Foreign Policy magazine has published 20 questions it would like to ask Sarah Palin, assuming, I'm sure, that she will not have answers to many of them. While I don't assume that any of my many illustrious readers are vying to be back-up Leader of the Free World (correct me if I'm wrong), I'm wondering how many the rest of us could answer. I like to think I'm up to speed, but here are a few good ones:
1. No
2. Tough one: would a one-state solution get everyone focused on mutual well-being?
3. India needs power, there's no question of that, and nuclear power might be a good option. Yet, we know they have the bomb and might not mind using it in Kashmir. We need to press them to sign the NPT.
4. Ah, I have so many thoughts - yes, pour lots and lots of money into alternative energy research and even more into energy efficiency/conservation research.
5. Continue with diplomatic pressure. Countries that open up to trade open themselves up to communication and culture. The Chinese people will begin to demand more transparency and a greater political voice as their prosperity increases.
6. Russia would never support Georgia's NATO bid, so get their cooperation on proliferation and Iran.
What are your answers?
Here are my quick thoughts:
- Is Iraq a democracy?
- What is your preferred plan for peace between Israel and Palestine? A two state solution? What about Jerusalem?
- Do you support the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, which would lift restrictions on sales of nuclear technology and fuel to India, a country which hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
- Other than more drilling, what steps do you suggest the U.S. take in order to move toward energy independence? Do you believe more investment is needed in alternative energy research? If so, how would you recommend this funding be allocated?
- How would you balance concerns over human rights and freedom in China with the United States' growing economic interdependence with that country?
- What's more important: securing Russia's cooperation on nuclear proliferation and Iran, or supporting Georgia's NATO bid? If Vladimir Putin called you on the phone and said, "It's one or the other," what would you tell him?
1. No
2. Tough one: would a one-state solution get everyone focused on mutual well-being?
3. India needs power, there's no question of that, and nuclear power might be a good option. Yet, we know they have the bomb and might not mind using it in Kashmir. We need to press them to sign the NPT.
4. Ah, I have so many thoughts - yes, pour lots and lots of money into alternative energy research and even more into energy efficiency/conservation research.
5. Continue with diplomatic pressure. Countries that open up to trade open themselves up to communication and culture. The Chinese people will begin to demand more transparency and a greater political voice as their prosperity increases.
6. Russia would never support Georgia's NATO bid, so get their cooperation on proliferation and Iran.
What are your answers?
1, No, but it is getting closer.
ReplyDelete2. Two state. The Palestinians need to figure out how to get what they have to work - then they might gain some credibility. Right now I wouldn't trust them to water my lawn.
3. Yes. The NPT is just a piece of paper.
4. Nuclear. Let the market determine what other alternatives survive. But, if we do nuclear right we won't need that other crap.
5. They are more dependent on us than we are on them. Hopefully they will get through their ultra-nationalist phase without breaking up or being wiped out by a tiawanese nuke strike.
6. I would tell him to shove it. No, I would tell him to put Medvedev on the phone and then I would tell him to shove it. Let the Russians follow their own interest with Iran - I am sure they would rather Iran not have nukes as much as we do. Fast track NATO membership for Georgia...just because.
Hi. At last, a few moments to ponder this.
ReplyDelete1. Hah. No.
2. 2-state solution. There are not enough common interests to make federalism work. I won't commit myself now on J.
3. No. Such changes should only come in the context of broader changes to US technology exports--nuclear, satellite, rocket etc. Our unwillingness to export some dual-use technologies is simply inspiring others to figure it out for themselves, which foils our attempts to prevent proliferation while at the same time losing US companies export revenue and building them strong competition, competition, btw, often trained in US universities, but that's another question...
4. Yes, more investment, but more private-sector driven encouraged by tax breaks on r&d, tax breaks for early implementation (like one could get for installing certain alternative energy sources at home), make the X-Prize type prizes in alternative energy tax-free. And raise fuel taxes to offset the tax breaks, the highest increases on the most polluting fuels.
5. Constructive engagement. Pushing China too hard will push it into Russia's arms, at least for now, until China sees that the balance of power between it and Russia has really shifted. But the US position would be much stronger without Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo and without having a deficit so widely financed by China.
6.There's not usually a simple either-or in foreign policy. If Volodya called on the phone, I'd tell him to come by the house, or better yet, have me over to his house, I'd bring the vodka, and we'd find the gray area in between. If we turn our back on Georgia, we basically write off Ukraine. But what we haven't successfully made Russia see is that Iran's nuclear ambitions are as dangerous for it as they are for us. As long as the Muslims of the Caucasus are so unhappy, and they are very unhappy, Chechnya's quiescence not withstanding, Russia will be a target. Just as Nunn-Lugar seems to keep working even with everything else going on, so should we try to find a way to get Russia to work with us on Iran. It's in their interests even though we really don't see eye-to-eye on Georgia.
5. China is one of the last countries on earth where Gitmo would reduce your standing...quite the reverse probably. In the global economy when the shit hits the fan I would much rather owe money than the reverse. With China's population growing and Russia's imploding I think Russia should be the one who is worried, the Shanghai Coop Org not withstanding.
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