05-04-2009, 04:30 PM
Quote:The way to win is to be steadfastly who we are, work with the moderates who don't want us dead, and to continue to give terrorism no safe haven and establish international cooperation in all nations to root it out from their soil.If you want to support moderates, you have to give them ground to stand on. If you make every issue a "reform now, and we won't do business or diplomacy with you until you do XYZ" matter, then you're going to polarize those countries. Every dictator will paint the US as the global bully (not entirely inaccurate), and moderates will be unable to complain without appearing anti-national. This kind of polarization happened in practically every nation in Latin America, including the ones that are ostensibly on your side.
If you want to establish international cooperation, you're going to have to deal with the fact that the US sits at the far end of this issue, and that other countries feel differently. If you're willing to tell them where to stick it, then you'll certainly appear strong and decisive, but you're also not going to get any cooperation.
If you want to eat the cake, eat the cake, but don't expect to see it on your plate afterwards.
-Jester