Saturday, February 24, 2007
You would have to be a fool to disagree
Or Our Dear Embattled Leader and his evil Grand Vizier Dickwahd al-Cheney. Bill Richardson, in the WaPo to day, makes the simple and accurate case that diplomacy is an effective weapon when used. The point he makes is so glaringly obvious that it highlights the sad state of the Republican Party which has fostered an antithetical world view.
No nation has ever been forced to renounce nuclear weapons, but many have chosen to do so. The Iranians will not end their nuclear program because we threaten them and call them names. They will renounce nukes because we convince them that they will be safer and more prosperous if they do that than if they don't. This feat will take more than threats and insults. It will take skillful American diplomatic leadership."Undermined our diplomatic leverage" and provided comfort and support to folks like Al-Qaeda who feed off the hatred their actions have generated. But being a Deciderer is a lot easier than knowing what you are doing, especially when Uncle Dickwahd is there to help.
Diplomacy is more than just talking to people. It requires speaking credibly from a position of strength. As the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as energy secretary, as a member of Congress and as a diplomatic envoy, I have always believed in and worked to achieve tough, credible and direct negotiations with adversaries. To be tough, you need strong alliances and a strong military. And to be credible, you need a record of meaning what you say. By alienating our allies, overextending our military, making idle threats and antagonizing just about everyone, the Bush administration has undermined our diplomatic leverage.
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