Tom Friedman: Bush so radioactive he "glows in the dark"

[Carl Yasutomo]

I have been struck by how many foreign dignitaries have begged me lately for news that Bush will lose. This Bush team has made itself so radioactive it glows in the dark. When the world liked Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, America had more power in the world. When much of the world detests George Bush, America has less power. People do not want to be seen standing next to us. It doesn't mean we should run our foreign policy as a popularity contest, but it does mean that leading is not just about making decisions - it's also the ability to communicate, follow through and persuade.

If the Bush team wins re-election, unless it undergoes a policy lobotomy and changes course and tone, the breach between America and the rest of the world will only get larger. But all Mr. Bush and Dick Cheney have told us during this campaign is that they have made no mistakes and see no reason to change.

more at: http://tinyurl.com/d4pq

[havocmom]

1. Hey there, Carl Yasutomo, welcome to the DU!

:hi:

[Carl Yasutomo]

6. Thanks for the welcome!

It's good to be here!

[sui generis]

2. you are absolutely correct

And particularly in the middle east where in some countries western thinking and appreciation of western freedoms are slowly taking root on their own in spite of fundamental religious oligarchies in an evolutionary process.

When we ask a country like Turkey or Saudi Arabia to stand with us against their fellow muslims, we not only seed civil war but fertilize it today.

Western Europe has dealt with terrorists on their doorstep for the past hundred years. It's nothing new to them. They don't buy the bullshit that America is making them safer - quite the contrary we've poked a short stick into a big hornet's nest and now everyone must live in fear. There are better strategies for dealing with hornets.

To the EU, the economy is the single most important issue, not terrorists. Just because we make living in color coded terror a priority for the American people doesn't mean squat to the EU. We can't terrorize them into siding with us, and they are now an economic power in trade agreements so we can't bully them financially into siding with us either.

Four more years of this stupidity and we will absolutely be well on our way to being a third rate has-been superpower.

[myrna minx]

3. Welcome to DU, Carl Yasutomo.

:hi: I predict Kerry in a landslide!

[Carl Yasutomo]

7. Thanks!

You don't know how happy I would be if Kerry won in a landslide. But to be honest, I am not that optimistic... I still think this election will be a squeaker.

[quaoar]

4. Perhaps

We can seal Bush up inside Yucca Mountain.

Nah. Nevada would never forgive us.

[calimary]

10. Eeeeuuuwww! Talk about your toxic waste dump...add one Toxic Texan.

And BTW, welcome to DU, Carl!

[democraticinsurgent]

5. good morning Mr. Friedman

glad to see you coming to your senses. how about taking a hard look at your enthusiastic support for Shrubco these last few years?

[BruceWane]

8. The article point out one of the main things.........

...........that Shrub and Co. completely fail to understand.

No matter how hard you try, no matter how firm and decisive you are, you are not a LEADER when people will not FOLLOW YOU.

[calimary]

11. Welcome to DU, BruceWane!

Good point you make. A leader has to be able to draw people together to LEAD them, not alienate them so they want to scatter to the four winds. Obviously, quite a few intelligent, discerning, clear-eyed people prefer not to be led over a cliff. Who's still gonna stick around for you to "lead," george?

[robbedvoter]

9. Wow! Bush even lost Friedman? Woe is he!

Tom "love the war, hate the loser warrior" Friedman is leaving the building!