For the past eight years, we have sort of drifted in a vacuum when it comes to foreign policy. Like in a movie where the astronauts are cast adrift in space, that is how our so-called foreign policy has been. We have not had a foreign policy per se, what we have had for the last eight years is a "reactive" policy, a foreign policy (for lack of better name) that was purely reactive. We did not institute new policies or practiced new ways of dealing with other countries, we simply either abandoned old policies as we did with Cuba and Iran (and now Israel!), and called it a new beginning, or just react to whatever the other country does. Witness what is taking place with the so called Russian "hacking," the cyber war.
Overall, we've had a miserable track record for the last decade or so when it comes to foreign policy. We are in the process of losing Syria completely to Assad, owing to our complete mismanagement and lack of action. Our relations with Russia has gone from bad to worse, mainly due to our total lack of policy when dealing with Putin. We have simply reacted by implementing sanctions and verbally condemning his actions. This has gotten us nowhere except to further alienate us. Now with this latest "cyber war," we are doing exactly the same thing. Our congress and president are making statements condemning Russia and announcing that we will do "something" in retaliation. It is a same old story that is only going to make matters worst! Naturally, Putin announced that Russia would not just standby waiting for our retaliation. So, it's going to be Russia's reaction to our reaction, and so forth!
Our relations with Israel are probably at its lowest point ever. Obama and Netanyahu never got along right from the start. They are not only complete opposites in personalities but apparently in their views on the Middle East and especially Arab-Israeli relations. The most recent U.S. move in the UN was indeed a betrayal. A US veto would not have changed the outcome, but it would have shown US support for Israel. By abstaining from voting, the US has essentially taken the Palestinian side. Kerry's long explanation of US decision to act (or not act) as it did, really did not make much sense. In particular, his statement that US was seeking the peaceful coexistence of two states, Israel and Palestine, but that a Jewish state and a democracy was not possible. What exactly did he mean by that? Was he saying that Israel is not a democracy and that Jews cannot be a part of democratic system? It just made no sense and further infuriated Netanyahu!
We have not had a policy of any kind when it comes to dealing with North Korea. The last time there was any attempt to deal with North Korea took place during Clinton administration and it was very badly handled. In fact, you can blame the current situation to the mishandling of that "deal" that Clinton had struck with North Korea. The way we have been "handling" the North Korean situation is by beefing up defenses around South Korea and Japan and encouraging Japan to increase its defensive capabilities. This, of course, simply causes North Korea to increase its nuclear development and belligerent behavior. How else are they going to react since there are no means for them to deal with us?
Our "experts" have been saying that China was the key to the whole problem with North Korea. It was China that supported North Korea economically throughout the sanctions and it was China that could control North Korea. Well, China did help North Korea and continues to do so, but now we discovered that China really has no control over North Korea. China is eager to sell goods to them, but really cannot tell them what to do! So now, after all this time, we are finally aware that North Korea is truly a rogue and will do what it decides to do, not what China or Russia tells it to do!
The problem with North Korea that we have is much more severe than what our government is telling us or what the news media is reporting! A slightest error, miscalculation or misunderstanding could lead to another war in Korea, this time much worst than before! A mechanical or an electronic glitch on one of their missile or nuclear tests could send a nuclear warhead to South Korea or Japan, starting an exchange in missile attacks and counter attacks. But even if a hot war does not erupt, we cannot continue to force North Korea to live under those very brutal sanctions. If China stops selling goods to North Korea, you can bet that they will find a market for their nuclear weapons to raise hard cash! Do we want ISIS or other such terrorist organization to have nuclear weapons in their possession? North Korea will not hesitate to sell its nukes, after all, they won't just sit there and starve. To survive, they will sell to whoever offers to buy!
If I painted a gloomy picture of today's landscape, well.....that is because it is gloomy! This is what the new administration will be facing. So, rather than constantly criticizing and finding fault with every little thing to do with Trump, saying things like "he is not my president!" I think we need to come together as a nation and hope for the best. It really annoys me to see politicians still grandstanding and making inflammatory statements about their political opposites, but then, they are politicians!
Every election half of the population will be unhappy because their candidate, their party did not win. That is the nature of our system. You would think people of America have learned to live with that after all these years! Let's hope that the new administration will not continue with this "reactive" policy and does develop a "foreign policy!" We cannot afford to start another cold war with Russia, nor can we risk having another war in Korea or have North Korea sell its nuclear weapons to the terrorists. Israel is our only true ally in the Middle East, why are we alienating Israel? Does our government really think we are better off dumping Israel and becoming friendlier with other Arab nations? The new administration is going to have to take a stand, make some hard decisions in the direction that we are heading, and create a new foreign policy!
No comments:
Post a Comment