Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
NATO AIR said:I think what Feingold is saying is we need to think smarter in how we're dealing with developing nations, as far as what sort of development projects we embark on, what kind of investments we make, etc etc. The Chinese are beating us at our own old game in places in Asia & Africa, and it needs to stop.
This has nothing to do with being more tolerant of Islam or any crap like that...Its all about connecting with what people need, which is mainly EFFECTIVE rule of law that puts food on the table and jobs for them to work. We don't need to mess with their culture necessarily, just help improve their governments and how their governments work for them.
Kathianne said:I hear what YOU are saying, not sure at all that is what Feingold is saying. In any case, we have very rocky relations with Latin America as a result of Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corallary. Now we should try the same in Africa and Asia? You think the EU/UN would allow that? :huh:
Explain how "connecting with people" will promote the "effective rule of law" in the Wahhabi culture of Islam. Whose law? How will connecting with people in Kashmir prevent the Hindus from being attacked? Who will the Russians connect with in Chechnya? The point is that radical Islam, and seemingly much of mainstream Islam, wants no connection with us, or anyone else. It is their way, their rule of 7th century law, or homicide bombs and gunfire.NATO AIR said:This has nothing to do with being more tolerant of Islam or any crap like that...Its all about connecting with what people need, which is mainly EFFECTIVE rule of law that puts food on the table and jobs for them to work. We don't need to mess with their culture necessarily, just help improve their governments and how their governments work for them.
NATO AIR said:I think if we fully fund the MCA, as well as embark on a global push for more open, less corrupt government in developing nations, we can do a lot of good without stepping on the people's toes who count (the people, not the EU or UN)
I also think if we take a very energetic lead on conflict prevention assistance (helping the AU to help itself,to not repeat darfur in another country), we can get better relations (as we have been getting already) with important nations both large and small on that continent.
We must continue to do what we've done in Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia, etc etc.... pushing via peaceful and quiet means (up until the revolution starts) effective regime change in Central Asia and the rest of the old Soviet Bloc states that face problems. Everything can't be a war like Iraq and Afghanistan, and to Bush's credit, he is the first president since Reagan to realize that and make it work.
We have bad relations with Latin America because of periodic neglect, like what's happening now. About the only nation we are really paying attention to is Columbia, and that is a mistake. They are our neighbors, and as people in these nations have gone to forgive people who led military juntas and other "excesses" of the Cold War, so can we and they move on past mistakes made by both sides. This is a Miami thing for me, I hear whenever I go back as soon as political discussions erupt good, factual proof about how the US does not do "enough" in Latin America. We're getting better, but we could do a lot more (not with money as much as knowing when to spend it, when to hold it back, when to invest and when to lean on governments to listen to the people and not to the special interests who have held much of latin america captive for a century or more)
onedomino said:Explain how "connecting with people" will promote the "effective rule of law" in the Wahhabi culture of Islam. Whose law? How will connecting with people in Kashmir prevent the Hindus from being attacked? Who will the Russians connect with in Chechnya? The point is that radical Islam, and seemingly much of mainstream Islam, wants no connection with us, or anyone else. It is their way, their rule of 7th century law, or homicide bombs and gunfire.
The 'push' is for our so called 'allies' that seem bound and determined to mitigate US influence.wolvie20m said:Push? How would we do this?
Adopt a stand alone policy?Kathianne said:The 'push' is for our so called 'allies' that seem bound and determined to mitigate US influence.
The 'with us or against' us was trite, but there is truth to it. That needs to be brought to bear.wolvie20m said:Adopt a stand alone policy?
I am not in favor of blanket relief of "Cold War era" debt. No debt relief to counties that are not democracies. Moreover, certain countries, like Turkey for example, can afford to pay theit debt. Many of the countries that would have their debt relieved vote against us in the UN everyday. No debt relief to totalitarians and no debt relief to anti-US countries in the UN.NATO AIR said:Part 1 of this is full and total debt relief of all Cold War era debts.
onedomino said:I am not in favor of blanket relief of "Cold War era" debt. No debt relief to counties that are not democracies. Moreover, certain countries, like Turkey for example, can afford to pay theit debt. Many of the countries that would have their debt relieved vote against us in the UN everyday. No debt relief to totalitarians and no debt relief to anti-US countries in the UN.
onedomino said:I am not in favor of blanket relief of "Cold War era" debt. No debt relief to counties that are not democracies. Moreover, certain countries, like Turkey for example, can afford to pay theit debt. Many of the countries that would have their debt relieved vote against us in the UN everyday. No debt relief to totalitarians and no debt relief to anti-US countries in the UN.
Also could turn them farther away from us..NATO AIR said:I can agree, but it is vastly unfair (and counterproductive) that for more than a decade now we have been forcing struggling democracies who endured dicatorships and authoritarian governments in the Cold War to pay off those government's debts that they had nothing to do with it.
