Sunday, January 23, 2005

REASSURING WORDS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION

Bush's second inaugural address on Thursday raised questions about what measures he might use to bring about his vision of freedom.

Some experts wondered if it would cause strains with nondemocratic allies like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan or alter the U.S. relationship with Russia amid Washington's concerns the country is backtracking on democratic reforms.

"The speech builds upon our policy," said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It states very clearly the long-term goal we should always be working to achieve."

The official said there was a recognition that not all countries would be ready to embrace freedom and that furthering the goal would sometimes involve quiet diplomacy. -- Reuters article

In other words, "Don't worry. All that was just for the home market."

When Kennedy said we would "bear any burden," he meant it. He promptly got us into a fiasco supporting an invasion in Cuba, and sent advisers into Vietnam. Dumb mistakes, but at least he meant it.

There's something disturbing about a democratic leader issuing propaganda for the home market. Isn't that something tyrants are supposed to do? You know, put up "Death to America" posters and then quietly work with us anyway?

The tragic thing is I'm in favor of promoting freedom throughout the world. That's a great goal. I just think there were probably better ways of doing it than invading Iraq, especially with not enough troops.

9:32 AM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Back to Complications Ensue main blog page.