Every president since Nixon has advocated trade and engagement with China, with the prevailing belief that engagement will lead to democracy.
Why then do we have a different policy towards Cuba?
Does the Bush/McCain doctrine of isolating and closing channels of communication with our enemies (Iran, North Korea etc.) have any basis in psychological theory, as a valid mechanism to achieve our objectives?
“Negotiating with terrorists” is different than having dialogue to defuse anger and incentivize change, and does not necessarily connote weakness. A large stick can and should be wielded.
As the Tao says,
Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are brittle and dry.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.
Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life.
The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
Also, by calling our involvement in Iraq a “War,” we are empowering our enemies. Acts of terror and violence against peace, freedom and democracy should not be legitimized by the language of war.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
This website needs to offer advertising for the Obama campaign as well. McCain is a decent man, but the Republican party hacks have hamstrung him. If he wants their money, he must do their bidding. We don’t need, or want, four or more years more of rampant corruption in our government because the Republican “king makers” have a stranglehold on the party fundraising machinery.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:36 am
A nation’s strength cannot be judged solely by its military or economic prowess. American policy makers are keenly aware of Chinese economic expansion and military improvements, but they often overlook the source of China’s real strength, which is its culture, philosophy and traditions.