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Soros denounces 'Bush Doctrine'
Duke Chronicle ^
| February 18, 2004
| by Chrissie Gorman
Posted on 02/18/2004 8:42:41 AM PST by Helms
Soros denounces 'Bush Doctrine'
ANTHONY CROSS/THE CHRONICLE George Soros speak to a packed Reynolds Theater Tuesday about President George W. Bush's policies. by Chrissie Gorman February 18, 2004
George Soros has done it all--from surviving Nazi occupation of Budapest, Hungary, where he was born, to living under communism, to establishing a network of philanthropic organizations. But Soros has managed to take on yet another position over the last few months: activist for the preservation of an American open society. In the latest of his eight books, The Bubble of American Supremacy: Correcting the Misuse of American Power, Soros argues that the current U.S. administration has based its foreign policy on military might rather than principles of international law.
Soros, alongside a panel of Duke faculty, spoke about his book's views concerning the presidential election to Tuesday's overflowing crowd in Reynolds Theater.
"After devoting the last 15 years of my life to open society, we have to focus on the U.S.," Soros said in a press conference before his speech. "I believe the Bush administration is leading us in a very dangerous direction."
But Bush's present policies, Soros said, are not the ones that got him elected. The current "Bush Doctrine," as Soros called it, consists of two factors--undivided support for the military at home and the right to intervene abroad.
"[The Bush Doctrine] is not consistent with values of open society and cannot possibly be accepted by the rest of the world," Soros said.
Soros made explicit that he is using both his expertise in international affairs and his money to try to prevent President Bush's re-election. Soros has already donated $12.5 million to the Democratic effort, a figure that he says is likely to rise.
Speaking about the Democratic candidates, Soros expressed his support for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), whom Soros thinks will stack up well against President Bush.
"Kerry is an excellent candidate," Soros said. "He unites the Democratic party... [and] as a war hero [he] stacks up well against [an opponent] who wants to be a war president."
He also addressed the worth of having North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) as a possible running mate.
"Edwards would bring a considerable value to the ticket," Soros said. "[Kerry] needs a running mate who has appeal to the South." Among the panel, which Provost Peter Lange moderated, political science professor Peter Feaver provided the strongest opposition to Soros' ideas.
Feaver disputed the military-minded image of President Bush, stating that some of his most important actions have been non-military. He added that Bush has developed "remarkable cooperation" with China and that his military actions reflect necessary reactions to problems which had proliferated throughout the 1990s.
Feaver said that Soros himself proves proof that the open society he seeks already exists: even the fiercest opposition at home has a voice.
The other two panelists--Sanford Institute of Public Policy director Bruce Jentleson and James B. Duke professor of political science Robert Keohane--spoke more favorably of Soros.
"The strategy [Soros] proposes is realism rather than idealism," Jentleson said.
Although supporting Soros' position on war in Iraq, Jentleson noted that force is a route that nations sometimes must take as an early resort, not only as a last resort.
Keohane also described war in Iraq as a "debacle." As a way to prevent further disagreements between the United States and the United Nations over military policy, Keohane suggested that the U.N. institute a democratic council to formulate a process for appealing a deadlocked security council--an idea he said he put forward in the spirit of Soros' work.
TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: soros
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1
posted on
02/18/2004 8:42:42 AM PST
by
Helms
To: Helms
Its amazing that a man who can be so financially successful, can also be so unbelievably stupid.
So amazing that I find it hard to believe and (donning tinfoil hat) suspect he may have another agenda than that he is advancing.
To: babyface00
----yeah---the agenda of Armand Hammer-known to his Soviet handlers as the "Capitalist Prince" -who was , in effect, Algores' godfather
To: Helms
I wonder if Soros employs a security detail? With the power he weilds, I wouldnt be suprised if someone with power and disagrees with him works to "remove" Soros from the international picture.
Not condoning it, but I have to allow that possibility.
4
posted on
02/18/2004 8:52:18 AM PST
by
smith288
(http://www.ejsmithweb.com/FR/JohnKerry/)
To: babyface00
I believe he made his money in currency speculation, a profession as honorable as srud dealing or pimping.
To: smith288
I was at Duke and saw no detail other than one guy who stuck with him.
6
posted on
02/18/2004 8:54:40 AM PST
by
Helms
To: Helms
...the current U.S. administration has based its foreign policy on military might rather than principles of international law.
No. Our country is enforcing international law with military might; a concept that is unfortunately new to many in the world community, but one that should have been utilized years ago. This would have prevented most of the problems we face today. What do we expect when we have had a bunch of pacifists running most countries? That is, until three years ago.
To: Helms
""I believe the Bush administration is leading us in a very dangerous direction." Good God. Look who's accusing whom. Communists truly excel at continually accusing their opponents of exactly what they themselves are guilty of.
The shameless hypocrisy of the radical left knows no bounds.
8
posted on
02/18/2004 8:56:01 AM PST
by
Joe Brower
(The Constitution defines Conservatism.)
To: Helms
...the current U.S. administration has based its foreign policy on military might rather than principles of international law.
No. Our country is enforcing international law with military might; a concept that is unfortunately new to many in the world community, but one that should have been utilized years ago. This would have prevented most of the problems we face today. What do we expect when we have had a bunch of pacifists running most countries? That is, until three years ago.
To: Helms
Dear Mr Soros.
Blow me.
Thank you.
10
posted on
02/18/2004 8:56:34 AM PST
by
Spruce
To: Helms
Someone should have asked gun grabber Soros if he wrecked any economies lately by currency breaking.
Or if he had any inside trading convictions lately.
11
posted on
02/18/2004 8:56:45 AM PST
by
Dan from Michigan
("You know it don't come easy, the road of the gypsy" - Iron Eagle)
To: Helms; smith288
"I was at Duke and saw no detail other than one guy who stuck with him." It appears, then, that Soros' detail is comprised of exactly the highly-skilled operatives that one would expect of a man with his deep pockets.
12
posted on
02/18/2004 8:58:39 AM PST
by
Joe Brower
(The Constitution defines Conservatism.)
To: babyface00
The war on terror is cramping his lifestyle and work. It's becoming harder for Soros to execute is "secret banking deals" now that banks are being monitored closer.
13
posted on
02/18/2004 9:00:38 AM PST
by
rollo tomasi
(Working hard to pay for deadbeats and corrupt politicians)
To: Joe Brower
"international law"
Fighting words. When I hear these 2 words I immediately clench my fist.
14
posted on
02/18/2004 9:01:12 AM PST
by
Helms
To: rollo tomasi
is=his
15
posted on
02/18/2004 9:01:43 AM PST
by
rollo tomasi
(Working hard to pay for deadbeats and corrupt politicians)
To: Joe Brower
Soros is a big loser. Bush should stop playing footsy with these commies. The Bush administration is giving this pig a role in our eastern Europe. He is not elected, or appointed; let us cut him out of the US policies.
To: Helms
INTREP - POLITICS - LEFT - SOROS
To: Liz; TaxRelief
Ping
18
posted on
02/18/2004 9:04:58 AM PST
by
Helms
To: Helms
"[The Bush Doctrine] is not consistent with values of open society and cannot possibly be accepted by the rest of the world," Soros said.
Well. First of all the values of America are the values of the individual, not the society. Furthermore, who gives a flying leap about what the rest of the world thinks. Since when is it necessary for us to be accepted by the world? The only time the rest of the world likes the US is when they want something from the US. Soros can go screw himself.
To: AfghanIraqVeteran
Everything is America's fault! Blame America first! PUKE! PUKE! PUKE! All over this punk's shoes!!!
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