Ever hear of supply and demand?
Posted on 11/06/2007 7:34:14 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States needs to shift from muscle-flexing to alliance-building when it seeks to wield power in the world if it wants to patch up its battered global image, said a report on Tuesday.
"America's reputation, standing and influence are at all-time lows, and possibly sinking further," the report by a 20-member think-tank commissioned by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said, citing half a dozen opinion polls from around the world.
"The terrorist attacks on 9/11 caused America to become a frightened and angry nation," it said.
"We reacted in ways that alarmed people the world over ... we relied excessively on hard military power to fight the war against terrorists and violent extremists.
"Ultimately this is a battle that will be won by ideas, not bullets. Just like the Cold War, we will prevail when the world chooses the opportunities we defend over the despair offered by our enemies."
The report, which was more than a year in the making, said the United States has focused too much on the war on terror and relied too heavily on military might in its foreign policy.
"The Pentagon is the best trained and best resourced arm of the federal government ... it tends to fill every void.
"The United States must become a smarter power by investing once again in the global good -- providing things that people and governments in all quarters of the world want but cannot attain in the absence of American leadership."
It called on the next US president to chart a new course towards a "smarter" foreign policy that balances hard power -- "wielding carrots and sticks to get what you want" -- and soft power -- "the ability to attract people to our side without coercion."
By shifting its foreign policy focus from the war on terror to championing the global good, the United States will not only defeat terrorism but will also restore its greatness, the report said.
The commission included former military commander in Iraq Anthony Zinni; ex-US ambassador to the United Nations, Russia and Israel Thomas Pickering; former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor; members of congress; business leaders and the heads of non-profit organizations.
Before the United States seeks to redress its global image, it has to tidy up its own back garden, the report said.
"One of the terrible lasting impressions of Hurricane Katrina is that the US government is both unfair and inept in the face of real challenges that impact people's lives.
"Implementing a smart power strategy depends on the government's ability to organize for success. Many Americans, though, have lost faith in government's ability to adapt and work effectively in today's world.
"This perception of an uncaring, ineffective US government is even more pronounced abroad among non-US citizens."
Among recommendations the commission gave to help restore the good image of the United States were a renewed commitment to international treaties and institutions, and reinvigorated alliances.
The United States must also not have double standards in terms of international legal norms, the report said.
"The images of prisoner abuse from Abu Ghraib ... seemed emblematic of this double standard."
The commission urged more commitment to global development, more equitable global trade talks, a revitalized public diplomacy effort under which "every US citizen serves as a diplomat", and greater investment in education to ensure the United States does not fall back from the cutting edge of science and technology.
It urged more openness to foreigners -- in particular to students -- and concrete steps to enhance energy security.
"America has the capacity to be a smart power," the report concluded.
"It is the most important mandate for our next president."
ideas, and not bullets, huh?
Try these ideas on Osama and al Zawahiri.
We allow others to dictate our image. This is one area where the EU and, yes, even the Chinese have us beat hands-down: Learning how to toot your own horn effectively.
—
re: the EU and China. They don’t have an American media intent on making us like their citizens, docile muted serfs subservient to a global elite agenda.
And what if it doesn't? What if America doesn't give a tarnished tinker's damn about its "global image" anymore, after decades of abuse, insult, and humiliation on the world stage? What if America is giving a one-finger salute to "the world" and telling it that we, America, will go it alone if we have to, but that we will NOT apologize to any bunch of sissified handwringers because we dare to defend ourselves.
Note to world: go to hell.
What Duncan said.
Another commision that needs to be mothballed. What a bunch of defeatist morons.
Apparently the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan were not included in the study.
Jeeze, who wrote this crap ? We should send them into the panshir valley humming the melody from kumbiyah and see how their “smart” approach serves in keeping their heads attached to their bodies.
Of Course the enemy is mad at us, we shot back.
“Our prestige in the world has been marred, not because we are a superpower, but by the manner in which we handle our power. (Anything) we can do to encourage our neighbors, rather than simply showing our muscle, is an important part of rebuilding America’s prestige.” Council on Foreign Relations speech - Mike Huckabeee Sept 28. 2007
But, but, but....dot, dot, dot his website says he is a strong supporter of the US Military and the WOT.
Sounds like GHWB’s call for a kindler, gentler America. What trash.
I have a feeling that Hunter might disagree with this commissions opinions.
Big-power nations can either be feared or held in contempt. There are no other options.
Was this written by Howard Dean and the DNC staff?
Suffering fools is not his strongest trait.
Well, GW was not a big fan of nation building either during his 2000 campaign.
Thanks J. Hope you are well and being careful.
Why do they always have to bring up Katrina?
The membership looks like a bunch of leftists and commies.
America's image and influence are in decline around the world. To maintain a leading role in global affairs, the United States must move from eliciting fear and anger to inspiring optimism and hope.
In 2006, CSIS launched a bipartisan Commission on Smart Power to develop a vision to guide America's global engagement. This report lays out the commission's findings and a discrete set of recommendations for how the next president of the United States, regardless of political party, can implement a smart power strategy.
The United States must become a smarter power by once again investing in the global good—providing things people and governments in all quarters of the world want but cannot attain in the absence of American leadership. By complementing U.S. military and economic might with greater investments in soft power, America can build the framework it needs to tackle tough global challenges.
What did ‘bobby’ have to say? Oh, never mind, I don’t care.
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