Democracy Arsenal

« The GOP's Short-Sighted Immigration Strategy | Main | Are Conservative Foreign Policy Minds Closed? »

April 28, 2010

The "Treating Our Enemies Better Than Our Friends" Meme
Posted by David Shorr

I don't mean to pick on my friend Kori Schake; she's merely keeping up the drumbeat charge that the US now is nicer to its enemies than its friends:

Contrast the harshness with which President Obama himself and his cabinet excoriate Israel for building settlements that were not even covered by the temporary freeze with President Obama's careful language as Iran's Qom reactor was revealed (he even delayed the announcement so that it would not interfere with his message of a different America at the UN last fall). It would appear that Israel is the only government for which the Obama administration favors regime change. Imagine what signal that sends to Iran.

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think of the administration's policy. In my reading of this graf, which is jam packed with arguments, I see three issues. There's the question of whether we use the same standards of etiquette with allies and adversaries. Second, the rationales for why the US would press issues in one diplomatic forum versus another. And then last, the matter of regime change (somehow it always seems to come back to that issue). 

On the comparison between Washington's treatment of Israel versus Iran, I can hardly do better than the commenter Wolfboy on Kori's blog, who said "Please hold off on such comparisons until the US refuses to rule out military action to deal with the Israeli settlement issue, or declares that the US and Iran are joined by an unbreakable bond." For all the administration's purported mistreatment of Israel, it's worth noting the assessment of Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren that "This administration, I say this unequivocally without reservation, this administration is as good if not better than previous administrations in its security commitment to Israel, in assuring Israel's military edge." (About 14 minutes into his Charlie Rose interview.)

But there are more fundamental problems with this argument. To begin with, this whole exercise of comparing our treatment of friends and enemies, just on the face of it, is so apples-to-oranges. Digging a bit deeper, what are the implications of how we're supposed to treat allies or adversaries? Is friendship a carte blanche, ensuring that leaders of ally nations are immune from criticism or controversy with the United States?

And for nations we regard as posing a threat, are we precluded from modulating our response or making tactical choices about the right time or place to raise criticisms or point the accusing finger? In oher words, how much room is left here for any diplomatic efforts? As I debate these issues in the blogosphere with my conservative friends, I have tried to be more careful not to caricaure them. I know they understand the need for diplomacy. Yet their policy critique gives no credit for policy choices that have been made to boost diplomacy's prospects. And frankly, the more criticism I read, I really wonder how they think diplomacy will work. For one thing, the criticism never acknowledges the international coalition-building around Iran, except to slam it as a fool's errand. The missed deadlines and supposedly wasted year that Kori laments stems directly from the difficulty of lining up international support, and the desire to keep from losing momentum is the animating drive for the way the administration has been relentlessly working to persuade others to stand with us in pressing Iran. If conservatives are so sure they could drive this more successfully or expeditiously, I'm still waiting to hear how.

Which brings me to my next point: choosing the right multilateral venues. The key point is that a solid international front of pressure on Iran is something that has to be built, not presumed. It would be great if the world saw this the same way as the US; they don't. Consequently, it's indeed true that the administration hasn't pressed Iran's misdeeds as loudly as possible or in every public forum. This is a calculation that some forms or venues of protest would undermine international support on Iran. In the case of the nuclear summit, the administration figured it could actually accomplish more on Iran in private meetings in the margins of the summit.

Again, I don't want to caricature the conservative view, but I need someone to explain to me how it's different from asserting that the US view is correct, and everyone else should follow along, without needing to be patiently convinced or cajoled?

Finally, since Kori brings it up, regime change. According to Kori, the Obama administration wants regime change in Israel and doesn't want it in Iran, even though it should. Once again I read the conservative argument as lacking any sense of trade-offs or negative potential consequences. It's an entirely different matter to want regime change than to seek regime change as a matter of policy. We all want greater freedom for the people of Iran. Some of us, though, see a direct contradiction between the policy objectives of getting Iran to do a nuclear "full monty" and regime change. However abhorent and illegitimate the Iranian leadership is -- and it indeed is abhorent and illegitimate -- a policy aim of removing them will only give them every incentive to barrel ahead to a nuclear weapon capability. For any successful peaceful outcome here, Tehran needs to know that changing their policy without changing their regime will be credited by the United States and the international community. Something we ought to know by now.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451c04d69e20133ed04d920970b

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The "Treating Our Enemies Better Than Our Friends" Meme:

Comments

Thanks for putting this stuff here.I was wondering this information only.We friends had lot of discussion on it.We were little bit confused but this post solves our problems.

however, you can accomplish your will onlylinks of london when you choose Links of London jewel. What Links of London gives you is far surpassing your cost. all in all, Links of London transfers a a point of view that each woman who owns Links of London jewellery will become fashionable and the dressing language. Fashion is commonly using in Links of London jewelry and Links oflinks london London jewellery makes you normal and approachable, smart and independent, most of all you are thorough of beauty

Birkenstock was Made in Germany since 1774 . Check out our Birkenstock sandals and Birkenstock shoes including the Birkenstock gizeh,at the lowest regular outlet prices, free shipping and when you put on Birkenstocks. you will feel very comfortable.

Very informative and trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading

Really trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading..

Thank you, I got it. o(∩_∩)o

every interesting to read.I enjoyed well while reading.I will recommend my friends to read this one for sure.

There is no black and white colors, such as gray and red like a timeless classic, and eventually replica handbagsbecome worse, Homme Dior, black A06 wake up call, the foreigners rouge, further improve the design of the initial sales to noble pure deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) Homme Dior, Dior men will bring clean ao in front of us the overall structure, surrounded by a black dial, simplereplica handbags and stylish design style spirit of Dior Homme.

This is one of the best posts that I’ve ever seen; you may include some more ideas in the same theme. I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post.
http://glauke.blog.com/

every interesting to read.I enjoyed well while reading.I will recommend my friends to read this one for sure....!

Very informative and trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading...

seslisohbet siteleri arasında ekol bir adres sestonum hemen sohbette başlamak icin sestonum 'tıklayınız..! seslisohbet ve seslichat adreslerinin gözdesi hemen tıklayarak seslisohbet yapmaya başlaya bilirsiniz..!

sestonum
seslichat
seslisohbet


Forty years ago, Don ED hardy
blew off a Yale fine-art fellowship to pursue the rogue art of tattoo, a timeless and often taboo tradition that captivated him as a boy in the Orange County beach town of Corona del Mar. By 10 he was drawing cars and eagles on kids' backs and arms with wet colored pencils and Maybelline eyeliner. After that he begun to design the Ed hardy picture

At the San Francisco Art Institute in the early '60s, Hardy mastered the demanding art of intaglio etching under the tutelage of the late Gordon Cook, a no-jive blue-collar guy who instilled in Hardy a love of craft, Asian art and the quiet power of Giorgio Morandi's little still life pictures. Which like love kills slowly
But it worked out well for the plucky Hardy boy, who blurred the supposed boundary between "high" and "low" art and carved a path through the worlds of art and commerce. He has drawn images on torsos
, canvases and giant scrolls with equal conviction and aplomb.

They won't hesitate to spend money,or even they feel great pleasure in buying good christian louboutin at high prices.The man clearly has a knack for clothing design and it seems as though his A-List clientele will only help bolster the name.He continues to be innovative while looking to the past for inspiration,a combination that has clearly worked well for him.And if the designer continues to feed off inspiration in a variety of places,the christian louboutin boots sale should continue to come out sophisticated and fun.

Merhaba serdar ortaç dinle çok iyidir bunun dışında volkan konak dinle de yine öyle birde ne vardı heh mustafa ceceli dinle ve bitirirken ismail yk şarkıları kesin dinleyin.ve unutmadan küçük sırlar son bölüm izle dizisi süper.metro turizm bilet fiyatları ve 10.sınıf coğrafya kitabı cevapları iyidir.

The New York Times reports today that a group of students calling themselves FFXIV Gil
University, is actively engaged in a protest against shoddy teaching stan
Final Fantasy XIV Gil
The dean's office has distributed a brochure entitled
Buy FFXIV Gil
saying: "The quality of the education has become so low that it has become terrible. For the last two years
Cheap FFXIV Gil
imagine how students are living at more mediocre schools? It really gives the lie to the idea that Russia
Buy Final Fantasy XIV Gil
growth due to energy prices. And can you imagine Russia's reaction if an Harvard professor were found
FFXIV Gil

The contact information is given for the students at the link for their manifesto
Final Fantasy XIV Gil
grass-roots demcratic campaign. Efforts like this are so dangerous in Russia
AIKA Gold
Here is an amusing YouTube purportedly made by an MGU student about the school's many unique features:

Buy aika gold
clearly been successful in getting their story into the national press, and
Cheap aika gold
"Protocols of the Elders of Zion" as a reliable source.


Good blog, where it taught me a lot! Thank you! The hope of improving the content!

Very good blog, I got a lot of things! If you need to watch, please click on my name, visit our website, where you need to be able to find watch and look forward to your visit! Thank you!

It really gives the lie to the idea that Russia
Buy Final Fantasy XIV Gil

you need to watch, please nike air maxs
nike air max zapatos
nike air max Schuhe
nike zapatos
nike Schuhe click on my name, visit our website, where you need to be able to find watch and look forward to your visit!

Who doesn’t want to ugg boots clearance have a good future? It’s something everyone desires. But, for that, you must first accept that your future is your responsibility. The one who determines whether or not you have a good future is you ugg boots outlet. Don’t expect the circumstances or someone else to take care of it for you. It’s you who must take action ugg boots clearance.

With that understood, what should we do to have a good future ugg boots clearance?

I believe that one important thing you should do is investing in your future. Investing in your future means making some sacrifices in the present to reap rewards later ugg boots clearance. It means investing your time and money in something that might not give you immediate return, but which could give you tremendous value later. It also means preparing for the uncertainties of the future ugg boots clearance.

Sadly, many people don’t do it ugg boots clearance. They only think about the present. Therefore, when something unexpected happens, they aren’t ready and get into a difficult situation. For example, many people just do the same job with the same skills all the time. They don’t improve themselves and prepare for future changes. They neither learn new skills nor expand their knowledge. Then, when the situation changes, their skills are no longer relevant and they lose their job ugg boots outlet.

Be careful," he said to her. "The wine's below the chest now."
No one said anything.
I drank from the belly-button to the chest today," Pablo said. "It's a day's work. What's the matter with UGG Boots Clearance you all? Have you lost your tongues?"
No one said anything at all.
Screw it up, Maria," Pablo said. "Don't let it spill."
There'll be plenty of wine," Agust said. "You'll be able to be drunk."
One has encountered UGG Boots Clearance his tongue," Pablo said and nodded to UGGS Clearance Agust. "Felicitations. I thought you'd been struck dumb."
By what?" Agust asked.
By my entry."
Thinkest thou that thy entry carries importance?"
He's working Ugg boots clearance himself up to it, maybe, Robert Jordan thought. Maybe Agust is going to do it. He certainly hates him enough. I don't hate him, he thought. No, I don't hate him. He is disgusting but I do not hate him. Though that blinding business puts him in a special Ugg boots clearance class. Still this is their war. But he is certainly nothing to have around for the next two days. I am going to keep away out of it, he thought. I made a fool of myself with him once tonight and I am perfectly willing to liquidate him. But I am not going to fool with him beforehand. And there are not going to be Ugg boots clearance any shooting matches or monkey business in here with that dynamite around either. Pablo thought of that, of course. And did you think of it, he said to himself? No, you did not and neither did Agust. You deserve whatever happens to you, he thought.
Agust," he said.
What?" Agust looked up sullenly and turned his head away from Pablo.
I wish to speak to thee," Robert Jordan said.
Later."
Now," Robert Jordan said. "_Por favor_."
Robert Jordan had walked to the opening of the cave and Pablo followed him with his eyes. Agust, tall and sunken cheeked, stood up and came over to him. He moved reluctantly and contemptuously.
Thou hast forgotten what is in the sacks?" Robert Jordan said to him, speaking so low that it could not be heard.
Milk!" Agust said. "One becomes accustomed and one forgets."

That seems much better to me. But understand always that I will do what you wish. But thou must tell me for I have great ignorance and much of what she told UGG Boots Clearance me I did not understand clearly. For I was ashamed to ask and she is of such great and varied wisdom."
Rabbit," he said. "Thou art very wonderful."
_Qu?va_," she said. "But to UGG Boots Clearance try to learn all of that which goes into wifehood in a day while we are breaking camp and packing for a battle with another battle passing in the country above is a rare UGGS Clearance thing and if I make serious mistakes thou must tell me for I love thee. It could be possible for me to remember things incorrectly and much that she told me was very complicated."
What else did she tell thee?"
_Pues_ so many things I cannot remember them. She said I could tell thee of what was done to me if I ever began to think of it again because thou art a good Ugg boots clearance man and already have understood it all. But that it were better never to speak of it unless it came on me as a black thing as it had been before and then that telling it to thee might rid me of it."
Does it weigh on thee now?"
No. It is as though it Ugg boots clearance had never happened since we were first together. There is the sorrow for my parents always. But that there will be always. But I would have thee know that which you should know for thy own pride if I am to be thy wife. Never did I submit to any one. Always I fought and always it took two of them or more to do me the harm. One would sit on my head and hold me. I tell thee this for thy pride."
My pride is Ugg boots clearance in thee. Do not tell it."
Nay, I speak of thy own pride which it is necessary to have in thy wife. And another thing. My father was the mayor of the village and an honorable man. My mother was an honorable woman and a good Catholic and they shot her with my father because of the politics of my father who was a Republican. I saw both of them shot and my father said, '_Viva la Republica_,' when they shot him standing against the wall of the slaughterhouse of our village.

Then Eöl looked into the eyes of King Turgon, and he was not daunted, but stood long without word or movement while a still silence fell upon the hall; and Aredhel was afraid, knowing that he was perilous. Suddenly, swift as serpent, he seized a javelin that he held hid beneath his cloak and cast it at Maeglin, crying:
'The second choice I take and for my son also! You shall not hold what is mine!'
But Aredhel sprang before the dart, and it smote her in the shoulder; and Eöl was overborne by many and set in bonds, and led away, while others tended Aredhel. But Maeglin looking upon his father was silent.
It was appointed that Eöl should be brought on the next day to the King's judgement; and Aredhel and Idril moved Turgon to mercy. But in the evening Aredhel sickened, though the wound had seemed little, and she fell into the darkness, and in the night she died; for the point of the Javelin was poisoned, though none knew it until too late.
Therefore when Eöl was brought before Turgon he found no mercy; and they led him forth to the ugg boots clearanceCaragdûr, a precipice of black rock upon the north side of the hill of Gondolin, there to cast him down from the sheer walls of the city. And Maeglin stood by and said nothing; but at the last Eöl cried out: 'So you forsake your father and his kin, ill-gotten son! Here shall you fail of all your hopes, and here may you yet die the same death as I.'

When three hundred years and more were gone since the Noldor came to Beleriand, in the days of the Long Peace, Finrod Felagund lord of Nargothrond journeyed east of Sirion and went hunting with Maglor and Maedhros, sons of Fëanor. But he wearied of the chase and passed cm alone towards the mountains of Ered Lindon that he saw shining afar; and taking the Dwarf-road he crossed Gelion at the ford of Sarn Athrad,ugg boots clearance and taming south over the upper streams of Ascar, he came into the north of Ossiriand.
In a valley among the foothills of the mountains, below the springs of Thalos, he saw lights in the evening, and far off he heard the sound of song. At this he wondered much, for the Green-elves of that land lit no fires, nor did they sing by night At first he feared that a raid of Orcs had passed the leaguer of the North ugg boots clearance, but as he drew near he perceived that it was not so; for the singers used a tongue that he had not heard before, neither that of Dwarves nor of Orcs. Then Felagund, standing silent hi the night-shadow of the trees, looked down into the camp, and there he beheld a strange people.
Now these were a part of the kindred and following of Bëor the Old, as he was afterwards called, a chieftain among Men. After many lives of wandering out of the East he had led them at last over the Blue Mountains, the first of the race of Men to enter Beleriand; and they sang because they were glad, and believed that they had escaped from all perils and had come at last to a land without fear.
Long Felagund watched them, and love for them stirred in his heart; but he remained hidden in the trees until they had all fallen asleep. Then he went among the sleeping people, and sat beside ugg boots outlettheir dying fire where none kept watch; and he took up a rude harp which Bëor had laid aside, and he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not heard; for they had as yet no teachers in the art, save only the Dark Elves in the wild lands.
Now men awoke and listened to Felagund as he harped and sang, and each thought that he was in some fair dream, until he saw that his fellows were awake also beside him; but they did not speak or stir while Felagund still played, because of the beauty of the music and the wonder of the song. Wisdom was in the words of the Elven-king, and the hearts grew wiser that hearkened to him; for the things of which he sang, of the making of Arda, and the bliss of Aman beyond the shadows of the Sea, came as clear visions before their eyes, and his Elvish speech was interpreted in each mind according to its measure.
Thus it was that Men called King Felagund, whom they first met of all the Eldar, Nóm, that is Wisdom, in the language of that people, and after him they named his folk Nómin, the Wise. Indeed they believed at first that Felagund was one of the Valar, of whom they had heard rumour that they dwelt far in the West; and this was (some say) the cause of their journeying. But Felagund dwelt among them and taught them true knowledge, and they loved him, and took him for their lord, and were ever after loyal to the house of Finarfin.

Je veux juste dire que c'est un super blog vous êtes arrivé ici! J'ai fait le tour de pas mal de temps, mais a finalement décidé de montrer mon appréciation de votre travail!

Ce blog est certainement excellent. Excellent travail. Pour cette raison, je jouis de maintien de retour à la weblog.

Mynet sohbet odaları istanbul chat sitesi

Hi, where did you get this information can you please support this with some proof or you may say some good reference as I and others will really appreciate. This information is really good and I will say will always be helpful if we try it risk free. So if you can back it up. That will really help us all. And this might bring some good repute to you.

Thank you for sharing your article I would always follow.

These kind of post are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thank you for the post

they first met of all the Eldar, Nóm, that is Wisdom, in the language of that people, and after him they named his folk Nómin, the Wise. Indeed they believed at first that Felagund was one of the Valar, of whom they had heard rumour that they dwelt far in the West; and this was (some say) the cause of their journeying. But Felagund dwelt among them and taught them true knowledge, and they loved him, and took hi

I am very glad to study your article.

I really liked your article and I shared with my friends in my facebook account ..

The material and shape and fashion classic Gucci coat of metal badges in sharp contrast.

Thank you for sharing good articles, posts and more are waiting.I will read another time. Nice to see you back. And again with an interesting post.

This is all very new to me and this article really opened my eyes.Thanks for sharing with us your wisdom.

thanks admin for sharing this cool thing with us.

Post a comment

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In.

Guest Contributors
Founder
Subscribe
Sign-up to receive a weekly digest of the latest posts from Democracy Arsenal.
Email: 
Powered by TypePad

Disclaimer

The opinions voiced on Democracy Arsenal are those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of any other organization or institution with which any author may be affiliated.
Read Terms of Use