I'm not going to go point by point through the speech, much as I would like to, but I will quote one passage that I think gets to the heart of why I think Dean is what this country needs.
"Our allies have been a fundamental source of strength for more than half a century. And yet the current administration has often acted as if our alliances are no longer important. Look at the record: Almost two years passed between September 11 and NATO assuming the leadership of a peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. More than six months have gone by between the fall of Baghdad and any serious consideration of a NATO role in Iraq.
It can, at times, be challenging, even frustrating, to obtain the cooperation of allies. But, as history shows, America is most successful in achieving our national aims when our allies are by our side.
Now, some say we shouldn't worry about eroding alliances because, whenever a crisis comes up, we can always assemble a coalition of the willing. It's nice when people are willing, because it means they will show up and do their best. It does not, however, guarantee that they will be able to accomplish all that needs to be done.
As President, I will be far more interested in allies that stand ready to act with us rather than just willing to be rounded up as part of a coalition. NATO and our Asian alliances are strong coalitions of the able, and we need to maximize their support and strength if we are to prevail.
Unlike the kind of pick-up team this administration prefers, alliances train together so they can function effectively with common equipment, communications, logistics, and planning. Our country will be safer with established alliances, adapted to confront 21st century dangers, than with makeshift coalitions that have to start from scratch every time the alarm bell sounds."
Dean gets it. The neocons don't. I believe the central flaw in the Bush foreign policy is its unilateral nature. This fundamental disregard for the rest of the nations and citizens of the world, I believe, causes most of the problems we now face in foreign policy. The key point in Dean's commens is how he contrasts a true institutionalist policy with the ad hoc "coalition of the willing." Maybe Bush spends too much time on his ranch and is too enamored with the mythical appeal of the cowboy and justice by possse. Perhaps that form of justice worked back in the day, but I doubt anyone living in Dodge City, KS, would like to give up their local sheriff department (a formal institution) for a return to an informal institution of law by posse. Dean recognizes that institutions make cooperation easier, more effective, less costly, etc. Sure we may give up some autonomy, but we gain much in return. In our everyday lives we each surrender large amounts of autonomy (can't drive 130 miles per hour, can't take what we want from a store, etc.), but we accept that as part of a functioning society. Bush and his cronies have decided we don't need those benefits anymore.
And that is just stupid. The U.S. is becoming the little dutch boy, trying in vain to plug up the holes in the dike all by himself. Fighting terrorism is like keeping flood waters back, it's only as successful as it's weakest link. The U.S. needs the cooperation of everyone to be successful. Moreover, this can't be on an ad hoc basis like the Administration believes.
As Dean acknowledged, cooperating with others is not always easy, but this is not a reason to abandon it. Bush views the world in black and white, so, institutions must be either good or bad. He is incapable of the more nuanced, and accurate, view of how they work. Thus, he believes his advisors, who say they are bad.
Except for Collin Powell, who gets ignored anyway.
It infuriates me that many Americans seem to think leadership on foreign policy requires a few carefully orchestrated photo ops of the president in a flight suit, or holding a fancy-pants, display-only turkey for the troops.
Howard Dean has a true vision for our foreign policy, George W. Bush has his head stuck up his ass.
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Current Music: Blur - unidentified B-Side from Anthony's Christmas 2001 mix