Conservative Bluster Only Leads to War

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Conservative Bluster Only Leads to War

Posted Apr 6th 2007 1:23PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Iraq, Middle East, George Bush, Young Turks, Democrats, Terrorism, Nancy Pelosi, Syria, Dick Cheney

It's so easy to call all your enemies terrorists and then feel proud that you're not talking to them. But it is also incredibly foolish. We asked the Palestinians to have elections. They did. Hamas won. Then like little children, we took our ball and went home. We told them that we won't be talking to them anymore.

There are benefits to withdrawing some money from the Palestinian territories if Hamas wins. You provide an incentive for Palestinians to elect moderate leaders as opposed to fundamentalists. But if you tell them to take a long walk off a short pier after they win the elections -- elections that you've been hyping up for the last six years -- then you look ridiculous, and get nothing accomplished.

Carrots and sticks. I feel like we have to re-explain the wheel to these guys. It's circular, goes around and around, and makes transportation easier. In negotiations and diplomacy you offer incentives and disincentives for the behavior you want to encourage or discourage. You don't walk away like a jackass, because then no one wins.

If you don't believe me, ask James Baker. Or George H.W. Bush. Or Ronald Reagan (well, that might be a little difficult). Or any other Republican before this administration.

I could have used the neo-con model to attack Reagan, too. "There are so many communists (said sneering, like terrorist) that are thrilled that Reagan is talking to the Soviets. He keeps appeasing them by making deals with these hideous communists. What kind of appeaser would compromise with the evil empire?"

In fact, the neo-cons did make that argument. Richard Perle, who was one of the architects of the Iraq War, left the Reagan administration in a huff because he thought Reagan was too soft (plus, allegatiions of corruption). These extremists now run our country. They label anyone who tries diplomacy as a friend of the enemy. It has gotten us to this sick place, in the middle of a terrible conflict in the Middle East with precious few friends.

Dinesh D'Souza says that it should be the president conducting our foreign policy, not individual US representatives. Under normal circumstances, I completely agree. It's a recipe for confusion and mixed signals (and also something the Republican Congress did when Bill Clinton was in office).

But these are not normal circumstances! We have an obstinate president who will not do his job. A bipartisan panel practically begged him to find a political solution to Iraq and negotiate with regional neighbors, including Iran and Syria. And he will not do it.

Sometimes we get flashes of a tiny bit of sense from the administration, like the North Korea deal. And in this case, they decided in February (four long years into the war) to finally meet with the Syrians and the Iranians -- but only about Iraq. Hey, in this government, that's tremendous progress. But they still refuse to meet with them about anything else and scream terrorist every time these countries are even mentioned. That is not exactly conducive to fruitful discussions.

There has been no indication so far on how serious they are about compromising with these neighbors when it comes to Iraq. Kidnapping their diplomats probably doesn't help (which is what we have been doing in Iraq to Iranian diplomats and high government officials). They've had four years to come up with a negotiated, political solution to the mess in Iraq. And still we have absolutely no results and a civil war to show for it.

So, under these circumstances, yes, someone from our government should go over to the Middle East and let them know that there will come a day when we have sensible people back in office. Tell them not to start hostilities they will not be able to back away from.

I actually prefer that this be James Baker, but if Bush won't send him, then it'll have to be Pelosi.

You don't go over there to promise them that we will deal with them in a nice way. You explain that we will be firm and resolute, but also reasonable. The reason conservatives object to Nancy Pelosi's talks with these leaders is not because she promised them leniency -- which she definitely did not. It's because she talked to them at all. Unfortunately, these days conservatives in the US don't want to reach negotiated deals, they want war.

What's the alternative to negotiations? Do you think they're just going to do what we tell them because we say it in a really mean or obstinate way? I'm sure that will be really effective. No, you reach an agreement where they get something they want and we get something we want. And hopefully we're smarter than them and we make the better deal that is to our advantage --as we did with the Soviet Union and all of our past enemies.

Or we can go to war. And get more mired in the mess of the Middle East. But at least it'll show how tough we are. We don't talk to terrorists! We don't give our enemies anything! We just attack! Great, then Iraq is what you get. And if you think Iraq is bad, wait till you get a load of a broader war in the Middle East.

Someone with some sense has to talk to these people. George Bush won't do it. God knows Dick Cheney won't do it. So, if it's Nancy Pelosi, great. At least that's a start.

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. So you agree the President is in charge of foreign relations unless you disagree with him? Interesting. As you know the Bush Administration agreed to talks with Iran & Syria a few months ago, to be held outside of their countries, now you pretend as if they did not.

Mel at 3:04PM on Apr 6th 2007

2. Bush and the neo-cons have demonstrated a capacity for incompetance that has never been seen before in American history. Whether it is waging pre-emptive war under cover of lies and fabrication in Iraq, rebuilding after Katrina or securing our borders. This administration doesn't have two brain cells to rub together collectively. There has been so many pretext's and excuses for this war the president has no more credibility with the majority of the public or our allies. If lies and corruption were good things and didn't matter then the republicans wouldn't have lost the house and senate. The house and senate under the democrats are the only institutions that have enough of the confidence of the American people to recover from the disaster called Bush and Cheney and rein in some of the worst excesses.

Dale Freeman at 3:20PM on Apr 6th 2007

3. Dale, I think you may have fogotten that Congress has a lower approval rating then Bush. It has very little confidence of the people.

Mel at 3:22PM on Apr 6th 2007

4. At what time period does Congress have a lower popularity? Muddling through two parties that want their own way to win is indeed a tough one. Give them a chance to improve. Both Parties know that re-election by the American voting public is at stake. Nancy P's trip to Syria is about getting along with another country and asking for their help is a good thing. Countries have their ways to get along it is just that first you must be open and willing let each country put their two cent in to solve problem. To say that America has been high handed in dealing with countries is an understatement. Those in charge thinking that they own the world pretty much explains Bush Administration goals. If Americans allow him to use every means to excuse himself from blame it will soon be America against the entire world. Giving huge amounts of money will not turn things around.

Ted Langs at 5:26PM on Apr 6th 2007

5. The mistake was not in leaving after elections but in ever expecting the Palestinians to elect moderate leaders. They have repeatedly taken whatever the world (Israel, EU, US) has given them and turned it to murderous use. They are consistant in their insistance that the US and Israel be destroyed. They have shown that they prefer dead children to a productive society and the Western world can't seem to absorb that.
They have taken Israeli gifts (education, jobs, land, sewers) which they didn't have prior to 1967 and have shown only hatred in the place of gratitude. If it took the election of Hamas to finally make the American government aware that we are not on the same wavelength, better late than never.
Now it's time to follow through, stop supporting our enemies and take back what they have taken with their lies. Perhaps then they will start listening.

Tatty at 7:10PM on Apr 6th 2007

6. What's the Bush administration afraid of? Are
they afraid that the dynamics in the Middle East
might change as a result of communicating with
the heads of state in other countries and that
a result might be the lowering of gasoline prices
for Americans?

I can't understand how the American people can
sit still and do nothing while a President tells
them they're addicted to oil. We use oil because
our educated elite have designed the cars, heating
systems, coolings systems, and other energy using
devices that we need and buy. Addiction has
nothing to do with it. Education has everything
to do with it.

It would be so great to have leaders who could
figure out solutions to problems instead of
figuring out how to deceive the American public.

Eva at 7:22PM on Apr 6th 2007

7. It's so easy to call all your enemies terrorists and then feel proud that you're not talking to them. But it is also incredibly foolish.>>>

Clue: We talk to everyone ... everyone. What we don't do is meet publicly with terrorist regimes, as it only lends credibility to the regime. Condi went to Syria and they got the photo ops, and the propaganda, and we got
What Pelosi and her comrades did was not only incredibly foolish it's a felony. Our forefathers made it crystal clear that only the President conducts foregin policy. Pelosi and crew They weren't simply on a fact finding mission some of them were talking about 'the beginnings of a new direction forward. This my fellow citizens is not only incredibly foolish it's down rigth scary. You think Bush is bad ... Pelosi and crew are worse. They committed a clear felony and they still don't know it.

tom gassett at 9:00PM on Apr 6th 2007

8. It would be so great to have leaders who could
figure out solutions to problems instead of
figuring out how to deceive the American public.
>>

What would be great, is if someday democrats moved beyond accusations (that have turned a nation once thought of as a beacon of hope to the world into the biggest terrorist on the plaent) and actually proved one of them. Instead of acting like Pete and Repete, why not demand your Congress act, and in doing so return us to our rightful standing in this world? Don't you even wonder where the articles of impeachment are? No? Well, maybe you should ask Nancy 'impeachment is off the table'Pelosi, or maybe liberals did all the lying and the last thing they want are hearings that prove it?

tom gassett at 9:06PM on Apr 6th 2007

9. Look, I'm not very smart. I'm just an average American who gets up and goes to work every day and try's to pay my bills on time. Having experienced both, I prefer peace to war. But it seems to me politicians on both sides of the isle gave President Bush the authority to wage both the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. All debate stopped when the first American was killed! All debate stopped when the first American was killed! All debate stopped when the first American was killed! Get it?

As an average (not so smart) middle-class American, I am tried of having politicians and corporations steal my money and getting my kids killed! I am tired of pundits who, like the school-yard bully, like to talk tough until someone bloody's their nose. When diplomacy fails, wars start. When wars end, diplomacy starts. There is a natural progression, and we need to eliminate those who can't get it right from the gene-pool.

We can either fight this thing to win it there, or we can bring it home and settle it here. Maybe in the future we will be smart enough to think before we throw a punch, but right now there are simply no other choices. Fight or die.

Maxx Foxx at 10:37PM on Apr 6th 2007

10. TAKE YOU IGNORANT @ TO A GANG NEIGHBORHOOD AND ASK THEM TO STOP TERRORIZING THE NEIGHBORHOOD......

IF YOU ARE LUCKY.......YOU WILL SURVIVE BEING SHOT SEVERAL TIMES AFTER BEING ROBBED.......

GANGS = TERRORISTS......

NO DIFFERENCE..........

LINDA at 11:52PM on Apr 6th 2007

11. The Middle East, in particular Syria and Iraq have centuries old rivalries. The Syrian Alawite regime regarded Iraq as its second most important regional enemy after Israel. Syria wants Lebanon and Israel to be a part of "Greater Syria", Scholars and Think Tanks continue to "think us to death" about this the most volatile area on earth. It's laughable to suggest that this mess can be resolved by finding a person with some "sense" to talk to these countries. The only carrot Syria wants is Lebanon and Israel, and possibly Jordan as desert. Civil war in Iraq? Please. Get out your history books and read them again, and then look to Iran. And, more importantly, how to you "talk" to Islamic terrorists? These people have such millennial thoughts, they believe their own suicides, and using any kind of weapon and all degrees of destruction is their only hope under extreme Islam. They know no borders and their own destruction is exaulted.

Jean at 11:41PM on Apr 6th 2007

12. I agree with blogger number 7. Only the President conducts foreign policy. Pelosi stepped way out of bounds. I would be interested in knowing what her true motive was for this trip. If indeed we are dealing with terrorist in Syria and I feel certain that we are, She has no reason being there other than for a photo opp. The last thing we need to show Syria is a divided house.

arnie bean at 12:53AM on Apr 7th 2007

13. NO MORON ITS EASY TO CALL TERRORISTS TERRORISTS
ARE YOU GOING TO SIT THERE AND ACTUALLY TRY TO DENY THAT ASSAD AND HIS SYRIAN GOVERNMENT ARENT TERRORIST SUPPORTERS?

GREG at 1:47AM on Apr 7th 2007

14. The righteousness of Speaker Pelosi's decision was to be confirmed with Bush's recess appointment. Bush is out of control and unresponsive to the people. He resists testimony under oath for Rove and Miers and he held his appointment until the recess for the express purpose of denyng We the People the opportunity to question. He is trying to hold our government hostage and someone needs to take it back. Our forefathers said we should revolt when government was this bad, but I hope Mrs. Pelosi can provide a moderating counterbalance. What you call stepping out of bounds, I call stepping up to the plate. That was leadership and damn good leadership.

She did very very well. She's a true American leader.

KDP at 1:56AM on Apr 7th 2007

15.
In 1997 Dennis Hastert went to Columbia and encouraged the Columbian leaders to "bypass the U.S. executive branch and communicate directly with Congress". Would that be considered undermining the authority of the President and a violation of the Logan Act?
What exactly has Pelosi done that comes remotely close to this ?

Then again things like facts and the truth seem of little or no significance to this administration. Vice-President Cheney proved that again with his recent statements still trying to connect Iraq and Al Queda. What is so hard about the truth for this man to understand ?

max at 3:13AM on Apr 7th 2007

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.