Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

jorgelito · 01-29-2005, 06:53 PM

Sob,

Actually I think there is a coherent and deliberate function of American Foreign Policy as to why our government reacted in this manner.

I believe Colin Powell himself has said: Our action in Indonesia is directly in our interest given:

1. Largest Mulsim population/country on earth
2. Opportunity to show US as a good guy and extend goodwill
3. Hopefully this type of action will pre-empt or neutralize terrorist activity, recruitment etc.
4. Our current administration, while partially neo-con, exercises a policy of realism and sometimes neo-realism. Condi herself has released a paper a few years back stating the best foreign policy be based on realist doctrine.

So, we look out for our own interest (keep in mind, I am not making any value judgement but rather, a political analysis based on facts, not emotion). Our actions are primarily predicated on that belief.

So, as the "war on terror" and such is the number one objective of US Foreign Policy our actions abroad will reflect that.

My guess would be that, if Osama was rumored to be in Darfur in Sudan, we will see US action there.

So in answer to "Why are the Indonesians more worthy of the rest of the world's government assistance than anyone else?"

Short answer: Because it's in our interest.

In purely theoretical or analytical terms it makes sense. But if one thinks about it emotionally then one will probably get upset or whatever.

01-29-2005, 06:53 PM	#33 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Sob, Actually I think there is a coherent and deliberate function of American Foreign Policy as to why our government reacted in this manner. I believe Colin Powell himself has said: Our action in Indonesia is directly in our interest given: 1. Largest Mulsim population/country on earth 2. Opportunity to show US as a good guy and extend goodwill 3. Hopefully this type of action will pre-empt or neutralize terrorist activity, recruitment etc. 4. Our current administration, while partially neo-con, exercises a policy of realism and sometimes neo-realism. Condi herself has released a paper a few years back stating the best foreign policy be based on realist doctrine. So, we look out for our own interest (keep in mind, I am not making any value judgement but rather, a political analysis based on facts, not emotion). Our actions are primarily predicated on that belief. So, as the "war on terror" and such is the number one objective of US Foreign Policy our actions abroad will reflect that. My guess would be that, if Osama was rumored to be in Darfur in Sudan, we will see US action there. So in answer to "Why are the Indonesians more worthy of the rest of the world's government assistance than anyone else?" Short answer: Because it's in our interest. In purely theoretical or analytical terms it makes sense. But if one thinks about it emotionally then one will probably get upset or whatever.