Bush's Pyongyang Boomerang

American Prospect: U.S. Worse Off Than Six Years Ago

(The American Prospect)  This column was written by Paul Starr.

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Republican government during the past six years has been a study in dissipation. No, I'm not referring to the Mark Foley scandal. I mean the dissipation of American power and influence in the world — the latest consequence of which is North Korea's explosion of a nuclear weapon. Rather than deterring Pyongyang from going nuclear, Bush's policies gave it both motive and opportunity to proceed.

How has the administration dissipated the nation's power? Let us count the ways.

The Iraq War has consumed American military resources — indeed, stretched them so thin that the war has emboldened Iran and North Korea.

The Bush administration's early unilateralism, repudiation of international norms on such matters as torture, and arrogance toward what Donald Rumsfeld called "old Europe" have alienated America's allies and international public opinion.

The administration's refusal to negotiate with hostile countries has reduced the nation's capacity to use diplomacy to forestall crises.

The budget and trade deficits run-up during the Bush presidency have increased dependence on foreign infusions of capital.

And, finally, the administration has proclaimed doctrines and made threats that it has proved unable to carry out, thereby undermining U.S. credibility.

As the North Koreans surely noticed, the early thrust of the Bush presidency was a determination to take the fight to the enemy and to change hostile regimes rather than negotiate with them. Deterrence was out; preemptive strikes and preventive war were in. Instead of the "reactive posture" of the past, the administration called for a forward projection of power.

Forward it was — forward to fiasco. Bush implicitly threatened Iran and North Korea along with Iraq when he named them as part of the "axis of evil," but once American forces became bogged down in Iraq, the United States had no credible threat against the other two. Under the circumstances, the decisions of both North Korea and Iran to accelerate their nuclear programs were utterly rational. Bush thereby brought on the very situation the United States has sought to avert — nuclear weapons in the hands of a rogue state that might sell it to terrorists. And now we are back to multilateralism and deterrence, except that North Korea's acquisition of nuclear weapons is almost certainly an irreversible loss for our safety and security.

We will never know if the accommodation with North Korea begun under Clinton could have induced it to put aside its nuclear ambitions. We do know, however, that Bush's policies boomeranged and that we are worse off today than we were six years ago.

The hawks in the administration may think North Korea's bomb proves that there is no alternative but to use increased pressure on Pyongyang to bring about a change of regime. The trouble is that we don't have the power to ensure that result and by squeezing North Korea harder, we could once again precipitate exactly what we are trying to prevent. A desperate North Korea may be more likely to sell nuclear technology. And if the regime begins to collapse, it may lose control of its own weapons. Instead of trying to take Kim Jong Il down, we would be better off talking to him in the hope of easing tensions and bringing about an evolutionary change of the regime.

In the meantime, we will need to rely on imperfect methods of deterrence and containment. By identifying the nuclear "fingerprint" in any future explosion or captured device, other nations can hold North Korea accountable for selling or transferring nuclear weapons. The resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council calling for limited sanctions against North Korea is helpful mainly because China was willing to sign on to the measure. Whether the sanctions will be enforced or have any impact depends on the Chinese.

An increasingly hopeless war in Iraq, a nuclear North Korea, an aggressive fundamentalist government in Iran — such are the fruits of Bush's crusade against the "axis of evil." In all three situations, there are no good options, at least none that offer any promise of short-term success. To break out of the impasse, we need a leadership that has a different theory about how America can be a strong and secure nation and a positive force in the world. As we look ahead to 2008, this ought to be a central challenge for an alternative foreign policy and a future administration: how to restore the power that America has lost and how to make America the kind of power that it should be.


Paul Starr is co-editor of The American Prospect.

[kwch]

Well Jar, why don't you just come out and say what you feel rather than sugarcoating things..Ha.

I agree wholeheartedly!

[jaripez]

Leadership,is not Bush. Leaders are people who do not belittle other people, Bush calling names on other leaders or labels other countries axis of evil. Leaders unite and converse with others to resolve and solve problems and do not expect others to believe only in their views or in a Bush%u2019s%u2019 world of, it%u2019s my way or the highway, mentality. Leaders surround themselves with responsible logical advisors that take responsibility and are accountable for their decisions or are removed. Leaders surround themselves with competent educated logical visionaries and not relics like Cheney, Baker or Rumsfeld, or people who fill any position that are loyalist that can suck up, like Karen Hughes.
If Bush was a leader, the moron could have had the world follow after 911! Instead using it as a terrorist to create fear or intimidation to promote an agenda or political gain! Leaders are Americans working in concert to perform a duty or create an aurora of good results for all and not for a few, or just for their own gains of a society or class.
He is a poor excuse; a man of no honor, a lying deceptive unworthy human being. God will punish him for his lies, being a bad example of a competent leader and a so called Christian. The GOP (Guilty Old Pedophiles) will punish him for the deceptive use of the Christians support and he never delivered on those promises as well. May history and his god, burn him in hell for the incompetence of his administration of corruption and incompetence.

[savemart55]

A famous writer came up with a good solution for war back in the 50's. Just put all of the worlds capitals in one location next to each other. Can't see any bombs being dropped under those circumstances.

[dj0114]

This article is right on. Bush's policy of threatening nations he doesn't like and not talking to them has reduced America's influence around the world and encouraged the very thing Americans (and the world at large) NEVER wanted.

It also doesn%u2019t help that George has no problem hanging onto people more incompetent than he is. Don Rumsfeld is a disaster that should have been forced out long ago. If you were Iran & North Korea and you were witnessing the success of the insurgency in Iraq would you be frightened of American military might?

No.

Iran is almost certainly aiding those opposed to our occupation and illegal war in Iraq. The successes of those opposing forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, not capturing Osama yet, world opinion negative on US aggression, the administration%u2019s %u2018strike first%u2019 policies, not talking to those we don%u2019t agree with and Bush%u2019s policy of violating whatever US and international law he doesn%u2019t like has emboldened the likes of North Korea and Iran to do what they believe will protect them in the future.

We need to change the course America is on in the next election and that president will have one hell of a mess on their hands to clean up.

[exusmcsgt]

Manelvagor-

I am neither a Dem nor a "meat puppet", whatever that my be. My observation was that all appears acceptable to the Repubs as long as the candidate is conservative enough.

I have stated many times that I do not support the Republican nor Democtatic parties as I feel neither one puts the country first. Both put themselves before the country. I have been an Independent for 30 years and will continue to be until a party exists that DOES place America first.

[exusmcsgt]

Manelvagor-

I have read Bin Laden's manifesto and it is in response to our blind support of Israel's abusive policies against the Palestinians.

Al Queda and its associates will wage asymetrical warfare against us as long as our policies remain in place.

Those who think the policies are correct will have to accept resistance as a price for same. The rest of us are forced to accept the price even though we see the injustice that drives it.

[manelvagor]

Read my first post for clues.

[manelvagor]

kchafey,

Maybe YOU missed something in what AYE said. I DID vote for Cinton in '96 but if you can find the word "CLINTON." in my comment to you - I'll send you a 3 dollar bill!

I was pointing out the disparity between the 'authoritative expertise' sound of the start of your message and the 'ol what's his name' sound at the end.

[kwch]

Tell me where he is wrong?

[kwch]

Thanks to GW, instead of only one, he's got every American on his knees.

[kwch]

OK Mane, maybe you missed something in what I said. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR CLINTON! You talk to me as though I was his supporter! I never thought much of him as a president but at least he was not a blithering idiot.

[manelvagor]

exusmcsgt,

Thanks for all that insightful info on N.Korean policy in your comments. Your synopsis seems to be "Look at me, I'm a shallow Democrat 'Meat Puppet' - feel my mighty influence!!"

Can't an exusmcsgt do better for himself than that?

[manelvagor]

kchafey said -

"Excellent article. Facts, undisputable.....or what's his name, the wacko from Iran."

It's clear from your knowledge on the subject matter that Mr. Starr could NEVER have slipped any 'disputable facts' by your sharp gaze.

[exusmcsgt]

Better a Republican infidel and bigot than a Dem, oer Bush. To wit:

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press
First published: Friday, October 20, 2006

LA PLUME, Pa. -- President Bush campaigned Thursday for a congressman who has confessed to adultery and a senator accused of racial insensitivity, seeking to boost incumbent Republicans once safe for re-election but now in peril.

Bush's appearances for Rep. Don Sherwood here and for Sen. George Allen in Richmond, Va., found the White House on the defensive over the decision to try to help candidates in such straits as the GOP struggles to keep control of Congress.

[manelvagor]

exusmcsgt,

Please read bin Ladin's 1996 Manifesto / Declaration of War - it's available all over the internet - and then tell me if either the characterization of the conflict by the RNC spokes'person', or the text being quoted is incorrect.

As to the words they're fading out on - are those NOT the most pertinent words in those passages? Should they have faded out on the words "...call on everyone who" and "fall on their heads"?

Is this somehow different than every ad for a Democrat showing Foley's face next to Bush as though they're some kind of 'partners in pedophillia'?

[kwch]

And our real enemy, Osama, is probably sitting in an air conditioned cave somewhere watching the news and laughing his _ss off!

[kwch]

Excellent article. Facts, undisputable. Those who still seem to be behind this president and one way or another think the fault lies with some past democratic president need to open their eyes. I really cannot imagine how someone could have had a more miserable record and done more damage to this country (both at home and abroad) than GW. He seems practically illiterate, just listen to him! Just when we need a diplomat, we get a redneck.

I have voted in eight presidential elections and seven times for the republican, even GW once! But it was obvious right from the start he was incompetent. How there can be anyone left believing in this guy bewilders me. It appears we are no less brainwashed than the followers of Kim Jong or what's his name, the wacko from Iran.

[manelvagor]

The very fact that Mr. Starr's 'arguement' pretends that America's dealings with North Korea didn't begin until Nov 8, 2000 automatically renders them as legless as Lt. Dan.

Doesn't the metaphor 'boomerang' even more aptly apply to the juicy, meaty bone of money and technology that Mr. Clinton threw King Kim back in the early 90s, only to be returned a wad of feces as foul as any flung from a primate's cage? Mr. Starr suggests we just let this primate "evolve" - into what, a 'kinder, gentler' madman?

Just because it was the Bush administration who finally got Pongyang to admit in 2002 that they were still running their program in secret (so we DO have the answer to Mr. Starr's bogus rhetorical question about accomodation maybe working) and revealed that the previous administration was being hoodwinked, certainly doesn't mean it's only "their problem".

Mr. Starr was so busy blaming Bush for the actions of the N. Korean and Iranian 'Leadership' that he couldn't give thought to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, they're acting just as one would expect from an 'axis of evil'.

[exusmcsgt]

As I predicted... they can't run on their successes, so Bush, et.al. are playing the scare card. To wit:

(CNN) -- Republicans took a page from President Johnson's Cold War-era presidential campaign with an advertisement set to air this weekend called "The Stakes," which prominently features al Qaeda leaders threatening to kill Americans.

"Just like in the Cold War, the reality is that our nation is at war with an ideology and not a country," said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt.

Democrats, however, have called the commercial a "desperate ploy to once again try to scare voters."

The advertisement is scheduled to run on national news networks Sunday. Republicans are emphasizing national security and terrorism issues in their bid to maintain control of Congress with about two weeks before the November midterms.

In one instance, bin Laden is quoted as saying, "With God's permission we call on everyone who believes in God ... to comply with His will to kill the Americans." As the text of the quote fades out, "kill the Americans" remains on the screen.

Another bin Laden quote: "They will not come to their senses unless the attacks fall on their heads and ... until the battle has moved inside America" -- fades out, leaving only "inside America" on the screen.

[exusmcsgt]

Obviously, Bush, et. al. are long on rhetoric, short on results... and rhetoric isn't what counts.