Foreign Policy Isn't Easy

Poor Dubya. Foreign policy clearly isn't as easy as he painted it during the 2000 election.

Midwest Voice distinctly remembers a point during one of the debates when, in response to a question about how he would deal with Middle East oil producers who use oil as strong arm the U.S., Dubya said he would pick up the phone and work out the situation mano o mano. Dubya, who by all accounts can be very engaging and warm with folks, put a great deal of stock in his own PR about his "people person" skills.

Not so easy, though, huh?

We're reminded of this as we watch France, Germany, Belgium and Russia break ranks at the U.N. and NATO regarding Iraq. We see how difficult it has been for the U.S. to create its "coalition." We marvel at how the U.S. crows about the allies it does have in its pocket, as if Spain and Poland will save the day. This isn't meant to diminish those countries' commitment and the sacrifice their forces might make. But having France, Germany and Russia in our corner would be much preferred.

His failure to win over more key allies by simply relying on his engaging personality must be causing countless sleepless nights for Dubya. I can't help but imagine Dubya looking in a mirror and saying, "But people like me! They really like me!"

The real world is much more difficult than just picking up a phone, attaching a nickname to a foreign leader, then expecting them to fall in line. If it were that easy, anyone could do it.

But then, sometimes it already looks like we have "just anyone."

© Copyright 2003 Keith Jameson. Last update: 2/11/2003; 8:27:49 AM.