In Praise of Diplomacy

03/18/2007

Paul Munnis

Our American State Department has a lot of capable, loyal and astute members of the U.S. Diplomatic Corps who could be terrific assets for America if they were just allowed to practice their craft.

As a case in point just look at Christopher Hill and the outstanding job he is doing leading North Korea to the bargaining table and engaging America into a set of negotiations in which both parties to these talks are walking away with their needs met and even some of their wants satisfied.

In spite of the purported nastiness of John Bolton there are others far more capable who are able to shine when they are given an opportunity. Yet Condoleeza Rice has not been a shining star (Donald Trump says "Fire her!") as Secretary of State and before her Colin Powell was a genuine disaster. In all fairness to them both Dick Chaney has made a disaster out of American Foreign Policy and he has shot off his mouth to the detriment of the U.S. and thus has destroyed many diplomatic initiatives by usurping the role of diplomat in a very undiplomatic way. Mr. Bush has been destructive of the UN at a time when we need diplomatic influence to be rising. I think that both Mr. Bush and Mr. Chaney fear the UN Human Rights Commission and they both have good reason for such fear.

When people call for Chaney’s resignation there is more involved than just a gaffe or two. The man has a five year history of putting American foreign policy and diplomacy in the tank -- also his relationship with Halliburton is suspect.

Right now we need to get rid of Alberto Gonzales, he is a threat to domestic tranquility and a poor leader who puts politics above his job as head of our Justice Department. He is hurting our American image abroad and it impacts our foreign policy. We have an FBI in need of an overhaul and that is the last thing on Gonzales mind as he works at being Bush’s personal lawyer and finds ways to avoid obeying international law. After Gonzales goes then we need Chaney to resign. He is a threat to American interests -- both at home and abroad.

When we look at Iran some say that diplomacy is failing us. I say “not so – it is succeeding and the more that Iran postures and bluffs the more we know that things are a success.”

The UN has overcome its problems of divisiveness about how to manage Iran. The UN has agreed upon a formula for sanctions and it has brought Iran to the bargaining table. Talks are underway that will cause Iran to think deeply before acting and posturing, although posturing is all that is really left to them. Iran is being isolated and contained. With a naval blockade, an air corridor blockade and their borders being slowly but surely sewn up, there is not much left for Iran except to start laying-off workers thus causing unemployment and unrest to visit the citizens and government of Iran.

These citizens are not that happy with the current religious right and would like to see government reform (two parallel governments in Iran is an unworkable arrangement anyhow). Now they will have even more reason to want change. As banks shun Iranian money, as their buying power shrinks, as their currency exchange rates decline, as their oil dries up, they may have good reason to rethink their relationship with the rest of the world. It is not lost upon the Iranian people that more than America is involved in a decision to shun Iran -- indeed the whole world has joined in that shunning effort. It will occur to Iranians that their leadership is out of phase with the rest of the world and that anti-American rhetoric is no substitute for a peaceful coexistence with others. Instead of Iraq needing Iran it will soon be the other way around.

Russia has problems and the Russian people are getting quite unhappy with Putin as he morphs Russia back towards totalitarianism and America must redirect this movement. Whenever this sort of thing happens then the formula for such politicians is to launch a tirade of anti-Americanism to mask their problems and to attempt to rally support for their government. Putin could well lose his job before long and then good American diplomacy will be critical and essential.

Bush makes it easy for these anti-American politicians because he has become the worldwide bogeyman over his bad foreign policy and his military disaster in Iraq. Add to that the moral outrage from torture, abuse, denial of justice and the use of rendition and it is pretty easy to whip-up Anti-American sentiment just over the human rights issues alone. Mr. Bush is showing how it must not be done. His is a showcase for policy failure.

When Bush is replaced with a respected and morally acceptable president then that excuse will be gone along with Mr. Bush. Not only will Russia have to shape-up but so will China and Venezuela. Mr. Bush, through the behavior of his Administration, is causing even more problems by developing excuses to join the “Axis of Evil,” instead of using diplomacy and power to challenge membership in that unsavory club.

Before Democrats came to power diplomacy was not used by the Bush Administration in any positive manner. Since the 2006 election we Democrats have demanded more use of diplomacy and a re-examination of American foreign policy. Even the Iraqi government has gotten an earful from Democrats who used the media to get their message out. We are getting more and better use of diplomacy and America is benefiting as a direct result.

Diplomacy alone can be effective. Diplomacy when complemented by a strong Army can be persuasive. Diplomacy and a strong military combined with a morally persuasive government can become irresistible.

James Baker, III, has proposed America change our policy to one of “Principled Pragmatism,” and people of both Parties agree that is the right approach. Neo-cons seek to distort proven principles of diplomacy and to subsume them to their religious dogma and theology. Pragmatism is something Americans have little problem with. (C-SPAN has an American Perspectives series where this speech can be viewed in full).

As Henry Kissinger said “Principles are what guide you through tough decisions for they provide a roadmap for quality thinking. Pragmatism assures that you get it right and that others can see the reasoning behind your viewpoint.”

When combined these two become guides to right living both for people and for nations. We would add that cultural and historical knowledge and sensitivity belong with these guidelines for the crafting of good foreign policy.