Is the Bush Administration incompetent in international affairs?

[Agathon]

Originally posted by DanS
There was nowhere near the opposition to the Afghan adventure that there is to the Iraq debacle.

This is mainly because of the time elapsed between Hussein was put on notice until now.

Which explains why the majority of protesters I spoke to still have no problems with going after AQ.

The US is not coercing anybody, except Hussein. We will do it ourselves, if necessary. Preferably not.

Do you want me to say, "Bribing" or "Blackmailing" instead?

[DanS]

If containment has been good enough for the last twelve years, why is war needed so badly

Our perceived threat has skyrocketed, making judgment of success for containment measured on a different scale.

Which explains why the majority of protesters I spoke to still have no problems with going after AQ.

But I was talking about Afghanistan in particular. Nobody liked that the US took the Taliban down. That's where the good will went.

Do you want me to say, "Bribing" or "Blackmailing" instead?

Bribing is fair game.

[Dinner]

Bush doesn't do as good a job as many other administrations did but he still gets things done so that means he's not incompetent. As Gerneral Katusov (Supereme commander of all Russian forces during Napolean's invasion) said: "The easiest and most incompetent thing any man can do is to do nothing. If he does nothing then he can do nothing wrong but he also will not do anything right. A competent man will take calculated risks."

[Demerzel]

Originally posted by DanS
If containment has been good enough for the last twelve years, why is war needed so badly

Our perceived threat has skyrocketed, making judgment of success for contained measured on a different scale.

Perceived threat being what information the US public is receiving from the administration. As has been proved Iraq & OBL are not linked but that info probably got stomped down on as being to harmful to the case for war. It's far too easy to get cynical that this war is just to distract the US public from the ailing economy.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Agathon
Do you want me to say, "Bribing" or "Blackmailing" instead?

Welcome to the real world my friend.

[DanS]

As has been proved Iraq & OBL are not linked but that info probably got stomped down on as being to harmful to the case for war.

They are perceived as linked by the administration, at least in an enemy of my enemy is my friend way.

[Demerzel]

I have no problem with bribery, i.e. "aid", or other options on a government level to get things done but it's depressing that Bush is just so piss poor at it. We all knew that Bush was weak on the foreign front when he was elected but just how weak was a shock. His advisors have just not impressed.

When it's important to retain an united front, Bush has managed to annoy all but his closest allies, and even they are starting to lose faith.

Originally posted by DanS
As has been proved Iraq & OBL are not linked but that info probably got stomped down on as being to harmful to the case for war.

They are perceived as linked by the administration, at least in an enemy of my enemy is my friend way.

Heh SH is an enemy of OBL, therefore as OBL's enemy is my friend SH is a friend

[DanS]

Demerzel: I don't think Bush could have done Iraq in a way that didn't annoy some of his closest allies. Nobody wanted to act against Iraq in a relatively short timeframe, but he did. He pushed, because he thought it was worth it.

[Agathon]

Oerdin: I didn't suggest that he do nothing (though I think he'd cause less damage if he did), just that he be more diplomatic about it and avoid creating needless problems.


Well then, I'll add to the thread title:

Bush is incompetent at IR and also at bribery.

There you go.

[DinoDoc]

Is it really fair to blame Bush for the NK situation given that the North Koreans have been violating the agreed framework almost from the time it was worked out?

I also fail to see how the Israel/Palestinian situation can be laid at his door step given the intransience of both sides.

[Shi Huangdi]

WRT Iran its fine to call them for what they are. No use dealing with Khatami when it is clear he has no power. I think it is important he maintain the moral courage to do what Clinton failed to do and enforce the terms of the allies peace treaty with Iraq

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Is it really fair to blame Bush for the NK situation given that the North Koreans have been violating the agreed framework almost from the time it was worked out?.

Yes.

[DinoDoc]

How so?

[Demerzel]

Originally posted by DanS
Demerzel: I don't think Bush could have done Iraq in a way that didn't annoy some of his closest allies. Nobody wanted to act against Iraq in a relatively short timeframe, but he did. He pushed, because he thought it was worth it.

possibly. I think my own problem with this war is that we've heard a multitude of reasons ( *ahem* excuses ) for why we need this war. As each reason is shot down as not relevant/true, another appears.

Yes some allies might have been offended, but a way might have been found to ensure some unity rather than the obvious fracture in the alliance.

[Berzerker]

This is a thread devoted to non-partisan appraisal of Bush's competence in world affairs. Over the last few weeks I have become convinced that Bush is incompetent when it comes to IR. I used to think he was tolerably bad, but I am now convinced that he's a complete cowboy (in the British sense as well).

Let me be very clear, I am not a person who sympathises with Republicans or conservatives of any brand. I think they are in most cases slightly mad and in many clearly deranged.

Non-partisan.