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October 2006

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Victor Davis Hanson

Darfur—the Good Iraq

Darfur

I am as outraged as the next American about the genocide in Darfur. Both the Khartoum government and its henchmen Arab janjawid militias are conducting a systematic, village-by-village destruction of civilian African blacks and non-Muslims.

Nothing since the Rwanda mass murdering highlights more the amoral UN’s impotence than the failure of that world body to act in the Sudan, even as it introduces more legislation to damn democratic Israel and is held hostage by veto threats from oil-hungry China. A multilateral UN force of 30,000 to 40,000 could easily supplement pan-African troops and bring some respite to the area.

After reading recent ads in our nation’s major newspapers calling on President Bush to act, and hearing cries of anguish from concerned humanitarians, I am also sure that a single aircraft carrier could enforce a no-fly zone over the country, while a brigade of American troops could shatter the poorly-led and poorly-trained bullies who are killing the innocent.

Why We Will Probably Stay Out

BUT, and it is a big BUT, I am also just as equally convinced that George Bush would be attacked the minute he put a soldier on the ground by the very humanitarians who are calling him to now act on the implicit premise that since there are no American economic or security interests in Darfur, we therefore should intervene. If Americans were on the ground, then Dr. Zawhri would announce a new jihad, hoping to draw in the normal suicide crowd to knock off some Americans as they fed and rebuilt. And that subsequent bloodletting, not the good we did, would be reason enough for a new outbreak of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

With Americans dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, with the United States being ankle-bitten by the Europeans to close Guantanamo (but not send any of its detainees back to their countries of origin in Europe), and crises escalating with North Korea and Iran, we are busy enough. Again, far more importantly, we all suspect of the Sudan that should Americans get ambushed, should a plane go down and its pilot be beheaded on Sudanese television, should a bomb go wide and kill some civilians on CNN, both the world at large, and the American Left in particular, would be the first to turn on the United States for not being perfect when we were still doing a great deal of good.

So if there is any American intervention, it will have to wait for a Democratic President, who then, Bill Clinton/Kosovo-style, can bomb Khartoum from 30,000 feet for a few weeks to force the Islamists to desist, assured that either his leftist credentials or the absence of American casualties would quiet opposition.

We are developing in America a new reactionary aversion to force, that may soon surprise the UN, the Europeans, and our own left anti-war crowd that clamors for humanism in our foreign policy, even to the point of using arms to stop evil. But given the invective against our efforts first in Afghanistan, and then—and especially—in Iraq, such critics have almost destroyed entirely neo-conservative muscular support for democratic reformers.

Full Circle

That is, by caricaturing the American idealistic effort in Iraq as ‘no blood for oil’ when petroleum prices skyrocketed after our removal of Saddam, and other assorted slurs, the opposition on the left, along with the failure to stabilize Iraq, helped to bring back the old Scowcroft/Baker realpolitik, and, soon to follow, the “more rubble, less trouble” school of diplomacy.

Nowhere is that more clear than in the return of James Baker (“jobs, jobs, jobs” / “F—- the Jews”) last seen on the slopes of Kurdistan promising help for all the slaughtered Kurds and Shiites who took us at our word to “rise up” when we kept back from Baghdad in 1991, and allowed Saddam to retain much of his airpower after his defeat, in hopes we would not offend the Sunni Gulf states, and a defanged Saddam would provide a “stabilizing” role in the region and a “balance” to Iran. Now he advocates talking to Syria as in the good old days that worked so well, and, of course, as before thinks Israeli intrangence causes terrorism—thus its decline after they left Gaza and Lebanon.

A Note on The Kennedy School of Government—Professional and Courteous

Last Thursday I debated Lawrence Korb on “Iraq: Accomplish Mission or Withdraw”, taking the position that we must keep some troops there until a stabilized Iraq government can handle its own security needs. My adversary Dr. Korb, the moderator Gen. Ted Oelstrom, the Kennedy School, and the several hundred students in attendance were as polite and professional as could be, and it turned out to be the most hospitable and enjoyable group imaginable. And that says a lot now in this era of political hysteria.

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Comments (35)

Jeffrey S Neher :


It is a sad commentary on todays body-politic that a president who acts is knee-capped by his political opposition and a president who refuses to act is praised. Not only that, but the "too fat and happy to care", when is American Idol on? public rewards the indifference with high approval ratings and punishes the pro-active one with low approval ratings. The former president gave us Rwanda....look the other way and then blame the UN. Now his crowd is taking shots at the current president for not acting in Darfur. They also took their shots at him for not stopping 9/11. They've also taken shots at him for acting to stop future 9/11's. They chastised him for going it alone in Iraq and now blast him for not going it alone in N Korea. They lamented the fact that Saddam had WMD's and now claim he lied about the WMD's. The fact that Clinton did nothing regarding Rwanda? Silence from the left. The fact that Clinton beat the war-drum claiming Saddam had WMD's? Again, silence from the left. N. Korea broke the 94 agreement authored by he and Brother Carter? A deafening silence rings in from the left. No need to go down the path of Blackhawk Down, the first WTC, the Khobar Towers, the African Embassies, and the Cole. Not to mention the numerous offers of Bin Laden. I guess the planning for 9/11 only took 8 months too. I'm being unfair though....I admit it. If you were a Branch Davidian, a "bimbo" leveling a sexual complaint, an employee in the White House travel office, a Cuban boy being protected by his extended family on American soil, or a member of the "right-wing" conspiracy, then you felt the full force of the Clinton administration............

Oct 18, 2006 10:19 PM

Denny :

The systematic rape, murder and theft against the people of Darfur reminds me AGAIN (as if all the OTHER violence from Muslims against non-Muslims around the world on a DAILY basis doesn't) of what a "peaceful" religion Islam has been since it's inception. Oh, no! Did I just qualify for ANOTHER fatwa?!? I will now go back to being my old Dhimmi self.

Oct 19, 2006 03:24 AM

Buck Smith :

The US needs to train an army in Darfur and then use them to take Sudan and then Somalia.

Oct 19, 2006 08:01 AM

Kevin :

God bless you, Dr Hanson, for the work you are doing.

Oct 19, 2006 08:42 AM

Roy S. :

Sadly, there will come within our lifetime a great backlash against the Muslim world that will make the Darfur and Rwanda killings footnotes in history. It will also make civilian collateral deaths in Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki seems moderate by comparison. Once the West wakes up after a major jihadi attack in the future, all hell will break loose and moderate Islam will wish they had done something before it became too late.

Oct 19, 2006 08:51 AM

Junius :

During the American Civil War there were many good reasons for Abraham Lincoln to send an army into Mexico to expel the French. I am sure the Copperhead Democrats would have applauded such a move. Of course the one bad reason to do so was that it would be a distraction from fighting the Civil War.

Oct 19, 2006 08:56 AM

nick foresta :

I am equally convinced that if a Democrat were in the Whitehouse and decided to intervene in Darfur,
he/she would be attacked from the right. Probably by you. Certainly by several Pajama contributors. But all of this is beside the point isn't it? Bush is not going to put any boots on the ground in Darfur and he is the president and will be for the next two years. Is it your position that he is not getting our military involved because he's afraid of what Democrats might say about him? Please, that's just plain silly. Bush is the decider remember.

Oct 19, 2006 09:02 AM

John P :

I too am troubled by the issue in Darfur, BUT am lost as to why America is being thrust into the leadership role on this issue.

This is the opportunity of the world to show their prowess and initiate themselves on the world stage in a humanitarian manner.

I would imagine it's true that the military force needed to squelch such madness as Darfur can be put forth rather easily by many a nation of this world.

We're damned if we do and damned if we don't - so, step up to the plate Europe -Asia - Africa - Latin America.

Where have all the good people gone? The Sheriff needs a few Deputies.

http://www.sundayreader.com/

Oct 19, 2006 09:02 AM

Greg Gransden :

I watched the Kennedy School debate, and was pleasantly surprised at how civil the whole thing was. I was also surprised at how many students were supportive of the American project in Iraq... I thought it was great that Prof Hanson was able to respond to Dr Korb's arguments in a way that was forceful and effective, but also with civility and grace. If only more of our public discourse were like this...

Oct 19, 2006 09:18 AM

MadGreek :

Ok, let's assume for one reson or another the will of action is inaction.

How does one instill pro-active actions?

Education? Threats? just do it (unilaterally).

Education ought to be the solution but how does one educate morality?

What should the goals be?

Oct 19, 2006 09:29 AM

Gabriel Chapman :

How anyone can take the UN seriously given its longstanding malfeasance in regards to the Darfur situation boggles my mind. One would hope that the lessons learned by Rwanda and Burundi would have been learned, sadly they have not. Given that the term “genocide” has yet to be uttered by Kofi Annan speaks volumes to his competence.

One can only draw the conclusion that dictators, thugs, and petty henchmen can act with impunity to undermine their nations and their regions, arm and train terrorists, and subvert nuclear proliferation treaties with impunity without fear of any meaningful repercussions. Mugabe, Chavez, Jong-Il, Ahmadinejad, Assad, Putin, Mubarak, Castro and Al-Bashir all enjoy legitimate status within the “democratic” UN even though their nations are anything but free.

The rank hypocrisy of the various UN councils is nothing short of astonishing, and the uselessness of UN resolutions is readily apparent. With North Korea having only 55 UN resolutions involving their activities and Israel having 976 one can conclude easily that the UN is an utter disgrace.

Only the “esteemed” media continues to hold the UN in high praise and continue to prop up this corrupt and morally bankrupt organization as a tool for good.

It’s long past time that the US eject this despot coddling corrupt gaggle of anti-American/anti-Israel and discontinue all forms of funding for it. Raze Turtle Bay, and put up low cost housing.

Oct 19, 2006 09:37 AM

TallDave :

I'm starting to think a smaller U.S. force might make sense in Iraq, perhaps 50,000 or so, enough for close air support and occasional armored interventions. We don't have much control over whether Sunnis remain so unreconciled to being forced from power as to take up arms, or whether Shia carry out tit-for-tat reprisals to their car bombs and mass murders (I am becoming cynical enough to wonder whether the latter may be the only thing that deters the former).

If we define our goal as training and supporting an Iraqi military that is loyal to the Iraqi constitutional government, then I think we are being more realistic without sacrificing our ideals.

Ultimately, it is up to Iraqis to achieve a stable, peaceful Iraq.

Oct 19, 2006 09:51 AM

Frederick Bartlett :

Darfur is simply not our problem. Both the victims and their oppressors are adherents of Islam, the religion of peace. It makes sense, therefore, for the Organization of the Islamic Conference to lead in making peace in Sudan -- for peace is what Islam is all about.

The alternative hypothesis is that killing Muslims is only a crime if the killer happens to be a Jew.

Darfur is a costly experiment that will answer one of the great questions of our age: Can Islamic states be civilized?

Give the results so far, the answer is clearly "No."

Oct 19, 2006 10:16 AM

Jay McGinley :

Your mentioning Darfur in your blogging is imperative. And as doubtless you have noticed, blogging volume regarding Darfur has plummeted. Thank you for your efforts.

I have repeatedly written that President Bush has through his leadership on Darfur shamed our timid, token efforts, we-the-citizens. But we-citizens must not abandon Darfur or Bush on this effort.

We are hopelessly stalled in Saving Darfur. But it is only hopeless if we-the-citizens continue to be bystanders risking little or no cost to ourselves.

Please help promote what must fast become our role models; nothing less will stop the Genocide:
DARFUR HEROES: Santa Clara Univ Vigil & Fast
[darfurdyingforheroes.blogspot.co...]

More Darfur Heroes at DARFUR Dying for Heroes
[darfurdyingforheroes.blogspot.co...]

Thank you, Rosemary, Dave, Mary Rachel, Jay coming up on week three of
Rescue Darfur Fast-Till-Genocide-Stops
[darfurdyingforheroes.blogspot.co...]

Oct 19, 2006 10:18 AM

Mike :

I suspect some of the people calling for action in Darfur are only doing it because we do not have the troops to take action. It gives them the opportunity to beat their chest and talk tough and undermine the war effort in Iraq at the same time. We don't have the man power to act in Darfur and it's usually part of the an anti-war strategy to redirect the publics attention from problem to problem.

Oct 19, 2006 10:20 AM

Dudley Smith :

There's no contradiction here - both positions involve the criticism of Bush, and that's all the logical consistency needed. This column reminds me of a joke I read a while ago regarding those who ride around with "Free Tibet!" bumper stickers on their cars. If GWB one morning announced the liberation of Tibet through military means, those bumper stickers would be replaced that very day with "War is not the Answer!" ones.

Oct 19, 2006 10:24 AM

Diego :

Isn't the violence in Darfur muslim on muslim violence? I may well be wrong but I thought it was an ethnic thing, not a religious one.

Oct 19, 2006 10:51 AM

cf bleachers :

It is time for all reasonable and rational people to come to a conclusion whether or not they believe that the President of the United States, (based upon the information given to him and the actions of the Iraqi regime taken previously) believed that Saddam Hussein and Iraq were a threat to the world, sponsored terrorism and that military action was necessary. In the runup to confrontation with Iraq, the President, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor made it clear what they believed the situation was and what needed to be done.

Are they complete and total liars? Were they simply interested in oil? Was there no reason for their beliefs? Here is what they said.


American president defends timing and need for strikes

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, December 16) -- The President
Wednesday defended his decision to order airstrikes against Iraq, saying
Saddam Hussein had failed his "one last chance" to cooperate with United
Nations resolutions. "So we've had to act and act now."

...etc...


This is a crisis of Saddam's making. It can be unmade only when he can
no longer threaten the international community with weapons of mass
destruction." -- The President , November 14,

Let me remind all of you what this whole crisis is about: that is, to
make sure that Saddam Hussein is not in a position to threaten the
international community with weapons of mass destruction." -- Secretary
of State at a press conference, November 20,

"Now, let's imagine the future. What if he [Saddam] fails to comply and
we fail to act, or we take some ambiguous third route which gives him
yet more opportunities to develop this program of weapons of mass
destruction and continue to press for the release of the sanctions and
continue to ignore the solemn commitments that he made? Well, he will
conclude that the international community has lost its will. He will
then conclude that he can go right on and do more to rebuild an arsenal
of devastating destruction. And some day, some way, I guarantee you,
he'll use the arsenal . . . If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all
those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow by
the knowledge that they can act with impunity -- even in the face of a
clear message from the United Nations Security Council and clear
evidence of a weapons of mass destruction program." -- The President
in remarks to Pentagon personnel, February 17

"He [Saddam] has started two wars. He has invaded a country next door.
He is a repeat offender, and he is the kind of a rogue state leader that
is a threat not only to his neighborhood, but because he has possessed
and would like to possess more weapons of mass destruction, he is a
threat to our national security . . . And given the stakes, especially
with weapons of mass destruction, the world cannot afford to let Saddam
try again. That's why what we are doing is so important." -- Secretary
of State speaking at the University of South Carolina, February
19.

"There is no greater challenge to the region's stability and to
America's security in that region than Saddam's reckless pursuit of
weapons of mass destruction. As The President has said, the spread
of these weapons to outlaw states, and from them to terrorists and
international criminals, is one of the most dangerous security threats
our people will face over the next generation. Other countries have
weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam Husayn,
there is one big difference: he has used them. Not once, but repeatedly.
Not only against combatants, but against civilians. Not only against a
foreign adversary, but against his own people. I have no doubt he will
use them again if his capacity to rebuild his arsenal is left
unchecked." -- National Security Advisor at the National
Press Club, February 13

"Nobody wants to use force. But if Saddam refuses to keep his
commitments to the international community, we must be prepared to deal
directly with the threat these weapons pose to the Iraqi people, to
Iraq's neighbors, and to the rest of the world. Either Saddam acts -- or
we will have to . . . But make no mistake: Saddam Husayn must bear full
responsibility for every casualty that results." -- The President ,
February 20, 1998.

"The United States remains resolved and ready to secure by whatever
means necessary Iraq's full compliance with its commitment to destroy
its weapons of mass destruction . . . I believe that if it [Iraq] does
not keep its word this time, everyone would understand that then the
United States and hopefully all of our allies would have the unilateral
right to respond at a time, place and manner of our own choosing." --
The President , February 23.



Oct 19, 2006 10:54 AM

Nikolay :

>as if all the OTHER violence from Muslims against non-Muslims
>around the world on a DAILY basis doesn't
It's Muslim vs. Muslim in Darfur, and all this has nothing to do with religion. In Rwanda it was Christians vs. Christians, with only Muslims not engaged in conflict and giving protection to victims.

Oct 19, 2006 11:22 AM

Percy Dovetonsils :

We are all quite familiar with the "chickenhawk" slur against civilians who support military action in Afghanistan & Iraq.

So I ask those on the Left who bemoan the lack of action in Darfur: why aren't YOU forming a version of the Spanish Civil War's Abraham Lincoln brigade to take up arms? Hmmm?

(Incidentally, Professor, your comments about the developing "reactionary aversion to force" on the Right is spot-on. I'm not sure the "UN, the Europeans, and our own left anti-war crowd" will find a vehemently isolationist U.S. to be such a welcome development.)

Oct 19, 2006 11:26 AM

Eno :

Dr. Hanson:
I agree with your comment wholeheartedly, but I don't believe your "new reactionary aversion to force" is either "new"; or likely to gain much traction in public opinion.

I believe the aversion to using American military force gained credence after the Vietnam War. Of course the left adopted the view for a variety of reasons. The aversion to the use of miltary force was popular in America, however, because many conservatives (paleocons?) believed in an isolationist foreign policy.

For example, I supported Reagan's stand against the USSR and the placement of missles in Europe and the invasion of Grenada (our "sphere of influence). But I never would have supported any military incursion in Africa or Asia. Too expensive, and not in our national interest. The left said "Nation building" smacked of colonialism, the right deemed it simply not in our interest economically and in the view of "world opinion."

I believe the "reactionary aversion to force" is confined to the extreme left (and right). Most Americans do not want us invovled in conflicts around the world because of the cost in terms of human life and finance. But I think most Americans were shocked out of our 60's attitudes by the 9-11 attacks.

A majority of Americans are "against" the war in Iraq, whatever that means. A majority of Americans also believe that the "cut and run" philosophy of the left is juvenile. Although the "reactionary aversion to force" is real, I believe it is confined to one area of the political spectrum.

Oct 19, 2006 12:29 PM

Econ-Scott :

If you read an incredibly well documented book from 1969, "On Borrowed Time, How WW II was started" written by the man who witnessed then reasearched the events, Mosley, you will see a broad canvas filled with Characters by different names but Oh so so familiar to a present time.

Every generation has it's backstabbing Chamberlains, Wilsons, and reluctant backstabbers Daldiers.

And every generation has it's calculating tyrants and enablers, knowing the backstabbing appeasers have no stomach to confront.

Oct 19, 2006 12:55 PM

Al Reasin :

I am so angry at the “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” attitude that is prevalent in America today. I judge people/politicians on follow through on their promises/commitments. I have no respect for those that waffle on commitments. I may not like what someone does, but if they do what they say they’ll do, I have to respect them. Obviously, there limits on the acceptability of any action, but when there are reasonable choices I can accept decisions when they are made with rational thinking.

Our Captain, when I was in the service, had three choices in order to repair our submarine after an underwater collision. He made the worse possible decision for the crew in terms of family separation but the best for the ship and crew when we set sail. I never heard anyone complain about that decision and to this day, while I didn’t like it, I knew it was the best of the choices for our ship and crew. Likewise, I’m not overly fond of our decision to invade Iraq, but I support the President in his mission to keep terrorism off of our shores even thought my son will deploy to Iraq in December with the Army. worse yet, because his technical MOS is not needed, he will be utilized for convoy duty. He said it is his turn. I would support an American effort in Darfur even if my son is a casualty in Iraq.

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants” said Thomas Jefferson. My hope is it is not the blood of my son nor any American son or daughter; just the blood of tyrants.

Oct 19, 2006 01:15 PM

Terry Crane :

It is somehow presumed that US must either send ground troops and be responsible for everything, or stay away. Why can't you guys just send a couple of bombing missions, destroy the ports and their Government buildings, and promise to repeat next time they behave badly.

Oct 19, 2006 04:05 PM

Darfur needs guns, not troops :

Darfur is the same as it was in Rwanda: the agressors are a band of brutal inhuman thugs, NOT an army.

Just as in Rwanda, a determined group of people with guns easily wiped out those thugs.

They don't even need US training. Just some basic "click the safety, point at the bad guy" guides is enough to rout thugs.

So all the Darfur residents need are the guns to defend themselves.

But the Left can't bring itself to admit that guns are an answer. "Let's sit down and talk" is all they want to do.

Oct 19, 2006 09:12 PM

Mike H. :

Darfur started in 1983. Where were the people then who have just now discovered the cause? Perhaps they've only recently discovered maps.

Oct 19, 2006 09:16 PM

Improbulus Maximus :

Human nature comes in three basic flavors: Those who won't fight no matter what; those who will fight when forced; and those who seek to dominate others by whatever means necessary. It is a sad fact that those in the middle, who are normally peaceful but who will fight when forced, are often put in the position of fighting against bullies, but without the assistance or gratitude of the pacifists. In fact, the pacifists are generally just cowards who, when they do act, generally will take the side that is most aggressive, i.e., the bully's.
Liberals are just treasonous cowards and have firmly taken the side of all of America's enemies because they hate those of us who protect them, and think that fawning on psychopaths will save them. When the backlash against islam begins, some of it will get on the liberals too. I think the world just needs a good bloodletting to restore balance, because it's plain that the path we've taken for so long, the path of appeasement and placation, isn't working. The old tried and true method of simply killing our enemies until they can't fight is the only one that will work, because history shows us, as any student of history surely knows, that any other route ends in slavery, or extinction for those being attacked.

Oct 20, 2006 04:59 AM

Petrit :

A few thoughts:

"Darfur started in 1983."

Uh, no. The civil war between the north and south (loosely described) started around 1983. That war has been resolved; Darfur is a separate issue.

"So all the Darfur residents need are the guns to defend themselves."

No, no and no. Small arms proliferation is the reason why wars (particularly in Africa) drag on for years.

"Why can't you guys just send a couple of bombing missions, destroy the ports and their Government buildings, and promise to repeat next time they behave badly."

That certainly worked well everywhere else we've tried it, hasn't it? The only way to win in these situations is with boots on the ground.

"Nothing since the Rwanda mass murdering highlights more the amoral UN’s impotence than the failure of that world body to act in the Sudan," etc, etc.

What do you mean by "the UN"? The Secretariat building? The General Assembly? The Security Council? The UN operational agencies? The Office for Outer Space Affairs?

I assume you mean the General Assembly and related councils. Yeah, they suck. But there's no such thing as "the UN" in that context - there's only the members of the General Assembly, who make up those bodies. So what you're basically saying is that the international community sucks.

That would be fine, except the US is a member of that international community, and a member of the GA, and a permanent member of the Security Council. So what you're really saying is, why won't the UN do exactly what I want?

Which strikes me as being a poor basis for governing international affairs.

"The US needs to train an army in Darfur and then use them to take Sudan and then Somalia."

Why don't we finish training an army in Iraq first? Although it seems to be taking longer than anticipated, which might or might not be a good reason for not taking your proposal seriously.

"A multilateral UN force of 30,000 to 40,000 could easily supplement pan-African troops and bring some respite to the area."

Agreed, up to a point. But that's only if the Sudanese government were entirely happy about that, which it doesn't appear to be. If you're proposing to go in without the assent of the government, where are you going to stage 30-40,000 troops from? Chad?

"I am also sure that a single aircraft carrier could enforce a no-fly zone over the country, while a brigade of American troops could shatter the poorly-led and poorly-trained bullies who are killing the innocent."

Could you explain the basis of this certainty?

Look, why don't we just buy all the oil concessions at double the price the Chinese paid for them, then use that to lean on the government to just stop? It would be expensive, but probably less expensive than an ill-conceived war such as the one being discussed here; it would secure more oil that would act as additional leverage on China; and damn sure the Sudanese would listen if the government kickbacks were on the line.

Oct 20, 2006 10:11 AM

William :

Find out how other Americans feel. Our foreign policy index is an amazing way to gage public opinion about American foreign policy and the current state of affairs, and from the way things look, the public may just be at a tipping point. Read on…

Here at Public Agenda, we’ve created a new tool to track Americans’ opinions on foreign policy issues, providing a basis for political commentary. Similar to the Consumer Confidence Index, the Foreign Policy Anxiety Indicator provides policy makers, journalists and ordinary citizens with the public's overall comfort level with America's place in the world and current foreign policy.

An essential tool updated twice a year, the Indicator will consistently provide much-needed information on the public’s perception of more than two dozen aspects of international relations.

In a world strewn with violence and highly-charged international issues, Americans are broadly uneasy about U.S. foreign policy. The September 2006 shows the Foreign Policy Anxiety Indicator at 130 on a scale of 0 to 200, where 0 is the most confident, 200 the most anxious and 100 neutral.

Eight in 10 Americans feel the world is becoming a more dangerous place for Americans, yet they're also skeptical about most of the possible solutions, such as creating democracies or global development. Only improved intelligence gathering and energy independence have substantial support, with energy firmly established as a national security problem
for the public.

In fact, the public lacks confidence in many of the measures being taken to ensure America’s security. Less than 33% of Americans give the U.S. government an “A” or a “B” grade for its execution of the following foreign policy issues: reaching goals in Iraq and Afghanistan, maintaining good relationships with Muslim countries and protecting U.S. borders from illegal immigration. And these are just a few of the findings of the survey.

These are some of the other startling findings:

- 83 percent say they are worried about the way things are going for the United States in world affairs (35 percent worry "a lot", with an additional 48 percent saying they worry "somewhat.")

- 79 percent say the world is becoming more dangerous for the United States and the American people

- 69 percent say the United States is doing a fair or poor job in creating a more peaceful and prosperous world

- 64 percent say the rest of the world sees the United States negatively

- 58 percent say U.S. relations with the rest of the world are on the wrong track

Want to learn more? Go to [www.publicagenda.org/foreignpoli...] to download the report.

Public Agenda is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group devoted to public opinion and public policy. The confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index is developed in cooperation with Foreign Affairs with support from the Hewlett and Ford foundations.

Oct 20, 2006 12:34 PM

Boinkie :

Well, Dafur is terrible.
So is Uganda, and so was the Angolan Civil war, and so was the starvation in Mozambique. And so is the DRC civil war. And so is Zimbabwe.
Where do we stop?
Short of shooting all the corrupt politicians and resuming colonialism, I don't see sending in the Marines will help.
And, as you note, it will only make the moonbats mad.

Oct 20, 2006 03:27 PM

R. G. Newbury :

Neither the USA nor Canada (my country) should put boots on the ground in Sudan. The UN will do nothing to even attempt to stop the genocide.
There is the old aphorism about giving a man a fish and teaching him to fish. The refugees would defend themselves if they could.

So what should be done is to airdrop arms and ammunition to those in the refugee camps. What makes a genocide is the disarmament of the victims. If 'shall issue' is proper in (what?) 40 states, why should it not be when victims are being forced from their homes and cannot fight back. (I won't start about the situation north of the border!).

I figure one rifle and 5000 rounds per package and 100 guns per thousand men in a camp. This would give a refugee camp of say 200,000 refugees, a protective force of approaching 10,000 men, or one full division of (very light) infantry. Providing training would be nice, but not required. The cost per package would be...what?. about $500.00 But doesn't the US army have lots of ammo dumps on its hands in Iraq?

Oct 21, 2006 03:23 PM

Alan Furman :


Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?...No? Driver's license please...George W. Bush...Mr. Bush, I am citing you for IWR -- that's Intervening While Republican...

Oct 21, 2006 06:15 PM

Petrit :

"What makes a genocide is the disarmament of the victims." Genius. Because the solution to people killing each other is - more people killing each other! What an impoverished vision you have, and what a complete lack of understanding of even the basics of the situation.

Oct 23, 2006 01:18 AM

Brendan :

Genocide in Darfur:

1. I cannot understand those who are in favor of sending in our troops, but not arming the victims so that they can defend themselves. It seems hypocritical and condescending, that our boys can be trusted to use force, but the others cannot.

2. Arming both sides might extend conflicts, but what is the alternative? Not arming them leads to a much more rapid conclusion of the event, all of the weaker side get killed.

3. Without the projection of force by the victims (i.e. if the US [or UN] is the only gurantor of the weak side's safety) the Arabs will adopt a strategy that involves either: waiting the protectors out, harassing them out, or guilting them out (colonial guilt). Then go right back to the killing.

Oct 24, 2006 06:48 AM

Petrit :

Brendan:

1. Because it's really really hard to identify "victims," and harder still to arm them without turning them into the oppressors themselves. This is why external peacekeepers are a better option - when there is a peace to keep. If you're proposing to arm them with small arms, then there will be no decisive victory. The only way to reach that peace is through diplomatic and political means.

2. I'm not sure what your point is. It isn't an either/or decision; the conflict is going to go on, and it will resurface even if this current stage is resolved. (Because in fact a large part of the conflict is rooted in land claims, which in turn are being exacerbated by environmental pressures, particularly desertification of arable and pastoral land.)

3. Right. And if we arm the victims (however you want to define them) and they "win" the "war", then what happens next? The Arab population have to leave? The government loses control over that area and it collapses? The area secedes and destabilises the surrounding countries? I'm not saying that these aren't desirable outcomes - I'm just interested to know what you think will happen once the victims are armed.

Oct 24, 2006 10:08 AM

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