Is it important to ask how hard Sen. John Kerry will try to
spend reconstruction money in Iraq? Is it important to ask how hard
President George Bush will try to train Iraqi troops? How can you
trust them? It probably will not shock anyone to learn that much of
what has been heard in the recent debates is wrought with a
staggering irrelevance.
I imagine, dear reader, that by this point in the campaign you
have been bombarded with various facts, numbers, empty statements,
loaded statements, abstractions and pledges from both sides.
Bush is ridiculous in his optimism in Iraq, and he borders on
complete dishonesty when he speaks of successes in the recent
Afghani “elections.”
Kerry’s rhetoric is empty (and he knows it) when he speaks
about “internationalizing” the military effort in Iraq.
The situation is ugly, despite what the president says, and there
is no easy way out, despite what either of them say.
The world today can be described as one of order ““
functioning states participate in the international system, which
includes the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and so on
““ pitted against the world of failed states such as Somalia,
rogue states such as North Korea and global terrorist networks such
as al-Qaeda.
The division of the world into these two camps is obvious.
Equally obvious is the side we are on. And just as clear is the
long list of natural allies, those with a stake in the outcome of
the current system.
Now to discuss the presidential candidates. Kerry is an ardent
internationalist. He is a proponent of international institutions
as the vehicles of cooperation and promulgators of international
norms and standards. These are the key mechanisms facilitating the
ordered world today.
Kerry stands for the vigorous use of soft power ““
non-military means of dealing with potential threats ““ in
addition to military power.
Kerry wants to actively engage all countries that threaten the
current system, rather than pick and choose without coherency.
There are too many areas in the world where the current
administration seems to have lost interest, such as North Korea or
Israel.
If Bush really wants to encourage reform and democracy in the
Middle East, he should reach out to the growing number of Iranian
moderates and at least pretend to engage Saudi Arabia (the country
that brought us not only Osama bin Laden, but also 15 of the 19
hijackers involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.)
A cornerstone of Kerry’s plan for Iraq is a large
multinational summit to bring the ordered and functioning world
together to discuss a situation that threatens us all. While this
idea may seem small or abstract, it is a sharp departure from the
lethargic attitude toward high-level diplomacy that the United
States has witnessed in recent years.
Sadly, high-level officials from the current administration
rarely travel to meet with the leaders of other countries as much
as they should. The actual diplomatic efforts are disturbingly
small. I guess Crawford, Texas is nicer than Brussels this time of
year.
President Bush is a proponent of power politics. He believes,
without question, that the United States stands for universal
ideals that can, and should, be exported. At the moment, the United
States is the sole superpower in the world. This perfect match of
brilliant universal ideals and an unrivaled preponderance of power
presents a rare opportunity to fundamentally reshape the world.
While this idea is tempting and fascinating, it deserves
scrutiny. To assume that the citizens of far-off countries want the
ideals that we cherish is presumptive. To assume that these
values’ imposition through tanks and bombs will be met with
loving acceptance was once naive and is now debunked. To ignore the
potential consequences of such sweeping and romantic ideas has
proven to be dangerous.
Perhaps, like me, you’re frightened by the bold
combination of the president’s ambition, impetuousness and
propensity to blow things up.
Kerry seeks to strengthen the institutions ““ such as the
United Nations ““ that bind civilizations. The ties that bind
the orderly world can be strengthened or ignored. Stronger ties
mean a stronger world. A stronger world means a safer America.
Scott Nenni is the issues director for the Bruin Democrats.
He is a fourth-year political science student and can be reached at
[email protected].