October 26, 2004
The Grand Alliance
Zbigniew Brzezinski has an excellent editorial in today’s paper. He proposes a “Grand Alliance” between the US and Europe with the explicit mandate of helping moderate Muslims stop the spread of violent radical Islam in the Middle East.
Brzezinski says that, while Kerry hasn't yet explicitly stated a grand Middle East strategy, Bush's ham-handed methods have alienated our allies and "staying on course under Bush will remain a largely solitary American adventure." He warns,
This global solitude might make a re-elected Bush administration more vulnerable to the temptation to embrace a new anti-Islamic alliance, one reminiscent of the Holy Alliance that emerged after 1815 to prevent revolutionary upheavals in Europe. The notion of a new Holy Alliance is already being promoted by those with a special interest in entangling the United States in a prolonged conflict with Islam. The endorsement of Bush by President Vladimir Putin of Russia immediately comes to mind; it also attracts some anti-Islamic Indian leaders hoping to prevent Pakistan from dominating Afghanistan; the Likud in Israel is also understandably tempted; even China might play along [they have their own issues with Islam - AP].
If Kerry wins the election, our traditional allies - our fellow democratic nations, whose citizens share our basic values - will be more willing to listen but,
To get the Europeans to act, any new U.S. administration will have to confront them with strategic options. The Europeans need to be convinced that the United States recognizes that the best way to influence the eventual outcome of the civil war within Islam is to shape an expanding Grand Alliance (as opposed to a polarizing Holy Alliance) that embraces the Middle East by taking on the region's three most inflammatory and explosive issues: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the mess in Iraq, and the challenge of a restless and potentially dangerous Iran.
He then lays out a strategy for simultaneously tackling each of these issues and concludes,
A comprehensive initiative along these lines would force the European leaders to take a stand: Not to join would run the risk of reinforcing and legitimating American unilateralism while pushing the Middle East into a deeper crisis.
It's an interesting article for a couple reasons. First, it shows that a little imagination and creative diplomacy dispells the Bush-fan myth that no one could possibly convince Europe to participate in Iraq.
Second, Brzezinski's Middle East strategy fits easily into Thomas Barnett's grand strategy for the United States, of strengthening the core nations which share our commitment to playing by the rules, and working to bring countries that are disconnected from liberty and prosperity into our family of free and prosperous nations.
This is a future that I believe is worth fighting for, but one which President Bush and his neo-conservative advisors are either content to ignore, or incorrectly believe can be accomplished by the United States alone.
The ZB ed was interesting to read. But one thing he says has had me thinking for awhile now.
“The civil war within Islam”
I do not see now or in the past, any significant support from those of Islam, taking drastic actions to curb the terrorist activity associated with Islam.
The war in Iraq has also switched any support for any “civil war within Islam” to a view of “Islam is under attack.”
This “switch” has only increased the support of terrorism by the Islamic community and show this war as being all the more wrong.
kctim, I’m in SE Asia and I see the moderate Muslims speaking out all the time in the newspapers. The sad thing is, they’re not getting any support from Bush, and every time civilians are killed in Iraq or Sharon goes on a rampage in Gaza with Bush’s blessing, it undermines their position.
The war in Iraq has also switched any support for any “civil war within Islam” to a view of “Islam is under attack.” This “switch” has only increased the support of terrorism by the Islamic community and show this war as being all the more wrong.
Amen, brother.
AP- No support from the world really either.
You think the lack of responses to this post truely shows just how closedminded the right is when it comes to any idea that doesn’t support their “might is right” slogan?
Even if one was to give the right the benefit of the doubt about “why” we invaded Iraq, you would still think they could see how Islamist can see this is turning into a war on Islam.
Phooey. Our presence in the Middle East and our outrageous Zionism are tremendous boons to radical Islam and a terrible de-stabilizing influence.
How to undo the damage? ZB and the Demoncrat imperialists say we should meddle more and differently, with European help. Nonsense! Undo the damage by just getting out of the whole region and going home.
They are winning and increasingly dangerous because we are there. Solution? Leave.
Get it?
Big mystery, eh?
Posted by: Marcus Tullius Cicero at October 26, 2004 05:42 PMMarcus, I couldn’t agree more, provided, we give regional and international and Iraqi governments 4 to 6 months notice so they can plan on how they are going to compensate for our withdrawal.
I don’t buy it. A complete withdrawal would turn the entire region into a black hole that only violence can escape. It would be a breeding ground for human rights abuses, WMD development, despotism, and terrorism.
What do you guys think would happen if we completely pulled out? I predict an expansionist Iran, hostile to the United States, dominating an area that is a vital part of our infrastructure: yes, I’m talking about oil.
Kerry’s energy policy would make the US independent of Middle Eastern oil within a decade. At that time, I’ll be willing to re-evaluate the situation. But I doubt my viewpoint would change. A coherent, worthwhile energy strategy alone doesn’t address any of the issues in my first paragraph.
Before 9/11, I believed the United States and our allies should be deeply engaged in world affairs, especially in he Middle East. After 9/11, I believe it’s imperative - and I don’t just mean militarily, I mean we need to make better use of diplomacy, financial institutions, trade, humanitarian aid, support for reformers, and whatever else is necessary to shape a world where everyone has hope and opportunity for a better life.
Just sitting inside Fortress America waiting for a cargo container with a nuke inside appeals to me as much as unilaterally invading Muslim country after Muslim country and forcing upon them weak, unstable democracies.
My Dear American Cousin
Please forgive the delayed start to our annual Thanksgiving message exchange. Unfortunately, we spent this one (Columbus Day for you) at the hospital seeing to your Aunt Emma’s gout. I expect this episode was set off by too much of Uncle Pat’s homemade chokecherry wine on top of the box of chocolates you sent. Regardless, she’s fine, and remains as cranky as the Canadian health care system.
At least the 6-hour wait in the Emergency ward gave me a chance to catch up on our correspondence. I know we’ve avoided the topic of the Iraq war since this side of the border chose to believe the UN inspectors report on the weapons of mass destruction rather than join your preemptive terrorist strike. But it’s a subject that’s just too hard to dodge this year. So, at the risk of setting off a feud between our Clans, I would like to ask a few questions, the answers to which will help me defend you guys the next time the boys at the Great Plains Bar and Grill start in on the mess the world finds itself in and America’s part in making it so.
First off, what happened to Osama bin Laden and why can’t a country with the most sophisticated tracking devices, this side of Aunt Emma’s nose for cheap booze, find the SOB? And as for the President, what’s with the ‘Wannabe’ Cowboy routine. All hat and no cattle as we say on either side of the Saskatchewan-Montana border. Doesn’t it just frost your butt a little the way Bush disregards the Cowboy code to ‘live and let live’? Grandpa Burt figures your man wouldn’t know chicken manure from pony droppings if he were bucked into a pile of either.
And since when were the Brits your best friends? Although it took us another hundred years to shake off the colonial noose we once shared, we’ve been joined at the hip since well before the American Revolution. The fact that you chose ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness’ and we picked ‘Peace, Order and Good Government’, may have been reason enough to separate us in 1776; still, we’ve been each other’s best partners pretty much since. Not to mention family ties like ours, which cross-stitch the border.
Canada might be right up there with Austria as an international military power, but as a moral force it’s surprising how the world takes note when the little North American brother stands up against his bigger, more boastful sibling. But like all little brothers we take offence easily. The fact that the President didn’t bother to list Canada among those nations touched by the tragedy of 911 didn’t play well up here, given the number of Canucks killed on that horrific day.
Okay I know many Americans think we’re just a bunch of pot smoking, gay-marriage, socialized medicine supporting, UN-loving liberal hosers, but when you’ve got to deal with our winters you need all the tolerance you can muster. Besides, when did you get a monopoly on God? You know what Grandma Phyllis always says, good Methodist that she is, when the argument turns to religion, “Never forget that all respectful religious roads lead to heaven, not just the evangelical expressway.”
Oh yah and what’s this about a global test? Why the heck does the US need to concern itself with that when you have righteousness on your side? Then again, isn’t that what the other side claims?
Regardless, I’m sure we’ll all survive, whichever way the Chads crumble on November 2. Besides I remain thankful that we can still pick our friends, although it’s too bad we can’t choose our relatives eh?
Warm regards to the family
Your Canadian Cousin
Canuck, you guys kicked our ass every time we tried to invade Canada - and now you’re mocking us? Keep it up, and one of these days, we’re really going to do it.
