REALPOLITICK DIPLOMACY IS DEAD

II

I listened to the debate last night. I could not get my head around what Romney is all about until I analyzed his statement that American prestige around the world has deteriorated when in fact the opposite is clearly the case.  In his eyes, and apparently in the eyes of people like him such as the neo-cons, they base prestige on fear—they think other countries will not respect America unless they fear America. In marked contrast, Obama’s and people like him base their definition on respect. This second course in foreign relations is more difficult; it substitutes intelligence, time, and negotiation for might.

It was a hot day when I walk in into an over populated bar and ordered a glass of beer. It was only then that I heard a load voice claiming he was the boss in the pace and could beat anyone in the bar who said he wasn’t. He was six foot four 250-pound gorilla looking individual. I did not think I could beat him by my self. I did not think it was worth the effort so got up and left. My untouched beer remained on the bar. I feared the gorilla but did not respect him. The problem is our little blue plant is small. We cannot leave even if it cost us. Therefore, America cannot survive—enjoy a cool beer—in a hostile environment without out resolve. The gorilla caused problems but the solution is not to become another gorilla such as  McCain, Romney, and the neo-cons wants us to do. The solution is to have everyone join against him, not to beat him so he fears us, but to convince him that he cannot win—no loss of blood or treasure. This is precisely what Obama is doing with Iran. It is not the Marlborough Cowboy tough, macho approach; America has had enough of that with George Bush and Iraq? Obama has closed the Henry Kissinger era of “Realpolitik diplomacy” based primarily on power and material factors and has opened up a new era in diplomacy based on moralistic and ethical premises. He was given the Noble Prize in anticipation of him doing this very thing and now he has done it. I hope the American voters recognized it but if they don’t history certainly will.