Why U.S. Policy is So Bad: An Analysis of the Current Policymaking Process

[Casino67]

Rightsidenews.com:

The Obama administration has a major internal split. The problem is that the people most qualified to be heard and who have the better understanding of the situation are being ignored.

The reasons include: the president's own character; his preference for highly ideological junior people who he thinks personally loyal; the president's mistrust of his two top policy officials, the president's inexperience and ignorance of basic diplomatic principles (reliability, deterrence, use of power, credibility, etc.); and this administration's desire to be different from predecessors no matter what the cost.

In one group there are those with relatively more experience and a realistic view of the situation, especially Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and the uniformed military. Reading remarks from these quarters carefully shows subtle deviations from the White House line. They tend to see Iran as more of a threat and favor(ed) alignments with existing Arab regimes while being more skeptical of change and of Islamist groups.

They seem to have been opposed to openly and quickly throwing Mubarak's regime--not just Mubarak himself--under the bus. The president's approach is contrary to many decades of U.S. practice.

As a student of the history of the U.S. foreign making process (my book, Secrets of State covers that story from 1789 to 1980). I'd say we now face a unique situation. The president doesn't fully trust Clinton (a former political rival who'd like to be president and strongly criticized him in the past), Gates (a holdover from the Bush Administration), and his generals (since he mistrusts and looks down on the armed forces).

Senator John Kerry, who when I worked in the Senate was himself considered a dope by the Democratic staffers, seems to be his main foreign policy advisor at times, and Kerry once said that those who go into the army are stupid. If you think things are bad now, contemplate Clinton being fired or quitting to be replaced by Kerry.

[clearvision]

Thanks for posting this.

[Pepper]

somewhat wacky and far-out views

 

Good labeling of the White House approach.

[Casino67]

Thanks for posting this.

 

You can get the daily headlines emailed to you if you sign up. You may have noticed that I get a number of posts from this site. I am sure you could use one more email everyday.

[Pepper]

I had just bookmarked the site but one more email that is useful will be a welcome relief.

 

 

Thanks for posting this.

 

You can get the daily headlines emailed to you if you sign up. You may have noticed that I get a number of posts from this site. I am sure you could use one more email everyday.