Andrei... I have not yet read the book, but I hope to soon. Further, I think you are spot on with your take on how important it will be to have a president who not only speaks to the world, but does so recognizing the importance of "dignity and security" for those living outside the U.S.

One thing to be careful about - and this may be minor, but is still important - is the idea that the ultimate objective should be to "win hearts and minds" of people living all over the world. The phrase itself has its roots in religious texts and counterinsurgency efforts and if we think about it, is actually incompatible with the notion of providing dignity to all. That's not to say that the United States should not be speaking to the world, or that it should not enact foreign policy that will position the country as a leader that recognizes "the inherent equality and worth of all people." But if America is out there trying to win hearts and minds - to "make the world love us" - then it won't be recognizing that there will be differences of opinion... that there might in fact be other voices worth recognizing. Equally important to speaking to the world is listening to it, and until U.S. foreign policy recognizes that, America will continue to pace in circles.

Winning hearts and minds might be need in Baghdad (like it was in South Vietnam and Malaya before that). But America's conversation with the world cannot be viewed as one giant counterinsurgency effort.

Regardless, great stuff. Can't wait to read the book.

Check this post at Mountainrunner for more on "hearts and minds."

Posted at June 6, 2008 2:01 PM in response to Speaking to the World

I don't know about you guys, but to me, referring to slavery as a "birth defect" is a bit troubling to me. It's at least an incomplete analogy.

Yeah, perhaps slavery wasn't entirely the fault of the first Americans because it was an accepted practice by the first whites to discover America. But for nearly a century after independence, while other world powers recognized the evils of slavery, it kept on chugging along here in the States.

So yeah, maybe we were born with it. But by writing it off as simply a "birth defect," I think we are absolving ourselves from taking responsibility for our actions, and, accordingly, further avoiding an honest discussion about race.

Posted at March 28, 2008 12:26 PM in response to Birth Defect of Slavery

Yeah S1 - thank you for articulating pretty much EVERYTHING that's been wrong with the Democratic party for, oh, about 25 years.

Posted at March 5, 2008 3:31 PM in response to Obama Still Has Popular Vote Lead — But Just Barely

Yeah, no doubt Castro's a bad guy, and it could be that the majority of Cubans agree with McCain. That's fine, and I'm sure the same would be the case in any number of repressive regimes. But it still doesn't seem responsible for a candidate for the highest office in all the world to publicly yearn for another world leader's death.

Posted at February 22, 2008 4:06 PM in response to McCain Hopes Castro Dies. How Nice.