RonnieRay
04-17-2007, 10:43 PM
Bush has been the worst president ever, period. Not just because the invasion of Iraq was such an obvious error either. It's because he does not get the simple childhood lesson that you get more bees with sugar than vinegar. I'm sure I'll get a boat load of shit for saying this, but dialogue is the key to effective foriegn policy. That's right dialogue even with your percieved enemies. Syria, Iran, North Korea. WTF good has it ever done to publicly insult the leaders of these countrys? Calling them the axis of evil? Calling them dictators, thugs, etc.? It does not make a shit difference if it's true or not. Want to improve relations with North Korea and possibly influence the decisions of Kim? How about approaching the leader of a very large country with a giant army with a little respect and perhaps he might at least enter into meaningful communication with us. It does not matter what his terrible record of human rights violations is, school boy name calling is not going to influence him to improve his behavior. How about publicly stating that "The US is interested in renewed dialogue with the leader of the great country of the DPRK as a means of improving current relations and hopefully to bridge some of the divide between our views and theirs" A simple public statement like that from our president, secretary or other high level official might actually get us into some usefull communication. Same with Syria. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this too, but Pelosi had the right idea, even if her execution was a bit faulty. Our view is that Hamas is a terrorist group desearving of no support and that must be eliminated or destroyed. Their (Syrias) view is 180 the other way. They believe that Israel is illegally occupying land. They believe that because the Palasinians are so outgunned with our money and weapons, that groups like these have been backed into a corner like a cat up a tree surrounded by dogs and therefore have had no choice but to resort to terrible things like suicide bombings. Nothing will ever get better as long as BOTH sides are unwilling to comprimise at all. How about offering to forgive past sins and accept these groups as legitimate political parties if and when they are willing to change their MO going forward? (as one part of an overall comprimise of issues) How about being a little understanding of the fact that they (Palastinians) have been put into a position of having to try and fight a tank with a slingshot? I am not justifying the practice of suicide bombing. Just trying to make a point that improvent of any kind is going to require a change in policies on BOTH sides and name calling and insults are never going to lead to improved relations. .