Posted on 10/05/2007 9:35:07 AM PDT by khnyny
Time magazine's much-publicized July 17th cover story, "The End of Cowboy Diplomacy," has been viewed as a seminal media effort to capture the transformation of the Bush Administration from a trigger-happy approach in foreign policy to reliance on other nations and the U.N. But a careful analysis shows that Time exaggerated and distorted the facts in order to produce a story that would entice and mislead its readers.
It would be foolish to insist that changes in the Bush foreign policy have not been made. Since Condoleezza Rice became Secretary of State, she has clearly been relying more on the bureaucracy, including such figures as Clinton holdover Nicholas Burns, the Undersecretary of State, to make policy.
But it has never been the case that the Bush Administration has been a tough-talking, unilaterally-acting power, short on diplomacy and long on bullying. The cowboy metaphor is designed to create the impression that the Bush Administration has been acting alone, pursuing preemptive wars and presenting non-negotiable demands. Such a charge is designed to hurt the President's party at the polls this November.
A valid criticism, not made by Time, is that the Bush Administration has promoted democracy for a region of the world that has become so radicalized by propaganda from Arab TV channels such as Al-Jazeera that it doesn't yet seem quite capable of accepting it. The effort, however, still has to be considered a noble cause that was a far better option than maintaining a status quo that produced al Qaeda and 9/11. This struggle will continue for years, if not decades, and holds the promise of making the region—and America—safer in the long run. Our media have no patience for such an approach.
(Excerpt) Read more at aim.org ...
Regarding Iran, which was taken over by fanatical Muslims when then-President Jimmy Carter made human rights a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, Bush has faced another difficult problem that Clinton contributed to. Bush has pursued diplomatic options along with the European Union while insisting that the Iranians stop enriching uranium and give up their nuclear-weapons ambitions.
Clinton, by contrast, actually enlisted Iranian help in arming the Bosnian Muslims against the Christian Serbs and helped establish a militant Islamic base in Bosnia. In a scandal that the major media conveniently ignored, a Senate Republican report said that the Clinton Administration was unwilling "to come clean with the Congress and with the American people about its complicity in the delivery of weapons from Iran to the Muslim government in Sarajevo."
Quick!
I need to know something!
Where’s my Time Magazine?
I think not.
“The cowboy metaphor is designed to create the impression that the Bush Administration has been acting alone, pursuing preemptive wars and presenting non-negotiable demands.”
When I hear the term ‘cowboy’ I think of individualists who talk straight, keep their word and act courageously on matters of principle-also traits which are despised by the left and MSM.
Yes, indeed.
My point is, do we really want a continuation of Clinton foreign policy? IMHO, 8 years of Clinton resulted in a 911. Clinton had an opportunity to get Bin Laden and he blew it, regardless of what he spouts on the Larry King show. The guy is a liar. (It’s no-hold back Friday, lol)
Time still makes toilet paper? Who woulda thunk it.
If all you want is OJ, and Brittany Spears coverage!
The centerpiece of Bill Clinton’s ‘legacy’ will forever and always be a stain on a dark blue dress. Since Bill is the rock star idol of the insane liberal media, I wouldn’t put it past them to eventually try and blame Bush for this too ....
“It added, “This is not the same Bush who ignored all of his allies’ objections to invade Iraq.”
When you play a game of strategy, will your tactics always be the same or will they change depending upon who your opponent is?
Cowboy diplomacy, as in *not* lip-wristed metrosexual eurotrash...
Not only did it result in 9-11, the way the Clintons gutted our military with cuts in equipment and training, it has made it more difficult in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Truth ALWAYS wins in the end...keep on watching folks it ain’t over yet. The world will see that Bush has been completely right on the WOT before he leaves office.
And how many have stuck to the course with us? Not many. Most cut and ran.
True. What’s your point?
The point is, out of those who went with us, we are mainly the only ones left doing the work. Many of those who went with us now are against us. Just shows you you never can trust your so called friends. You basically are on your own.
Completely irrelevant to the topic of the thread and my post.
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