Giuliani "We are all members of the 9/11 generation."
For anyone wishing to know how foreign policy (at least involving the war against jihadistan) would be conducted in a Rudy Presidency ;Foreign Affairs - Toward a Realistic Peace - Rudolph Giuliani is a must read.
He adopts and defends much of the Bush Doctrine regarding the war against the Islamo-nazis while at the same time tempers our expectations regarding democracy promotion("We must be under no illusions that either Iraq or Afghanistan will quickly attain the levels of peace and security enjoyed in the developed world today." ). He gives the President kudos for "orchestrating the most fundamental shift in U.S. policy since Harry Truman" and says that like Ike "accepted Truman's framework", it is time for needed revisions. He renames the war once again to a more correct name in my opinion ;the "Terrorists' War on Us". He recognizes that to defeat jihadistan requires a long term commitment similar to the cold war .
Quote:
"The first step toward a realistic peace is to be realistic about our enemies. They follow a violent ideology: radical Islamic fascism, which uses the mask of religion to further totalitarian goals and aims to destroy the existing international system. These enemies wear no uniform. They have no traditional military assets. They rule no states but can hide and operate in virtually any of them and are supported by some."
He intends to do the needed reforms at Foggy Bottom that I had thought Condi Rice was sent there to do. He would have the diplomatic corp do a much more aggressive job of advocacy ."Too many people denounce our country or our policies simply because they are confident that they will not hear any serious refutation from our representatives," he argues. "The American ideals of freedom and democracy deserve stronger advocacy. And the era of cost-free anti-Americanism must end."
Quote:
"A realistic peace is not a peace to be achieved by embracing the 'realist' school of foreign policy thought. That doctrine defines America's interests too narrowly and avoids attempts to reform the international system according to our values."
Bingo
He would strengthen NATO and expand it beyond the limits of US and European cooperation ,inviting non-European free nations into the defense pact. He would not place much faith in the ability of the UN to do much of anything. "The UN has proved irrelevant to the resolution of almost every major dispute of the last 50 years" he writes and would expect little more from them beyond humanitarian missions .
In a major break from Bush policy he would not push for a Palestinian State . He says it is not in the interest of the United States to help create a Palestinian state that would "support terrorism." ....."Palestinian statehood will have to be earned through sustained good governance, a clear commitment to fighting terrorism, and a willingness to live in peace with Israel." This was of course President Bush's original position until he got talked into that great plan called the "road map " which later morphed into the “quartet” .
I would like to see more about other foreign policy challenges but this is only one essay. I would be comfortable with Rudy leading us in the challenges posed by the "Terrorists' War on Us".