Policy train wreck alienates even allies

Baltimore Sun Letter to the Editor October 17, 2006.

Observing President Bush’s foreign policy is like watching an imminent train wreck: You can see looming disaster from a mile away but there is not a thing you can do about it.

Critical observers knew the reasons given to justify the war in Iraq were bogus and that the invasion would be a catastrophe for the United States and the Iraqi people.

Similarly, critical observers knew Mr. Bush’s doctrine of military “pre-emption” coupled with his short list of countries ripe for “regime change” would accelerate the push by Iran and North Korea to develop nuclear weapons.

As predicted, we have North Korea announcing “publicly for the first time that it had nuclear weapons” (“Failed tactics leave U.S. policymakers facing ‘rough go,'” Oct. 10).

How is it that in the span of six years, the U.S. has gone from being the “indispensable nation” to being a country that is reviled by some allies and disregarded by its enemies?

The short answer is that our chief executive is totally out of his depth with regard to foreign policy.

Dave Goldsmith
Woodstock
The Writer is the Baltimore County Green Party Coordinator