Iran Sanctions
Here is a question. Are sweeping, multi-lateral economic sanctions considered diplomacy? If you are comparing them to war, I suppose they are. So in line with President Bush's recent promise to "try diplomacy first" with Iran, the United States is now calling for economic sancitons on Iran.
During a recent appearance with Israeli PM Olmert, Bush said...
We’re headed — we’re on the cusp of going to the Security Council. And as — I repeat, to your question, obviously we’d like to solve this issue peacefully and diplomatically. And the more the Iranians refuse to negotiate in good faith, more countries are beginning to realize that we must continue to work together.
In the interests of diplomacy, Mr. President, instead of dismissing (via the Secretary of State) the letter that President Ahmadinejad wrote to you and going around the Security Council towards international sanctions, perphaps you could sit down and write some kind of response to the letter. Something from the gut, you know, just to be polite. After all, politeness is the first rule of diplomacy. Each manuever is crafted to elicit some generosity from the other side. Each small extention from one side should be greeted in equal measure from the other. It doesn't matter what the letter says, Mr. President, just write him something to let him know you care. You remember when you were a kid and your Grandma sent you $5 bucks for Easter, and your Mom made you write a thank you note. Same principle, only without the $5.
So, in the interest of "trying diplomacy first", please Mr. President, try first writing a letter. Think of it as diplomatic baby steps. Step two, would be to go to the Security Council. Step three is calling for broad international sanctions. Then, when all that fails, you get to start dropping bombs. I know, it seems like a lot to go through when the end is so obvious and pre-determined. But these are the sacrifices we make to pretend we come from a free country, based on justice, diplomacy, and the rule of law. We must appear to be making every effort at diplomacy, instead of just paying lip service to it.
Bush Diplomacy
During a recent appearance with Israeli PM Olmert, Bush said...
We’re headed — we’re on the cusp of going to the Security Council. And as — I repeat, to your question, obviously we’d like to solve this issue peacefully and diplomatically. And the more the Iranians refuse to negotiate in good faith, more countries are beginning to realize that we must continue to work together.
In the interests of diplomacy, Mr. President, instead of dismissing (via the Secretary of State) the letter that President Ahmadinejad wrote to you and going around the Security Council towards international sanctions, perphaps you could sit down and write some kind of response to the letter. Something from the gut, you know, just to be polite. After all, politeness is the first rule of diplomacy. Each manuever is crafted to elicit some generosity from the other side. Each small extention from one side should be greeted in equal measure from the other. It doesn't matter what the letter says, Mr. President, just write him something to let him know you care. You remember when you were a kid and your Grandma sent you $5 bucks for Easter, and your Mom made you write a thank you note. Same principle, only without the $5.
So, in the interest of "trying diplomacy first", please Mr. President, try first writing a letter. Think of it as diplomatic baby steps. Step two, would be to go to the Security Council. Step three is calling for broad international sanctions. Then, when all that fails, you get to start dropping bombs. I know, it seems like a lot to go through when the end is so obvious and pre-determined. But these are the sacrifices we make to pretend we come from a free country, based on justice, diplomacy, and the rule of law. We must appear to be making every effort at diplomacy, instead of just paying lip service to it.
Bush Diplomacy
posted by Praguetwin at
9:09 PM
8 Comments:
The only diplomatic tool Bushie's got is a hammer, so that's all he knows how to use.
It will be nice to get a new administration that has a whole bag of diplomatic tools in a couple of years.
By
Reality-Based Educator, at 4:17 PM
I expect the rest of the world is praying Bush runs out of string before he can commit to any more moronic adventures.
By
Cartledge, at 6:23 PM
Actually I think economic sanctions are a form of war. Maybe worse than bombing, now that bombing is more precise.
By
Anne Rettenberg LCSW, at 6:47 PM
RBE,
You can see how much it hurts him to even say it. I used that quote because I actually heard him say it. It was like a little kid who has to clean his room before he goes out to play. "Try diplomacy first." Am I reading in to this or is the end already in there somewhere?
Cartledge,
That is about all anyone can do at this point. Maybe someone will start another war just to distract him.
Elizabeth,
It is indeed, nothing less than economic warfare.
By
Praguetwin, at 7:58 PM
I would go further and say that sanctions are an act of terrorism. Sanctions target the civilian population to pressure them to rise up against their government. Pretty shameless.
By
Anonymous, at 11:22 PM
Have you read the letter?
Children, we really do not want the president to write letters to anyone, particularly if the subject is religion.
By
Anonymous, at 3:02 AM
You are assuming he can write....
By
expatbrian, at 12:58 PM
Hey now,
I definatley have above average intelligence showing up on the comment page here. Your commentors are exceptional though, I will admit. I still don't have a decent detractor yet (well, I have one, but he doesn't even have a blog).
I guess i need to try harder so that my blog will live up to my random thought.
It sure seems like there are a lot of Hitlers out there these days. And speaking of doing the "diplomatic dance", maybe they could try (gasp!) sitting down and talking.
It is going to be ugly if they start dropping bombs before they even bothered to sit down and talk.
By
Praguetwin, at 2:26 PM
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