Demagoguery?

Submitted by K.H. Ahmed (United States), Nov 2, 2006 at 19:13

I think that's a first, no one has ever called me a demagoge. This is the fundamental problem of our current version of foreign affairs. We can't even have civil conversations within our own society. But let me respond.

G.W. Bush refuses to negotiate directly with the Iranians. I believe his position was the President of Iran doesn't deserve to be spoken too. An extremely helpful position if all you want to do is go to war. We don't have to like the nut job to deal with him. We dealt with the Soviets for years and I doubt very seriously if you liked them - I certainly didn't. I don't advocate a marriage - I advocate a conversation. We are supposed to be the adults here all I am asking is that as a nation we act it.

As for isolationism - I do not and have never advocated a policy of isolation. I merely ask that are involvement in world affairs be related to what is in the best interest of the United States. Do I support the state of Israel - I certainly do - I would even be agreeable to guaranteeing her borders. But Israel's foreign policy is not mine nor is any other nations in the world.

If it is demagoguery to ask for a thoughtful, educated foreign policy where all other possible means of diplomacy are exhausted then so be it - I'm guilty. I can guarantee you this - if we continue our current approach to the world we will exhaust our treasure and exhaust our people. Iraq is a disaster and a war with Iran would be even more difficult and would still not solve our problem.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".