| 14-11-08 00:00 |
Is the World Ready for Change? |
Eric S. Margolis
10 November 2008
Americans are still euphoric after the historic victory last week of
Senator - and now, president-elect - Barack Obama. In spite of
mounting a gallant fight, Sen. John McCain and his embarrassingly
ignorant running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, were crushed at the polls.
The once mighty Republicans have been reduced to a party of
uneducated rural dwellers in the Deep South and farm belt and a
rightwing religious movement of Protestant evangelicals.
The election was an amazing triumph for Obama, but his honeymoon will
be brief. He inherits a nation mired in bankruptcy caused by an orgy
of reckless borrowing and criminal fraud.
Obama's victory, and the Democratic control of House and Senate,
offer him a unique opportunity to resolve some of America's most
vexing foreign problems. His first step should be to demilitarise US
foreign policy by taking policy-making away from the Pentagon and
returning it to the State Department. Next:
Resurgent Russia
The Kremlin greeted Obama's victory with warnings over Georgia and
Ukraine, and plans to deploy missiles in its Kaliningrad enclave to
counter the Bush administration' s anti-missile system in Poland and
the Czech Republic.
America's most important national security challenge is not Osama bin
Laden or Iraq, but relations with Russia, which has thousands of
nuclear warheads targeted on the US.
Bush and Cheney enraged and provoked Russia with their foolish anti-
missile plan, and their backing of Georgia's attack on South Ossetia
which was designed to boost McCain's electoral chances.
Obama should terminate the useless anti-missile programme, tell
Georgia to settle down, and renew President Dwight Eisenhower's calls
for worldwide nuclear disarmament.
Ukraine will be the next crisis. Washington and Moscow must work out
an agreement that guarantees Ukraine's continued independence but
avoids making it a NATO spear pointed at Russia's heart. NATO forces
must move away from Russia's borders.
China Challenge
Managing China's emergence as a new world power is the second most
important US foreign policy issue. Washington must gracefully accept
this fact and end Republican fantasies of a future war with China.
In Step with Iraq - Obama should accelerate his pledge to remove US
troops from Iraq. Let the Arab League assume security responsibility.
Bankrupt Washington can't afford the $10 billion monthly occupation
of Iraq.
Powwow with Palestinians
The Palestine-Israel conflict generates much of the anti-Western
violence coming from the Muslim world. Obama should throw his weight
behind Israel's centre and left parties who support a genuine land
for peace deal.
However, Middle East peace is unlikely without direct US intervention
and pressure. Failing this, and continued American support for
undemocratic regimes in the region, the conflict with the Muslim
world will continue to bedevil US foreign policy and national
security.
But there are strong signs Obama's policy towards the Muslim world
may not be very different than those of George Bush. Obama has
pledged allegiance to the US Israeli lobby and accepted its most
extreme positions. His new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is an ardent
pro-Israel neoconservative.
The Afghan Angle
Obama fails to understand the deep tribal complexities of the Afghan
War. He vows to send more troops and even attack Pakistan. Obama
should listen to senior officers who say the war cannot be won
militarily but only through negotiations that include Taleban and its
allies. It's urgent to end this unnecessary war before it further
destabilises nuclear-armed Pakistan.
North Korea's Nukes
Obama's call for direct talks with these two problem nations was
wise. Both eagerly await a show of respect from America, and
assurances they will not be attacked.
Europe
Europe is joyous over Obama's victory and expecting improved
relations. Washington should treat the EU as an equal and partner,
not a subordinate. The US has a lot to lea |
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