Kerry Would Focus FP on Stability NOT Democracy

[liberalpragmatist]

That's a shift away from the Bush doctrine and fundamentally it accepts the notion that democracy cannot be imposed on another country. I agree with that. However, I have to admit that I'm ambivalent about it. I worry that Kerry will end up making the same kinds of marriages of convenience that ultimately bite us in the ass in the longterm. I'm all for a vigorous democratization campaign of the Arab world - I just don't think we can do it through war, but rather through witholding aid from Egypt, for instance, unless it begins to liberalize.

What do you all think?

Check out this Left Coaster post that explains this in more detail:
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/001996.html#more

And this Josh Marshall article in this issue of the Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2004/07/marshall.htm

[blackmoonlillith]

1. I'm with Kerry...

But then again, I'm an isolationist for the most part.

[JI7]

2. there is something between NOT imposing democracy and preventing democracy

and it means while we don't impose democracy on them, we leave it up to them to fight for it themselves since democracy is about the people. and if they fight for it we will not prevent them from doing it.

and one reason we back so many dictators in the middle east is because of oil. but one of kerry's biggest plans is to get us off of oil and invest in alternative energy sources and conservation. so this will help with that problem.

[liberalpragmatist]

4. I agree largely, but I worry about some of the consequences

For instance, is it really a good idea for Kerry to continue our policies towards Uzbekistan, which has became a major US ally despite the fact that their dictator, Islam Karimov, makes Saddam Hussein look like a saint? I just feel that we should be careful about who we ally with and I worry that Kerry may be a bit too willing to coddle with dictators. Don't get me wrong, I realize that sometimes you have to, and I'm not arguing for a blind let's-not-deal-with-dictators approach. I'm just calling for discretion and avoiding allying with major war criminals. Democracy should be encouraged, though not imposed, and the best way to do that is to set some standards as to who we ally with.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. I agree with Kerry. We cannot impose America on....

Iraq. They are not us we are not them. Let America be America and Iraq be Iraq.

JK as President should stabilize Iraq and pull out as soon as realistically possible.

[liberalpragmatist]

5. Yes, I fully agree with this part

See Reply #4 for more elaboration on what precisely I am ambivalent about in Kerry's foreign policy.