Taking the attitude that "since we were now all-powerful, allies were no longer necessary," President Bush damaged the US' image and diminished its power, Fred Kaplan writes in Slate. How can the next president heal our diplomatic woes?
- Visit all Middle East countries; leave a full-time envoy: "It is appalling that President Bush made his first trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories in his final year."
- Get out of war: "Withdraw as quickly as possible while trying to keep Iraq from going up in flames."
- Work toward new Pakistani alliances: "In this case, our hardheaded security interests and our moral aspirations—to create conditions for the survival and, if possible, the spread of democracy—coincide."
- Make our diplomatic strides public: "Once we start doing smarter things, we should also be smart about promoting our efforts."
For the full list, click the link below. (More
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