Wanted: A New Grand Strategy

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  • Posted By: MarkLeavenworth @ 12/03/2008 1:03:54 AM

    Put a nicer way, you're wrong. We need to eliminate international finance, make international transactions barter only, with currency transactions for travelers traded and distributed by governments only. Companies and politicians alike will be forced to commit to the nations they espouse as well as to their currencies.

  • Posted By: MarkLeavenworth @ 12/03/2008 12:37:45 AM

    Transatlantic alliances? Bull****. We have no sound education system, the private ownership that motivates production is rapidly deteriorating, our young fighting men and women are expended on fuel to drive 'consumption' and the all important paper-work that goes with it. There are no classical trade schools for young men to learn industry, local production and distribution has been devoured by 'our' corporations, and our money system is based on the London Interbank Rate. 90% of our academic textooks and history books are published by British subsidiaries, and our foreign policy is a tenis match between Brittain and France.

  • Posted By: rtsethre @ 12/02/2008 10:30:32 PM

    All of the topics and regions covered by GLOBAL AGENDA series of articles are undoubtedly crucial and significant. But this concentration on the obvious hot issues also reveals an underlying challenge: you need allies (and hopefully friends) to achieve these multiple and complex goals. At least as important as concentrating on these hot spots is to give appropriate attention to the mundane task of cultivating alliance relationships. I spent most of the past 20 years in Europe (Germany) and watched with certain dismay as a very gradual and grudging release of old Vietnam-era anti-American sentiments were quickly reinstated. Our government's actions and policies have thrown attitudes and relationships back decades, and we will now have to invest a great deal of energy and goodwill to rebuild the Atlantic relationship. Otherwise we will be confronted by serious resistance and prejudice about the motives of all proposed actions, regardless of how important , well founded or well intentioned. For me, one of the top priorities is therefore to focus on rebuilding and leveraging the Atlantic relationship. Call it the international equivalent of building the famous team of rivals . . .

  • Posted By: davelnaf @ 12/02/2008 8:47:11 AM

    Please, Mr. Zakaria, do yourself a favor a retire from the role of foriegn policy advisor. You do not understand what even friendly nations are up to at any given moment and what they feel they have to do to serve their own interests. You are a foriegn policy naif for the first order. And, by the way, who is this Repubssuck character and what insane asylum he escape from?

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 9:13:13 AM

      FYI, Repssuck is a well respected longtime member on the NW blogs. He is definately not insane since he did vote for Obama. Now, moving right along.... who might you be, may I ask?

      • Posted By: davelnaf @ 12/02/2008 11:53:17 AM

        I suppose the implication is that I don't know what I'm talking about. I've been in Iraq and I'm now in Afghanistan working as a civilian contractor to the US military. I've talked to the locals and I know what Al Qaeda and the Taliban scum are all about and where they think they're going, and to know this isn't rocket science by the way. I love the way you libs blast Bush like he's been the worst thing to happen to the planet since Adolf Hitler. It's been very entertaining and edifying, but FYI: Bush is not a conservative and never has been.

        • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/02/2008 8:38:19 PM



          No, Bush isn't a conservative. He's an ingnorant, incurious neocon who let himself be dragged around by the nose by other neocons and got all the confirmation he needed from a 'higher power'. That is when he wasn't letting Cheney run our energy policy by secret meetings with big oil, or sitting back and letting the fatcats syphon trillions out of our economy. Come to think about it, that IS pretty conservative, isn't it?

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 1:36:07 PM

          davelnaf-no, the implication is not that you don't know what you are talking about. Sorry for having given you that impression. I am sure you are knowledgeable and well respected as well. I was only defending my blogger buddy Repubssuck from your implication that he may be insane. As for being a liberal, only this year, since I did vote for the President both times.

  • Posted By: Narinda @ 12/01/2008 11:02:08 PM

    Floridave, you are missing the point of the article.. It has nothing to do with what American think of Obama or why he won the election. Its about his chance to push America's foreign policy in a new direction with a real and lasting strategy that priviledges globalised co-operation over domination. It has a lot more to do with the unique opportunity he has in WORLD politics because he has become an international symbol, not just an American one. I am confused about why you think that has anything to do with American political navel gazing and your own personal wealth.

    Fantastic article Fareed. Love your work! I hope Obama reads it.

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 12/02/2008 8:32:07 PM

      YOU are missing the point. Obama was elected to the the President of the US, and to look out for our best interests, not to pursue "a real and lasting strategy that priviledges globalised co-operation over domination"; whatever in the hell that means!

  • Posted By: mistermcfrugal @ 12/02/2008 11:33:16 AM

    Ha! A new "grand strategy?" I believe the left's messiah has already espoused that. We will run from Iraq. As soon as we run from Iraq, we will start talking ourselves into all the reasons for running from Afghanistan. Just read the NY Times today and see many reader comments about why we need to run from Afghanistan. And the other element of the left's messiah strategy: talk big and do nothing but run when you think people are buying your bull. That strategy is firmly in place. Now the American will reap the benefits or the pain of such a foolish strategy.

    • Posted By: nimodahooligan @ 12/02/2008 1:12:05 PM

      mistermcfrugal:
      "Ha! A new "grand strategy?" I believe the left's messiah has already espoused that. We will run from Iraq. As soon as we run from Iraq, we will start talking ourselves into all the reasons for running from Afghanistan. Just read the NY Times today and see many reader comments about why we need to run from Afghanistan. And the other element of the left's messiah strategy: talk big and do nothing but run when you think people are buying your bull. That strategy is firmly in place. Now the American will reap the benefits or the pain of such a foolish strategy."

      ummm, can i ask you a quick question? what benefits and pain have we as american people reaped over the last 8 years?

      what is your definition of "winning" or "victory"?

      is it better to CHOOSE your battles rather than run blindly into conflict without consideration for people and other countries? flailing about with guns in the air screaming god bless america?

      and how do you know that we will "run" from anything? obama wants MORE troops in afghanistan...MORE troops doesnt sound like the scurrying sound of defeat to me...

      tell me, how do you "win" and claim "victory" when we face a faceless enemy? when its the everyday people that attack us, they arent wearing uniforms, they dont pay attention to rules of war, they dont even care about themselves or they're people...tell me since you seem to be a self righteous expert, tell me how we win against that?

      now lets talk foolish strategy....one word, two syllables...I-RAQ...GO.

      how about toxic lending practices? deragulation?

      or how about the strategy of shoot first, realize you messed up, and never ask any questions?

      or hey, how about the strategy to BLATANYLY LIE (and even admit that documents/reports were blown out of proportion to sound the war cry) TO AN ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR SELF GAIN...

      help me out here...

      how about this...

      what was so f-ing spectacular about the "right wing messiah's" plan? the plan to "rage on until the job is done, no matter the fiscal or human costs"? or the plan to "never negotiate, ever, with anyone" strategy?

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/02/2008 8:29:11 PM



        I just wish that superpatriot McC would now disclose that 'secret plan' he was touting, and make it easy for us.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/02/2008 8:25:55 PM



      Tell me two things. Why don't we hear, like we did 6 months ago or so, Bush saying we'd leave when they said they wanted us to, and why is it Bush who is entering into an agreement to do that. I've got it, let's blame it on the yet-to-be president and the MSM!

    • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 12/02/2008 7:13:56 PM

      Actually talk big and fk things up has been the Bush administration. I think you are sort of in a state of confusion or denial.

      As far as thje left's messiah, well a majority of voting Americans including 25 percent of young evangelicals voted for Obama. I don't think that is so "left" as you seem to think with your ideological, shallow, in the box spouting

      As far as Messiahs go, Bush was the AntiChrist if you want to make a comparison in terms of saviors.

      Expand your thought process beyond simpleton, easy to spout rhetoric, and you may get some respect.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 12/02/2008 12:33:57 PM

      Actually, Obama wants to increase activity in Afghanistan. Now, given all the predictions of McCain's victory by the right here, your credibility as far as predictions goes is pretty slim.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 1:43:56 PM

    Hi 40YearR, I wouldn't concern myself with that party wilsan is building. The new party of former republicans and Independents that lean Republican will be the party of the future. It's a few election cycles away, but after the 2010 Republican Senate seat losses followed in 2012 by President Obama's re-election and more Senate and House losses, the Republican Party as we knew it will vanish. It will become the Grand Old nasty Bastard Party and their National Convention will be held in the parking lot of a Redneck Piggly wiggly.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/02/2008 8:21:09 PM


      Hey Repub, I'm not worried about them. I just figure that when they're not howling about the MSM, or trying to impugn everyone else, they're sittin' in some back room somewhere eating donuts and polishing and polishing away at more of Palin's turds wondering why everyone else can't see the shine!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 2:29:52 PM

      R, my prediction is that the Dem party will be in power for the next 20 years.

  • Posted By: NewsWkDickG @ 12/02/2008 4:32:30 PM

    It seems that there are Catholic priests today who are advocating that anyone who voted for Obama needs to now go to confession as Obama hasn???t taken a firm stand for Pro-Life. It would seem that that limited view is irresponsible in its??? advocating the importance of the single issue and in accepting everything else without concern for quality/sinfulness, a very limited conscience at best. In contrast, what would seem very appropriate today is for all clergy that preached for voters to select Bush-Cheney should now fall on their faces before God and beg His forgiveness. Probably what would be more realistic is for clergy to simply stop using the pulpit to broadcast their political views based on their limited biases.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/02/2008 8:14:37 PM



      I just love it when churches use tax exempt funds for support so they can tell folks how to vote. But don't take that tax-exempt status away! As to the Catholics, they should root out their molster 'priests', and show how strongly it is anathema before they presume to tell others about others of their 'Christian' beliefs as pronounced by their 'Holy Fathers'. Don't they call the difference on these two subjects 'hypocricy'?

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 5:19:14 PM

      When i get the time, i'll share the reason why Democrats lessen the abortion rate and Republicans increase it.

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 5:17:32 PM

      Newswkdickg, that's about as strong and clear as one could state it. It's clear that you are not alone because this ploy was used to try to defame President-elect obama during his campaign. THANK GOD the voters saw through it!

  • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 12/02/2008 7:03:23 PM

    Can we get beyond the we won sht?? Obama one, I am happy about that, let's move on...

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 5:35:24 PM

    Floridave voted for Romney. Did romney run as an independent? i didn't see him on the ballot. Get used to what floridave is saying. It's the mantra that is being issued to the idiot faithful BY HANNITY, MORRIS and LIMBAUGH. We lost because our candidate was a flop and not because of hate. HATE DOES NOT LOSE! HATE IS GOOD! WE NEED MORE HATE! HATE WORKS! HATE! HATE! repeat after me! Hate, Hate, a little louder. That's it. Hate, Heil, er I mean hATE!.

    • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 12/02/2008 6:36:06 PM

      Actually FloridaDave has cut way back on the rhetoric. Must have been good turkey!

      Thanks FD...

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 3:56:36 PM

    Sarah has been given a book deal and many speaking engagments as her going away gifts. Now, let's just hope she goes away. Her and her husband remind me of a coulpe of backwoods carnies that figured a way to take the rest of us rubes for a few bucks.

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 4:00:32 PM

      The book deals are one thing since she won't be doing the writing.....the speaking engagements will be a riot.

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/02/2008 6:14:52 PM



        Can't get 'nuff uh dat!!!

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 12/02/2008 4:23:32 PM

    "OBAMA "HAS HIS DREAM TEAM""(eddiewhere 2008).. I am surprise that no one has used this term. I am sure I will hear it tomorrow. OBAMA HAS SELECTED HIS DREAM TEAM. THIS TEAM HAS ALL STAR CREDENTIALS. EACH OF THEM ARE HALL OF FAMERS. HILLARY, GATES, RAHM.
    HOPEFULLY, THIS DREAM TEAM WILL KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE REAL THREAT RUSSIA AND CHINA. These two countries have already launched a very successful CYBER WAR against AMERICA. They are able to spy on our networks and steal our technological secrets and our patented software.
    RUSSIA, INDIA AND CHINA ARE THE SUPERPOWERS OF THAT SIDE OF THE WORLD. They are the key to a multinational strategy. Managing these realtionships is like walking a tight rope(eddiewhere 2008). China and India are always at odds and have a delicate relationship to say the least. I know ZaKaria wrote an article on this relationship six months ago. He needs to write another one.
    Another situation that needs to be monitored closely is ORGANIZED CRIME IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY when it comes to cyber crime and nuclear weapons. These Eastern European countries are a potential conduit for passing NUKES to terrorists.

    These Terrorists will be based in the Five MUSLIM breakaway REpublics in Central ASIA( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistanan) . They can potentially form an alliance with China, who has a long history of strained relationships with INDIA. To the MUslims India is an enemy and a traitor. Remeber how Hitler rose to power, a depressed economy in EUROPE. THESE REPUBLICS in Central Asia have all the same elements.. Russia and CHina will form an alliance based on their mutual FRICTION with INDIA(WHO IS CHALLENGING TO BE THEY PREMIER SUPERPOWER IN ASIA).

    LOOSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS IN EASTERN EUROPE CAN GAIN ACCESS to them and sell them to terrorists.
    THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE 5 MUSLIM STATES IN CENTRAL , AND CHINA IS A Big Threat.

    "OBAMA IS NOW THE WORLD"S FIRST PRESIDENT" eddiwhere 2008.. CAN HE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA INORDER TO PREVENT THESE FIVE MUSLIM REPUBLICS FROM SLIPPING DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO ECONOMIC DEPRESSION. ONCE AGAIN REMEMBER HOW HITLER ROSE TO POWER A DEPRESSED ECONOMY IN GERMANY WHO WAS TORCHERED ECONOMICALLY AFTER WORLD WAR ONE BY THE ALLIES RUSSIA, FRANCE AND BRITAIN. RUSSIA IS DOING THE SAME TO ITS FORMER REPUBLICS UKRAINE ect.....

    OBAMA IS LIKE THE COACH OF THE DREAM TEAM(BASKETBALL) TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS A PLAN TO MAKE JORDON, BIRD AND MAGIC WORK TOGETHER AS ONE FORCE TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. OR LEBRON, KOBY AND PAUL PIERCE. I AM SURE HE CAN AND WILL DO JUST FINE AND AMERICA WILL SOON BE THE ENVY OF THE WORLD AGAIN.

    OBAMA HAS HIS DREAM TEAM AND ALL THE TOOLS FOR A MUCH NEEDED GLOBAL STRATEGY.

    P.S. REMEMBER BARAK YOUR BLACKBERRY HAS ALREADY BEEN HACKED.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 4:07:46 PM

    It's time for me to get my lady's Marguarita ready. c.u. manana. be good!

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 2:12:37 PM

    GOD IS A GOOD GOD!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 3:58:03 PM

      Yes and we thank him. Thank you Good God. R, do you remember a song from the late 90's titled What if God Was One of Us? Good one..check Youtube.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 3:10:16 PM

    Bill Richardson will be Barack's secretary of Commerence. Great choice. I was hoping he would get department of energy but will still be involved with new enery sources. who doesn't admire and respect Bill Richardson?

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 3:40:45 PM

      Bill Richardson is an excellent choice for Sec. of Commerce! I just hope he doesn't grow a beard again.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 2:32:54 PM

    That's good pia. Chelsea Clinton in 2028!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 3:37:33 PM

      She'd be in her 40's then just like Obama.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 2:28:01 PM

    Today AP reported that many of the Republicans think Hillary Clinton is too polarizing and are lamenting President Obama's choice of her as Secretary of State. Are these the same Republicans who were kissing her butt after she lost the Primary in a feeble and futile attempt to woo the Clinton supporters. Wasn't it these same Republicans, who suddenly cared so much about women's issues? Wasn't it these ridculous buffons who chose Sarah Palin is an idiotic knee jerk response to Hillary's loss. Polarizing? I don't think so. Serious threat to the Party of Hate's future? Oh yes!

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 1:30:52 PM

    wilsan, Get you head out of Hannity's butt and get some air to that pea brain of yours!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 1:59:04 PM

      Aww, poor wilsan. I thought wilsan was nice..what happened?

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 1:18:19 PM

    Giving weight to an opinion on Foriegn Policy from a Republican would be like getting advice from Sarah Palin on intellegence!

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/02/2008 9:10:26 AM

    What it be? Doc Howl

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 12/02/2008 12:35:55 PM

      What's going on, man?

      • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/02/2008 1:03:40 PM

        R, went to the park with Bella. Will be back later.

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