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The Realist
One of the ideas McCain offered in his foreign policy speech was the creation of a new international institution called the League of Democracies. What would that look like?
There are international institutions that gather together all the rich nations, there are groups of poor nations, there's an Islamic Conference. The one thing there doesn't seem to be is a group of democracies, getting together to discuss the issues of the day. I think that's something that's lacking in the present system, and one that could possibly do some good.
Would it be a counterweight to the United Nations, or reduce the U.N.'s influence?
I don't see it as a substitute for the U.N. It complements the U.N. There may be instances—whether it's something like Darfur or Burma—when the U.N. Security Council is unable to act because of the divisions between the autocracies and the democracies, and when a group of democracies might be able to take some action and might even receive the kind of sanction from the U.N. secretary-general that ultimately the Kosovo operation got.
That sounds similar to the idea of the "Responsibility to Protect," which calls on other countries to intervene when a country abuses its own citizens. Is that the kind of thing this institution might advance?
The Responsibility to Protect is an area where the democracies are substantially in agreement and the autocracies are substantially in opposition, for obvious reasons. The Kosovo operation was regarded very negatively in Moscow and Beijing precisely because they don't want the international system to legitimize getting between a ruler and his people. We see this clash occurring in a place like Zimbabwe, Darfur and elsewhere. I think democracies are in fundamental agreement on this, and I think it would be better if they could find some way to pursue ideas like Responsibility to Protect, even if the autocracies insist on opposing it.
Leaving aside Iraq, what are the differences between the foreign policy platforms of the two parties right now?
They're probably not as great as a lot of people would like to pretend. Is American power something that can be used for good? I think that all the leading candidates believe the answer to that is yes. Is it necessary for the U.S. to remain strong? Every candidate is calling for increases in American military capabilities.
Do you see the divide between the United States and Europe narrowing? Is there more unity now that the West is being challenged by both autocracies and Islamic terrorism?
The divide I described was a difference of world view when it comes to how and when to use military force. I don't think that's likely to change dramatically. The question is, given those differences, how well can we get along. The United States needs to not only listen to its allies but be willing to be persuaded by its allies. The other end of the bargain is that the allies need to not avert their eyes from potential problems, which they would sometimes rather not face up to. If we see the return of great power competition, that might draw the United States and Europe closer together—especially if the United States makes itself what John McCain has called a good international citizen. That has to do with behavior on a whole range of issues, from climate change to nuclear weapons to questions like how to deal with detainees. Good international citizenship is important.
Kagan and other foreign policy leaders are converging on May 1 and 2 at the Global Leadership Forum (GLF), a conference hosted by NEWSWEEK along with the Royal United Services Institute and Princeton's Project on National Security. The GLF will examine the most pressing global challenges against the backdrop of the coming U.S. elections. Visit Princeton's GLF blog to read the thoughts of U.S. and European thinkers and officials on the most pressing issues of our day: climate change, global finance, the dynamics of the Middle East, weapons proliferation, global health and transatlantic relations.
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Member Comments
Posted By: Mwalimu @ 05/03/2008 10:19:04 AM
Comment: According to the latest report, the GOP is using Obama to boost all Republican candidates in Mississippi and Louisiana.They are pandering to fear, ignorance, bigotry, and racism. I suppose next they'll be burning crosses. How is McCain addressing this problem? The failure of McCain and the GOP to address the bigotry and racism within their own party dooms all of Robert Kagan's proposals. I should remind everyone that most of the world looks a lot more like Barack Obama than John McCain. By rubber-stamping racism, the GOP will mae this country the most hated nation on the face of the earth. That's one BIG reason to vote for Obama
Posted By: Mwalimu @ 05/03/2008 1:21:02 AM
Comment: Robert Kagan is correct in predicting a future rivalry between the US,China and Russia, but he is totally clueless about the nature of that competition - namely Russia, China, and the United States will compete to see who can the most to poison the planet. The United States, under the Bush Adminstration, has disgraceful record on environmental protection. Whistle blowers are routinely silenced and intimdated. Russia and China record of envornmental protection is just as bad if worst. Like the United States, any one protesting the way China or Russia is destroying the envirornment is silenced. McCain has no idea that this perverted contest is far more dangerous than the conventional arms race of the past - primarily because McCain can't distinguish the Middle East from the OK Corral. According to October, 2007 issue of the National Geographic, the carbon dioxide count was 380 per million. It increases by 2 part per year. When the carbon dixoide level reaches 450 or so, we face mass exinction - and judging from the epidemic of floods and tornadoes plus the melting of the ice cap - global warming is worse than we previously imagined. I haven't said anything about the increase of methane in the atmosphere - which is toxic and dangerous than carbon dioxide. Russia has a vast quantity of methane trapped in its permafrost. If the permafrost starts to melt and the methane escapes we face the end of the world.
Kagan said nothing about this future menace. McCain doesn't recognize that this is a problem that can't be solved by dropping a bomb. (Think of what effect bombing will have on global warming.) McCain is a senile fool and if we elect him, we're even bigger fools than he is.
Posted By: Mwalimu @ 05/02/2008 5:18:37 PM
Comment: Robert Kagan's name should be familiar. He, along with Bill Kristol, founded the Project for a New American Century. He was one of the architects of the war in Iraq. In fact, he was championing an invasion of Iraq, long before 9/11. He along with Bush,Cheney, & Rice lied the the public 937 times to promote the war, and John McCain stopped short of selling tickets for the event. And we are going to entrust our national security with this crew of crooks???? Give me a break.
First of all Kagan has chosen a lousely international model, the 19th Century. The powers of the 19th century wound up fighting World War I, which devastated much of Europe, wiped out a whole generation of young. (about 90% of the solders who fought in World War I died.), and ignited the Russian revolution - which in turn ignited mini-civil wars between Communists and fascists throughout Central Europe. Incidentally World War I wiped out the Russian, Austro-Hungarian,German, and Ottoman empires. Seriously, are we going back to the 19th century as a role model. Are McCain and Kagan insane?
Furthermore the League of Democracies really sounds like the Coalition of the Willing. Europeans don't need such a league because they already have the European Community which, judging from the value of the euro, is working quite well and does promote human rights. (Check out what's going on in Montenegro and Croatia if you don't believe me.)
Besides we are a lousy example of democrcy. Many states have enacted voter ID laws that disenfranchise every one without a valid drivers' license. (for those obsessed with voter fraud, I'll point out that the much-touted election in Iraq in 2005 did not require photo ID's) The Bush Administration pursues illegal wire tapping. The Patriot Act allows President Bush to detain anyone the President considers a suspicious terrorst. Abu Ghraib, Sadam Hussein former torture chamber, became our torture chamber. We've recently decided that waterboarding is not torture. Is it any wonder that the Chinese and Russians, looking at our model of democracy want nothing to do with it?
Finally examine the way McCain and Clinton smear Barack Obama. He has a "funny" name, he has a "funny" racial background. he wore a "funny Muslim costume:, he eats "funny food" He has "funny" reading habits
Does John McCain ever realize that the world is watching our elections. How are they going to react to a president who ridicules their "funny" religions, their "funny" attire, and even the :"funny" names they chose to give their children- "funny" names like Barack and Hussein?
Mccain's foreign policy is dead on arrival. And as a red-blooded patriotic American, I don't buy this "grumpy realist/ idealist" crap. I do not want an ignorant bigot like John McCain representing me.