G. W. BUSH AND DIPLOMACY
Recently at the U.N., Bush blew an enormous opportunity to speak privately with the Iranian President. Bush, stubborn as ever, refuses to engage in diplomatic dialogue with Iran until she disavows her nuclear program.
Bush needs to take a lesson from Republican President Nixon who was not afraid to open up channels to Mao Zedung of China after years of ridiculing him. Nixon discovered that it was better to establish a dialogue with your enemies then to isolate them.
Bush, a man of limited foreign affairs abilities, has made numerous miscalculations in the world arena. His Iraqi war is unraveling. Iraq is quickly imploding into civil war. The Iraqi province of Anbar has fallen to al Qaeda. Recently, CENTCOM commander Gen. Abizaid stated that the 140,000 U.S. troops would have to remain in Iraq until at least mid 2007. The Taliban is reemerging in Afghanistan, and poppy (opium) production is at an all time high. American casualties in both countries are on the increase.
Bush has made numerous threats to countries, forcing them to modernize their militaries (e.g. N. Korea, Iran, Venezuela). Plus, Iran has not forgotten that former Republican Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. supported Hussein in his 1980s war with Iran, including the American navy sinking half of Iran’s navy.
Bush, weakened by his misadventure in Iraq, has let the Europeans lead the talks with Iran. However, little progress has been made. Iran wants Bush to open the dialogue for he threatened confrontation with her, which is why Iranian hard-liners have the leverage in that isolated country.
Bush needs to put his ego and stubbornness aside and open a diplomatic channel with Iran like Nixon did with China before it is too late. The world cannot afford another miscalculation by Bush that may lead to another war.
Christian Gatsby
Bush needs to take a lesson from Republican President Nixon who was not afraid to open up channels to Mao Zedung of China after years of ridiculing him. Nixon discovered that it was better to establish a dialogue with your enemies then to isolate them.
Bush, a man of limited foreign affairs abilities, has made numerous miscalculations in the world arena. His Iraqi war is unraveling. Iraq is quickly imploding into civil war. The Iraqi province of Anbar has fallen to al Qaeda. Recently, CENTCOM commander Gen. Abizaid stated that the 140,000 U.S. troops would have to remain in Iraq until at least mid 2007. The Taliban is reemerging in Afghanistan, and poppy (opium) production is at an all time high. American casualties in both countries are on the increase.
Bush has made numerous threats to countries, forcing them to modernize their militaries (e.g. N. Korea, Iran, Venezuela). Plus, Iran has not forgotten that former Republican Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. supported Hussein in his 1980s war with Iran, including the American navy sinking half of Iran’s navy.
Bush, weakened by his misadventure in Iraq, has let the Europeans lead the talks with Iran. However, little progress has been made. Iran wants Bush to open the dialogue for he threatened confrontation with her, which is why Iranian hard-liners have the leverage in that isolated country.
Bush needs to put his ego and stubbornness aside and open a diplomatic channel with Iran like Nixon did with China before it is too late. The world cannot afford another miscalculation by Bush that may lead to another war.
Christian Gatsby
