[AzJP]

"...bolstering foreign aid by 50 per cent..."

Thanks George.

[seeker41]

The strategy document will also state, for the first time, that the United States will never allow its military supremacy to be challenged the way it was during the cold war.

I like it!

[Torie]

The doctrine also describes at great length the administration's commitment to bolstering American foreign aid by 50 percent in the next few years in "countries whose governments rule justly, invest in their people and encourage economic freedom." It insists that the programs must have "measurable results" to assure that the money is actually going to the poor, especially for schools, health care and clean water.

How would this doctrine affect aid to Eqypt, the US's second largest recipient? Just curious.

[The Great Satan]

The document makes no reference to the Kyoto accord

Sacre bleu!

[Stavka2]

United States will exploit its military and economic power to encourage "free and open societies," rather than seek "unilateral advantage." It calls this union of values and national interests "a distinctly American internationalism."

Ok, got to call a big ole BS on this one. The US has nothing but a history of supporting dictators: aka (only a tiny amount of examples): Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Shah of Iran, Pakistan, almost all the various right wing governments of Central and South America, Batista, Hali Solaci...and many of his ilk in Africa, KLA, Tujdamin, Izobegavich, Kuwait, Shevernadzi and the list goes on and on. The last thing the US foreign policy wants to deal with is an elected official who might just have to represent the wishs of his people and might change regularly...much harder to bribe.

As for China, what is the US going to do, invade? It already spends more then the next 15 nations combined and yet 20,000 US military families are on food stamps and equipment is constantly broken and underfunded....where is the money going? Where are $340 billion dollars disappearing to? Or is it the contractors and the senators and everyone else with a kickback sucking it all up?

[The Great Satan]

This is rockin'. Anyone care to guess what Al Gore would be doing now?

[PianoMan]

The doctrine also describes at great length the administration's commitment to bolstering American foreign aid by 50 percent in the next few years in "countries whose governments rule justly, invest in their people and encourage economic freedom."

I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, since the rest of this document sounds great, but this is a statement that will worry conservatives and rightly so. However Bush seems at least as preoccupied with finally making sure that foreign aid recipients are moving their countries in the direction of freedom.

The rest of this document is "stick", the $$ are a "carrot". If he can use the carrot to prod other countries toward greater liberty we will reap big dividends. We don't spend that much on foreign aid.

[Stavka2]

The Bush strategy urges other nations to adopt Mr. Bush's own economic philosophy, starting with low marginal tax rates.

Oh, like the 13% flat tax rate that is yet to even be looked at seriously in America?

[Right_in_Virginia]

"The new strategy departs significantly from the last one published by President Clinton, at the end of 1999."

Good news.

[lwoodham]

Damned bold, this president, and I like it. I like it a lot.

[Savage Beast]

"United States will exploit its military and economic power to encourage 'free and open societies'"

What about the Islamic theocracies?

[MrConfettiMan]

Ping for your perusal.

[1Old Pro]

rationale for shifting American military strategy toward pre-emptive action against hostile states and terrorist groups developing weapons of mass destruction.

Odd, here I am thinking that we were attacked on September 11, 2001 and we were responding to that attack.

[ladtx]

The doctrine also describes at great length the administration's commitment to bolstering American foreign aid by 50 percent in the next few years in "countries whose governments rule justly, invest in their people and encourage economic freedom."

Then at the same time we should--

"Describe at great length the administration's commitment to cutting American foreign aid by 50 percent in the next few years in "countries whose governments do not rule justly, invest in their people and encourage economic freedom."

[js1138]

I wonder who the times supported in Kosovo?