Editorial Observer: Challenging the Mullahs, One Signature at a Time, By MAURA J. CASEY, New York Times, February 7, 2007
Lech Walesa needed an OSCE (Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe) to emerge. He needed regional top cover that said, "This is something we talk about together and not let any one regime crush silently without protest."
There is much of this kind of ferment in the region, and yes, much is triggered by the Big Bang--for good and ill.
But we're not catching these opportunities. We're all sticks and no carrots, all shooting and no talking, all one-on-one and no multilateral.
This is not how we did Europe successfully in the Cold War, nor the Balkans in the post-Cold War, and so it's too bad Bush and Co. don't do diplomacy, just send out talking-point Condi to occupy the media.
Thanks to Kilngoddess for sending this.
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Comments (3)
I wonder how much of the reason that the Bush administration does not do diplomacy is that the State Department has approximately the same relationship with President Bush that Pakistan's ISI has with President Musharef.
Posted by Mark in Texas | February 10, 2007 11:57 AM
Bush is the Alan Iverson of foreign policy. There is no one else on his team, no one worth passing the ball to. Just run down the floor and jack it up. He scores his points, but the team suffers. And there is no reason for anyone to be surprised by this - it is who he is and has always been.
Was puzzled by those who though Bush&Co would respond to the ISG (or even articles in Esquire) just because it was reasonable and represented the mainstream view. The entire second term could have been scripted in November of 2004.
Posted by Hof | February 11, 2007 12:57 PM
Well now, it does appear that Condi's decision to let Chris Hill run the ball in Beijing appears to have paid off, at least for now. However, since Mr. Barnett says we don't do diplomacy, he will be loathe to give Rice any credit for this.
That would be a violation of his meme, after all.
Posted by section9 | February 13, 2007 9:51 AM