We all anticipated this State of the Union speech would not focus on international issues, but here is my short list of more important things not mentioned or glossed over:
That’s a pretty spectacular list, even without noting the absence of NATO, Japan, allies, Europe, the UN…
A few notable items that were mentioned:
Of course the President also mentioned withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, security cooperation with Israel, blows delivered against Al Qaeda, and the troops (no mention of civilians serving abroad this time around I’m afraid).
If this is a prelude to the campaign, as rightly it should be, it presages an ever more economically focused foreign policy, with security issues narrowed to a few top priorities and little focus on diplomacy except on a few specific issues. This is a vision for restoring American economic strength at home, not increasing–or perhaps even maintaining–its commitments abroad. This is called retrenchment.
PS: I should have mentioned that Richard Haas calls it “restoration.” That’s a more positive word, but the substance is the same.
Those of us looking for a Ukrainian military victory, a Palestinian state that will live…
The sad fact is that non-member Kosovo today is more qualified for CoE membership than…
The legal profession could also constitute an international nongovernmental group to advise on conflict issues…
The wider war has arrived, but until there is decisively new leadership in both Tehran…
It really is a good lesson in diplomacy: anticipate trouble, try to prevent it, and…
It is high time for Israeli practice to rise to the level of Jewish ideals.…