Obama's Bush Doctrine

[Guest guest]

The Washington Post's E.J. Dionne argues, " In electing Barack Obama,

the country traded the foreign policy of the second President Bush for

the foreign policy of the first President Bush. " Noting Obama's

willingness to heed the advice of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and

former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, Dionne says Obama's

realist foreign policy mindset resembles that of the elder Bush:

 

Obama's national security choices are already causing grumbling

from parts of the antiwar left, even if Obama made clear six years ago

that while he was with them on Iraq, he was not one of them.

 

Ironically, Obama is likely to show more fidelity to George H.W.

Bush's approach to foreign affairs than did the former president's own

son. That's change, maybe even change we can believe in, but it's not

the change so many expected.

 

Update Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said yesterday that the

whole world is looking forward to change under Obama. " America is

needed -- an America that is strong, democratic and sure of itself --

for the entire world, not just for Americans, " he said. " We are seeing

that if it's bad for America, it's bad for us all. "

 

 

Funny how during the primary that Obama disagreed with HRC on

foreign policy but it is rumored that he (Obama) will make her Sec of

State. Fact is more strange than fiction, I suppose.

November 28th, 2008 at 10:21 am

2.

Wayne A. Schneider Says:

 

Well, at least Pres George H.W. Bush did not have a foreign

policy of preventive first strikes, where we claim the right to attack

someone because it looks like they might be thinking about considering

attacking us.

 

And Sen Clinton may, technically, be constitutionally ineligible

to be Sec of State because the emoluments of that office were

increased during her current term as Senator. To confirm her would be

to say that the Constitution is meaningless.

November 28th, 2008 at 10:24 am

3.

Michael Lafferty Says:

 

Let's not thrust the President-elect toward the chopping block

just yet.

 

His choices to date for cabinet positions and those selected to

join his inner circle in the White House seem reasonable and

pragmatic, even bold. This is not the time to force radical change

upon slow moving institutions: rather, it is the time for a steady

hand and the selection of individuals who will institute new policies

and approaches.

 

In the case of the Department of Defense, holding on to existing

leadership for at least the first year is a wise move, as efforts are

made to draw down troop strength and rebuild a broken Army.

November 28th, 2008 at 10:25 am

4.

tokin librul Says:

 

Bush 41's Foreign Policy?

 

Well, there's change we can believe in, alrighty!!!

November 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am

5.

Above the Clouds Says:

 

How will history books teach the concept of Bush invading and

occupying Iraq so he could win a second term in the White House? When

people like Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Rove are in any decision making

processes, there really wasn't any " foreign policy " other than

political posturing, was there?

November 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am

6.

Doc Rock Says:

 

Did Gorbachev add, " What's good for General Motors is good for

everyone? "

November 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am

7.

Curlew Says:

 

I remain in stitches laughing at and because of the Monday

Morning quarterbacks who are nitpicking almost every appointment

Barack has made to date. The only one that has not been met with some

sort of doomsday prediction is his appointment for Social Secretary.

How did everyone miss that one? OMG the sky is falling.

 

I have a simple question for all of the experts who are so

righteous about the horrible mistakes Barack is making with his

selections. That question is: If you have all the right answers why

aren't YOU on the transition team or better yet why didn't you run for

President in 2008?

 

We are 54 days out from the inauguration and already we are

seeing the financial markets responding positively to Barack and what

he is doing. World leaders around the country seem to be doing

backflips with glee that we will soon have an adult in the White House

providing leadership. Our " enemy " al-Qaeda seems to be a bit upset

that we have selected Barack because his selection upsets their

paradigm. The populace of the world is elated that we are replacing a

wannabe cowboy with intelligence and thoughfulness and grace.

 

However the Monday Morning quarterbacks spend all of their time

wringing their hands over " issues " that will not be in office for

nearly 2 more months. Chill out, ok? Let the man do his job and set up

his administration. Support the efforts to fix the wrongs of the last

8 years. Stop whining like a bunch of right-wing talk show hosts for

christ's sake.

November 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am

8.

tokin librul Says:

 

If you have all the right answers why aren't YOU on the

transition team or better yet why didn't you run for President in 2008?

 

Oh curlew, tha's too easy: Cuz I'm not a bought-and-paid-for

clone of the power elite, as is our new Presmidunt and all his nominees…

 

Geez, pal. Try harder, please…

November 28th, 2008 at 10:42 am

9.

Badger Says:

 

Some of the Most persuasive Criticism of George W. Bush's

decision to Invade and Occupy Iraq was made by Memebers of his

Father's Administration.

 

For example, here's Dick Cheney in 1992…

 

Going to Baghdad… would require a much different approach

militarily than fighting in the open desert outside the capital, a

type of warfare that U.S. troops were not familiar, or comfortable

fighting.

 

" All of a sudden you've got a battle you're fighting in a major

built-up city, a lot of civilians are around, significant limitations

on our ability to use our most effective technologies and techniques, "

Cheney said.

 

" Once we had rounded him up and gotten rid of his government,

then the question is what do you put in its place? You know, you then

have accepted the responsibility for governing Iraq. "

 

Except for Geroge H.W. Bush's BETRAYAL of the Kurds and the

Shiites ( A Major Flaw IMHO), I think he conducted the first Iraq War

pretty successfully. Unlike his son, Bush 41 LISTENED to Colin Powell.