Dean's Foreign Policy: The Best Alternative

[slinkerwink]

John Tirman, director of the Program on Global Security & Cooperation at the Social Science Research Council, writes in Alternet that Governor Dean's national security policy, as outlined in his speech Monday, "revealed him as the best Democratic alternative to Bush:"

The war was based on false premises, and it has been costly in innumerable ways, not least in managing the central challenge of Islamic militancy. None of this changed with Saddam's capture. Dean's position on Iraq has been right from the start, and is likely to be seen as such months or years down the road<...>
In his speech, he emphasized three policy positions that are bound to become the pillars of his own foreign-policy agenda during the campaign. First, the cardinal threat to American security is terrorism, and that Bush has done far too little to protect Americans and much of it, clumsily. Among such threats, Dean pointed to weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists several times in the course of his speech. The second critique points the damage to the alliances and multilateral cooperation due to Bush administration's emphasis on unilateralism. Third is addressing social and economic calamities – HIV/AIDS and global poverty – that also give rise to the conditions of desperation and political violence.

Dean said:"Empowered by the American people, I will work to restore: The legitimacy that comes from the rule of law; The credibility that comes from telling the truth;The knowledge that comes from first-rate intelligence, undiluted by ideology; The strength that comes from robust alliances and vigorous diplomacy; And, of course, I will call on the most powerful armed forces the world has ever known to ensure the security of this nation."

This is a fairly sharp piece of rhetoric, reminding listeners of Bush's mendacity and unilateralism. . . Dean scored much more decisively in the Los Angeles speech by questioning Bush's judgment, and it is this theme that can raise him from the "anti" insurgent to the stature of statesman-candidate.

[jmaier]

1. Clark has already well staked out these positions

so Dean isn't unique here. See:

http://clark04.com/issues/10pledges/

The difference is that Wes Clark actually has some executive experience in the area. But it's nice to see Dean supporting the same type of rational positions.

[slinkerwink]

2. I'm sure that John Tirman has heard of Clark's positions but just likes

Dean's foreign policy ideas the best. ;-)

[jmaier]

3. Here's the link

to go with your post. :-)

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17401

I think he must be one of those ignore Clark fellows because he only contrasts Dean's approach to Dick Gephardt, Joe Lieberman, and John Kerry.

Seems odd that he wouldn't make a mention of the only candidate in the race who is accused of having ONLY a foreign policy platform. Oh well.

[slinkerwink]

4. are you insinuating that he's a part of the RW Conspiracy to keep

Clark's name out of the media? :eyes:

[maddezmom]

6. No not at all, but guess he didn't read Clark's policy statement n/t

[jmaier]

8. Nope

the "left-wing" conspiracy! :tinfoilhat:

[imhotep]

5. clark has no experience

civilian executive governing is the oppostite of military.
You see...in the civilian world we have whats called a representative democracy, not an authoritarian chain of command.

7. Bingo!

... but I think there is a possibility that Clark could transcend his origins.

[jumptheshadow]

9. Well, Dean's experience can't be evaluated

We can't see those sealed governmental papers, so he might as well have no experience.

[TopesJunkie]

10. Huh?

Sorry, but that makes no sense whatsoever.

[SahaleArm]

14. Why are dealings with Vermont Yankee and the Koch Brothers...

sealed?

11. additional thoughts

My concern with Clark is similar.
My concern is also with the general (pardon the pun) phenomenon I see with the "infatuation" with the military. Clark, himself, does not seem that dangerous to me; but the almost reflexive homage to Generals does. An excellent article on this subject from Chalmers Johnson at this site http://www.nationinstitute.org/tomdispatch/index.mhtml?pid=938
crystallizes a lot of my concern.

[SahaleArm]

13. That's your case for Dean's Foreign Policy experience?

I guess if you have nothing start bashing.

[jpgpenn]

12. LOL

:crazy: