy, seize all private assets for the good of the people, erect a personality cult to the new dear leader of the west.
i didn't think North Koreans were allowed to post on CNN lol.
I suspect that nobody from the four states bordering Mexico was asked to submit a foreign initiative proposal. If someone from California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas had been invited to submit a topic for consideration I am confident the drug cartels from Mexico and the violence that comes with them would be Number 1. Most of the country has no idea how bad this situation is along our border with Mexico.
I just have one question. Where is the money going to come from for all this??
With a weakened military & economy, dealing in all the above priorities is a fair game.
The ability of the US to become energy independent in the relative near term drastically alters our involvement in the Middle East. The main reason we have camped there over the past 50 years has been – we desperately needed the oil. Israel is nervous (rightfully so) recognizing our rapidly mounting disinterest in the region with a shift towards the Far East where the action is going to be for the next 50 years. Fundamentals: get even closer with India; treat China as a potential ally with a watchful eye on the word ‘potential’.
I doubt China or Russia will jump to help Iran. They don't want the Nuclear power balance changed either.
Anyone that thinks our military is weakend is an idiot.
When a nation, any nation relies solely on a military of just volunteers the nation and military are weakened. Alll citizens have a vested interest in being availible for military service, otherwise the military eventually becomes the tool of the paymaster. We can not be totally reliant on tech to be the answer either. Good tech is essential, but many nations continue to steal our tech and are on a par or very close to it with us. We need a strong military to survive, but we need the nation as a whole to be part of that military.
Switzerland is ALL volunteer and Hitler never dared attack them. Conscription lead to many issues. In fact the US was founded on the ALL volunteer principle.
The Indian Debacle could overshadow the European crisis. GDP that has dropped off the cliff (4% est), budget deficits, collapse of Indian rupiah, rampant poverty, unemployment, FDI reversal, companies leaving town are some of the disastrous events that are threatening the Indian state. The downward spiralling is so severe that the Indian government has been unable to control it. Even the Americans have been unable to help and several trips by the treasury secretary were not helpful. This also has security repercussions for India and US defense secretary and secretary of state have flown in to counsel India on how to protect its borders with the help of Israel/IDF. Rumors have it that the breakup of India along the lines of Soviet Union is a very plausible scenario that I am sure intelligence agencies all over the world are factoring in their geopolitical stress tests.
Keep dreaming pakistani, thats the only thing you guys can do along with your taliban mullahs
Uh, improved relations with Russia?
The above article shows clearly that our presidents were ill advised.No mention of off shored jobs, endless wars that got us in the mess that we are in, open borders. Obama needs to restrict importation of cheap labor products, particularly from China; he needs to end wasting of money on wars, close borders, make income tax more fair and a simple matter-not a source of frustration,reduce government. The money saved from endless wars ( he needs to bring our troops back ASAP) can be spent on infrastructure, research,preventive health care.
Wrong across the board. The Obama administration's first and most important policy is to strenghten and improve the economy of the US. With a weak economy we can do nothing for anyone else. Then the question of the US being a dumping ground for exports from China and the EU. We must rebuild OUR manufacturing capabilities. And finally, from my view point, the US must decide what is truly in the INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES and everything else is secondary. We cannot continue to police the world and try and create democracies in places that aren't truly ready for them.
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1. Amnesty for Mexicans
2. Amnetsy for Guatamalans
3. Amnesty for Hondurans
4. Amnesty for Nicaraguans
5. Amnesty for Costa Ricans
6. Amnesty for Panamanians
7. Amnesty Colombians
8. Amnesty for Ecuadorians
9. Amnesty for Haitians
10. Amnesty for anyone who will vote Democrat
How about not sending checks for foreign aid for 4 years and rebuild America?
How about concentrating on Lowering Taxes, Lowering Gasoline Prices, Lowering Food Prices and going back to Chicago–
Nuke em!!!!! Yehah!!
It will be a major flaw for President Obama to spend any more money or attention in the forever-in-crisis Middle East.
America will soon be capable of being self sufficient in oil. The threat of oil supply cut by the Middle East oil producers will no longer be a future issue. I expect America will import less than 10% of its oil needs by 2015.
US just need to tighten its internal security system , like having a country wide aerial survelliance system 24/7 by a ntwork of Unmanned surveillance aircrafts. Such a system would be capable of looking closeup even on the faces of people in the streets of America. This may be a big ticket item but its long term investment and is much better than stationing troops overseas and wasting money protecting countries that are not really friends of America. .
One of the ways forward for any US President is to abandon this traditional regard of China as a potential threat – in everything.
Americans mostly dont not know the true psyche of China. War is never never the preoccuption of Chinese mentality. War is waste of money and interrupts Chinese trade and business everywhere, and so is not desirable. For the Chinese it 's all about business and trade. Call it a genetic makeup if you like, that is uniquely Chinese. Chinese people run countries they setup in, even when they were a minority race in that country. You never hear of Chinese wealthy people getting involved in starting wars overseas, unlike busybody and wealth squandering America.
An American and Chinese co-operation is preferred to holding this false presumption of aggression by either country against each other.
If war is not part of the Chinese government's mentality, then why are they building ballistic missiles that are designed to track and hit moving aircraft carriers? Funny it was the Taiwan Straight Crisis that helped accelerate the development of these missiles. That was when the United States sided with a people who are respected by their government against an authoritarian regime that was menacing them with missile tests.
As far as starting wars in other countries, I think your average Tibetan would disagree with your assessment after being invaded and occupied, seeing their culture threatened by a flood of immigration to their land, and the building of a railroad by the Chinese government to their country. Native Americans can also relate to this.
foreign priority #1 \nlm Israel
"keep arab spring on track"
I see they did not mention that war in Syria has killed like 40,000 people in the last year.
Personally I believe armageddon is going to happen in 36 days. Just look at what is happening in Syria. Seems like the Syria attacking Israel in Meghiddo prophecy is very plausible.
No one has mentioned Mali. Granted, its not the most pressing foreign policy concern, but it should be brought up.
"QUOTED" We now need to focus on Pakistan. The American invasion of Afghanistan brought to the forefront of the irrelevance of Pakistan as a nation.
Their soldiers continue hiding in the trenches scared from Talibans. A few teenage Talibans from within the country occupied entire SWAT and areas near Islamabad for months on end showing how useless Pakistan is and how coward its army and its peoples are. It was embarrasing for the world to observe this humiliation of a nation that was being touted as sewer of Asia.
I continue to read with interest the thesis presented on CNN that "less is more" in a political context as applied to Pakistan.
Empowering subjugated minorities in Pakistan by splitting it into smaller states would trigger uber economic demand for western nations who have given so much financial andtechnology aid to Pakistan with no return to show for the investment and only backstabbing and covert terrorist operations by Pakistan against them. Balochistan is an excellent idea to achieve this.
I concur with this approach and with an economic background find the premise to be on solid footing. Central Asian States (CAS) are a case in point on this successful approach.
"QUOTED" I am not one to mince words. The common denominator to all the bad things
happening in the world is PAKISTAN ! Yes, folks...PAKISTAN ! Look at all the countries surrounding that are reeling in terror due to this country..... Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Myanmar. The mother of all trouble makers ... yes folks, hold on to your chairs !!! is PAKISTAN !!! IT IS NOT COINCIDENCE !! IT IS BY DESIGN !!!
Pakistan cannot stop meddling in the affairs of these fledgling nations...financing terrorists...incitingcommunal violence, fanning religious intolerance.
This must come to a stop immediately before this cancerous country bursts itself. Turning it intoan inferno that will be uncontrollable. The conditions are ripe for this to happen as Pakistan doesn't have any economy at all that is threatening not even south Asia but entire world !!!
Time for US to immediately declare Pakistan as a terrorist nation.......................
"QUOTED" Pakistan has become a cancer for this world. A source of financing and inspiration for all terrorists in the region the likes of which have attacked Malala. A place where these extremists seek refuge after attacking neighboring countries and NATO forces and American troops. Pakistan is a Smithsonian specimen. Like humpty dumpty even USA, NATO and the entire free world are having a tough time holding it together. Living in the shadows of India, defined by China, and punctuated by Terror Organizations such as Al Qaeda, Lashkar E Taibba, Jesh E Muhammad, Jamaad Ud Dawa
find a meaning for its existence and a place in the new world order. How can it
stand up? Certainly not on its feet .....perhaps on its knees to seek
redemption for double crossing USA in Afghanistan and Iraq.For be fooling entire world in the name of war on terror and OBL, hiding it and making sure to loot billions from US taxpayers money.
"QUOTED" The bottom line is that the only way to have peace in the region, eliminate terrorism and lessen regional tension is to declare Pakistan as a terrorist and hostile nation. It has become a gone case to govern or create any value for western countries or even for its own population. \
We have invested a lot of resources in Pakistan since its creation given a lot of aid to prop it up. There has been no return on this investment. Instead Paksitan has squandered all theresources in building nuclear weapons and repainting cheap Chinese missiles with stars and moon while poverty and terrorism remains rampant in the country. We need to revisit our relationship with Pakistan . American taxpayers will not tolerate this anymore. We need to take care of our own populace going forward. We cannot be giving more financial aids to Pakistan and should not hear to its begging pleads !!
The thesis is that smaller independent states out of it will generate tremendous economic demand for western nations, be democratically more efficient and easy to manage,
Dont worry bro, the whole world knows that now, we are dealing step by step to dismantle them
Dont worry bro, the whole world knows that now, we are dealing step by step to break them like we did in 71
Tall to do list!
Perhaps Americans should have voted a slate of magicians.
colonial baggage, latin american ties? sounds to me like forget the falklands right to self determination, get into to bed with argentina... sounds alot like forget principles think chinese. the first mark of a doomed peoples. don't be fooled to go that way.
in fact i have come to the conclusion that Madhav Nalapat is not very well learned. and the editors decision to put sabatini' part following, but next, on suggests the us should move towards a continent with 3.5tnapp gdp 64bnapp military expenditure from one with 20tnapp gdp 195bn me... i must ask my fellow english speakers would u rather go on with europe (britain and whoever can be convinced to face west than east) or with brazil and a mangle of tin-pot bashing republics.
sorry i couldn't put more of an intelligent answer nut im either stupid or dont really have the time
get rid of Holder, Napolitano, and Clinton YAY! 3 people who hurt their trigger pullers. Bush should have dumped Chertoff just to be fair.
Why Israel is so worried about Iran's so called nuclear bomb while she has hundreds of these. Iran is an old civilization and in my view a much responsible country than Israel.
dd
The article fails to mention the BEST foreign policy we can make a priority.
That is "global energy independence", where EVERY country has as much energy as they need to thrive, and come close to a utopian situation.
The ONLY feasible way to achieve that with a portable energy fuel source, and minimal disruption of existing systems, is by massively scaling up Pollution-negative Oil-from-Algae production.
Making MORE pollution-free oil than the world needs, avoids MANY of the "problems with the world" caused by NOT doing so.
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