The Projection Preznit, Chapter 278

A must read.

Remember when Bush was busy slamming Clinton.....?

By Ivo Daalder bio

I was talking to a reporter the other day, arguing that while Bush inherited a lot of problems from Clinton, in each instance he had done everything possible to make things worse. The reporter told me take a look at the 2000 GOP foreign policy platform, and reread the litany of indictments Bush & Co. had issued with respect to ClintonÂ’s foreign policy.

So I did. Sure makes for interesting reading.

Some of my favorites:

The administration has run AmericaÂ’s defenses down over the decade through inadequate resources, promiscuous commitments, and the absence of a forward-looking military strategy.[As opposed to breaking the Army and Marine Corp, sending troops to war without adequate body armor and equipment, and only deciding to increase force levels five years into a global conflict.]

The arrogance, inconsistency, and unreliability of the administrationÂ’s diplomacy have undermined American alliances, alienated friends, and emboldened our adversaries. [My all-time favorite!]World trade talks in Seattle that the current administration had sponsored collapsed in spectacular failure. [Doha anyone?]

An initiative to establish free trade throughout the Americas has stalled because of this lack of Presidential leadership. [Ah, yes. Bush’s leadership on this issue really has made a difference — 6 years later and we’re not a step closer to a deal.]

The problems of Mexico have been ignored, as our indispensable neighbor to the south struggled with too little American help to deal with its formidable challenges. [Think the Mexicans feel theyÂ’ve gotten any help from Bush lately? After declaring the relationship with Mexico AmericaÂ’s most important on September 9, 2001, Bush has ignored our southern neighbors ever since.]

The tide of democracy in Latin America has begun to ebb with a sharp rise in corruption and narco-trafficking. [And since then, only AmericaÂ’s friends in Latin America have won electionsÂ… Not!]

With weak and wavering policies toward Russia, the administration has diverted its gaze from corruption at the top of the Russian government, the slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians in Chechnya, and the export of dangerous Russian technologies to Iran and elsewhere. [The biggest mistake wasnÂ’t seeing PutinÂ’s soulÂ…]

A generation of American efforts to slow proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has unraveled as first India and Pakistan set off their nuclear bombs, then Iraq defied the international community. Token air strikes against Iraq could not long mask the collapse of an inspection regime that had — until then — at least kept an ambitious, murderous tyrant from acquiring additional nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. [North Korea? Iran? Oh, and what do we do when inspectors in Iraq return?]

Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin within each individual heart.

....and the truth shall set you free.