Anyway, I really worked hard on it and I'm quite proud of it. I didn't want it to waste away somewhere, so here it is, immortialized on a blog page that is never read. :)
At this point in our nation’s illustrious history there are a multitude of pressing matters which plague the well-being and serenity of our nation’s present condition and at the same time threaten America’s future prosperity; the issues that are most integral and vital to securing a superior nation for our posterity if resolved effectively and competently include America’s foreign policy in the Middle East and how skillfully our government can employ diplomacy to defeat our enemies; the government must also display a concerted effort to tame the economic fluctuations which have begun to seriously impact the financial stability of our nation and cause widespread concern among America’s citizenry; the challenge of illegal immigration has become an issue so volatile that the position of now Republican nominee for the Presidency, John McCain, to support an immigration bill co-sponsored by Edward Kennedy caused such conservative outrage it nearly ended his campaign1; John McCain’s campaign recovered but the political fallout has driven other politicians from confronting a problem that costs the American people millions of dollars each year.
These challenges are not new within the context of American history or politics – the annals of American history are fraught with foreign policy crises which have been solved by tactful diplomacy and compromise; the legacy of diplomatic resolutions to foreign problems is a hallmark of America’s greatest triumphs – beginning with Jay’s Treaty under the Washington Administration that sparred the then young nation from being entrenched in the war between French and Britain, to the brilliant masterwork of the Marshall Plan2 that helped rebuild Europe after World War II while also persuading countries to side with America during the Cold War. From the Cuban Missile Crisis to America’s extended standoff with the Soviet Union, the greatest foreign policy achievements have been reached through speech rather than through force. In each of these of those cases, it took a strong executive who was able to able to balance popular opinion with the pragmatic policy necessary to protect and supplement American interests. Foreign policy agreements which have been recorded as triumphs in the annals of American history do not rest solely on the shoulders of a great and talented individual but decisions made by the President often allow these policy agreements to take place. Jay’s Treaty3 was viciously unpopular, but George Washington looked beyond public opinion and to the importance of keeping the country out of war. Opening diplomatic relations with China4 seemed tantamount to getting in bed with the enemy, but Nixon’s choice to do so allowed America to enjoy economic prosperity. Truman’s choice to recognize Israel as an independent nation was scorned by some but was responsible for contributing to the legitimacy of that nation’s very existence5.
The President’s influence is not limited to foreign policy issues of course; Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiative can be credited with bringing the U.S. out of the Great Depression6 and Washington’s decision to back Alexander Hamilton’s plan to create a Federal Bank had large implications on the young nation’s future7. A President’s indecision and bad judgment can also cause lasting heartache for America’s prosperity; President Van Buren is largely remembered for the economic panic which occurred under his watch and little else, for instance.8
This year foreign policy, economic, and domestic issues of critical importance to the country’s future will be placed on the President’s desk from day one. The 44th President shall be chosen for that office at one of the ripest moments for change that this country has ever been given. The question is, will he be up to the task?
If he is unable to deal effectively with our foreign policy issues and with our enemies abroad, it will be safe to say that he will be unable to become a celebrated President in our country’s history. Today, the economy has outstripped foreign policy issues like Iraq from the public consciousness but what the average citizen has forgotten is that with a globally interconnected world, foreign policy affects every part of our everyday life. 10 Foreign policy decisions affect the trade barriers and tariffs raised between countries and can have a severe impact on the prices of essential products. The North Atlantic Trade Agreement encouraged economic freedom and interconnectivity between Canada, the United States, and Mexico and despite the loss of jobs; many consider it to be a success9. Often, economic issues can be driven to correct themselves. National security matters, however, rarely sort themselves out without decisive action. An example of how the malaise of a President’s foreign policy can affect America’s prestige would be the year-long hostage standoff between Iran and the United States, which was often highlighted by President Jimmy Carter’s inability to enforce a strong hand against the Iranians. 10
What the next President of the United States must do is be willing to confront foreign policy issues with tenacity and grace, with grit as well as discretion. The War in Iraq must not be conducted in the haphazard manner that was the routine of the Bush Administration’s original post-invasion manner and critical mistakes like Paul Bremer’s disbanding of the Iraqi Army (which drove trained individuals to fight with the insurgency) are no longer a luxury we can afford11. The 44th President must understand that to acquiesce to political expediency and leave Iraq in its current shape and form would be a foreign policy blunder akin to our initial post-invasion strategy. Kenneth Katzman of the Congressional Research Institute for Middle Eastern Affairs details why an immediate withdrawal as proposed by Obama could be considered disastrous; when brought to testify before Congress, Katzman explained that without the U.S. forces there to buoy the legitimacy of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Malaki’s government, the Iraqi security forces, in their present condition, would inevitably fracture into their own militias and a coup would most likely occur which would set the stage not only for political instability but also allow a leader like Moktada Al-Sadr who supports Iran to take control of Iraq; thus increasing Iran’s sphere of influence. 13
The 44th President must begin his term by seeking to integrate the war in Iraq as a global issue. He should reach out to all Middle Eastern nations in order to dispel the alienation and ambivalence many of them experience in the field of American politics in the present day. He must present a case for the reasons we have for staying in Iraq not only to the American public but to the world. A tour of the Middle East akin to Madison’s tour of the United States during the Era of Good Feelings would be ideal, except it would be much more serious and critical to national security than Madison’s. 14 The us-against-them mentality of the Bush Administration should be discarded as inefficient and disingenuous and instead the next President should explain to the world that all the civilized nations in the world would suffer as a result of a terrorist victory. A speech to the United Nations delegation could begin a new era of diplomatic relations in which the United States does not act unilaterally but acts as one part of a tapestry of nations dedicated to eliminating terrorism and ensuring prosperity. In order to do this, the next President must demonstrate certain ideals in order for America to regain its prestige and trustworthiness to those nations in the Middle Eastern regions especially. This would include pressuring Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to end his steps towards dictatorship and stop limiting the rights of individuals in his country; this would be an act of contrition since the US has supported Musharraf’s regime in exchange for agreeing to fight Al-Qaeda in key regions of the Pakistani countryside. 15
Who is most likely to take the right steps to ensuring a concrete and precise foreign policy that would benefit America? John McCain, but he will not be the next President of the United States. McCain’s lifeblood during the primaries was the independent vote, but as he has emerged as the presumptive nominee, he has had to forego some aspects of his maverick persona in order to court the conservative base. Obama has much the same relationship with his base and independents, but has been able to veil his inexperience and the weakest parts of his agenda through his soaring rhetoric and seemingly genuine call for bipartisanship. Both candidates signal change for America and envision a new era for American politics but while McCain has a senate record for bipartisanship, he seems to be burdened by the albatross of Bush’s legacy – the war in Iraq and the tax cuts that McCain now supports may not be enough for Democrats to call McCain the “third-term Bush” but it does make it hard for him to coalesce the conservative base and the independent vote into a coalition that will be able to elect him into the office of the Presidency. As a result, it seems most likely that it Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States.
Works Cited
1 Yoon, Robert. "McCain lags in fundraising, cuts staff." CNN Political Ticker. 02 July 2007. CNN. 13 Jun 2008
2 "Jay's Treaty." Jay's Treaty. Archiving Early America. 13 Jun 2008
3 "The Marshall Plan." The Marshall Plan Rebuilding Europe. 00 May 2007. U.S. State Department. 13 Jun 2008
4 " "Nixon's China's Visit and "Sino-U.S. Communique." Nixon's China's Visit and "Sino-U.S. Communique. 11 Nov 2000. Ministry Affairs for the People's Republic of China. 13 Jun 2008
5 "The Recognition of the State of Israel: Documents." Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. 13 Jun 2008
6 Rosmaita, Gregory. "The Four Freedoms, At Home and Abroad." The Four Freedoms, At Home and Abroad. 1993. An American Exegesis. 13 Jun 2008
7 Gross, Daniel. "The New New Deal." Roosevelt-era reforms are saving capitalism-again. 25 Mar 2008.
Slate. 15 Jun 2008
8 "Biography of Martin Van Buren." Martin Van Buren. The White House. 13 Jun 2008
9 "North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - FAS Fact Sheets." USDA. Jan 2008. US Department
of Agriculture. 13 Jun 2008
10 "Biography of Jimmy Carter." The White House. The White House. 14 Jun 2008
11 Zuckman, Jill. "Economy replacing war as top campaign issue." Politics and Government. 15 Dec 2007.
Seattle Times. 14 Jun 2008
12 Gordon, Michael. "Fateful Choice on Iraq Army Bypassed Debate." New York Times 17 Mar 2008
15 Jun 2008
13 "Statement of Kenneth Katzman." Congressional Research Service. 23 Jan 2008. Congressional
Research Institute. 15 Jun 2008
14 "Era of Good Feeling." Eagleton Institute of Politics. Rutgers University . 15 Jun 2008
15 Bhadrakumar, M K. "Musharraf sidesteps US advice." Musharraf sidesteps US advice. 4 Nov 2007.
Rediff India Abroad; India as it happens. 15 Jun 2008
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