The real democrat in the race

[AmyStrange]

The real democrat in the race
By Jeff Jacoby | June 3, 2004

FROM: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/06/03/the_real_democrat_in_the_race/
FOR WHICH presidential candidate will James Baker, Brent Scowcroft, and Lawrence Eagleburger -- the foreign policy barons of the first Bush administration -- vote in November: For the one who shares their Kissingerian approach to foreign affairs, in which order and stability are more important goals than democracy and human rights? Or for George W. Bush?

It is an irony of the 2004 presidential campaign that the candidate who most nearly resembles Harry Truman and JFK in believing that Americans should "pay any price, bear any burden" to promote liberty and democracy in the world is the Republican incumbent, President Bush.

The Democratic standard-bearer John Kerry, by contrast, articulates a foreign policy that uncannily resembles that of George Bush the Elder. Like Bush I, Kerry has little patience for the idealistic "vision thing." He downplays the idea that the United States should be in the business of advancing freedom around the globe. Considerably more important, he suggests, is keeping the lid on trouble spots.

In a recent interview, The Washington Post reports, Kerry made it clear that "as president he would play down the promotion of democracy as a leading goal in dealing with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China, and Russia. . . . He said securing all nuclear materials in Russia, integrating China in the world economy, achieving greater controls over Pakistan's nuclear weapons, or winning greater cooperation on terrorist financing in Saudi Arabia trumped human rights concerns in those nations."

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[jpgray]

1. The premise is that George Bush cares about democracy and human rights?

This article is almost ridiculously delusional. :D

[EstimatedProphet]

2. Yeah, Bush really cares about bringing democracy to Iraq

That's why he overthrew a democracy there.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. Gee, another smear piece by the Boston Globe!!!

What Librul Media???

:puke:

[Old and In the Way]

4. Jeff Jacoby.....'nuff said.

[wyldwolf]

5. I agree in part...

Despite all the posturing by some here over what political label to put on Truman and JFK (and FDR and Johnson, for that matter), their foreign policy was, for the most part, that of intervention in foriegn conflicts to protect the interests of democracy.

However, that is a bit outdated today and to compare them to Bush II is a bit misguided. Whereas there are ulterior motives behind most wars, those motives in Bush's policies and the most transparent ever.

Kerry is taking the lead from Wesley Clark who believes that the future of the US military is humanitarian.

[AmyStrange]

6. I agree...

YOU SAID: "Kerry is taking the lead from Wesley Clark who believes that the future of the US military is humanitarian."

Although I disagreed with Kerry's IWR vote, I am encouraged and glad that Kerry is thinking this way and moving in that direction,

d